When people think about dog bites, they probably think about large breeds like pit bulls, German shepherds, and mastiffs. However, all dog breeds, even smaller ones, can cause significant damage with their powerful teeth and jaws. The rough, uneven shape of dog bite wounds makes them difficult to treat and capable of causing permanent scarring and impairment.
If you have sustained injuries from a dog bite in Chicago, reach out to the personal injury attorneys at Levin, Riback & Adelman. Dog owners in Illinois are financially responsible when their pets cause injury, so you can claim damages in the form of an insurance settlement. We can guide you through the legal process to pursue funds for healing and rebuilding. Contact us today to speak to a dog bite injury attorney in Chicago.
llinois has a strict liability dog bite law. According to 510 ILCS 5/16, dog owners are automatically liable for dog bites. It does not matter whether:
As long as the victim was legally on the property and did not provoke the animal, the owner is responsible for the bite. The bite victim does not have to demonstrate that the owner was negligent in controlling their animal to recover financial compensation. The language of the law includes dog bites as well as other types of injuries from animals (e.g., scratches, knockdowns, etc.).
Bite force and teeth placement are the two main factors underlying the unique profile of dog bite injuries. Large dog breeds can have bite forces exceeding 200 pounds per square inch, and dog teeth vary in shape, length, and sharpness. The sheer force of a bite can crush bone, and the sharp teeth create irregular and asymmetric wounds. Worse, dog bites can cause disfiguring facial injuries in children Specific injuries from dog bites might include:
Animal mouths contain numerous bacteria, so bites have a significant chance of causing infections, such as tetanus, staph, and Pasteurella. According to one study, over 15 percent of dog bite victims develop bacterial infection. Bite victims might also develop psychological issues, like PTSD, depression, and anxiety, with child victims being particularly at risk.
Illinois dog bite laws legally require dog owners to pay bite victims for the full cost of their injuries. This could include compensation for both economic and noneconomic injury-related losses, such as:
Illinois’s dog bite laws are very strict with owner responsibility – a fact that underlies the state’s relatively high number of dog bite claims. The personal injury attorneys at Levin, Riback & Adelman are experienced in pursuing a wide range of compensation in dog bite cases. We can contextualize your injuries and limitations to recover the maximum amount of compensation for your financial losses and mental suffering.
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, victims have two years from the injury date to file a dog bite claim. After two years, any legal claim to compensation will expire, and the court will reject any lawsuit that is filed. The main exception to this time limit is injuries to minors. If the victim was under 18, the two-year timer does not start until their 18th birthday. This exception for minors is extremely relevant to dog bite cases, as nearly half of all dog bite victims are children.
Bite Reporting and Dangerous Dog Laws in Illinois
In addition to strict owner liability for dog bites, Illinois law also imposes mandatory bite reporting requirements. 510 ILCS 5/13 requires owners to report bite injuries to a licensed veterinarian within 24 hours. The veterinarian must make a report, evaluate the dog’s condition, and inoculate it for diseases such as rabies (if not already inoculated). The vet will hold the dog for at least ten days before releasing it. All costs during this confinement and reporting period are the owner’s responsibility.
Some dogs exhibit behavior sufficient to designate them as vicious dogs. 510 ILCS 5/15 states that the police must investigate and make a detailed report before the state can label them.
Dogs are our best friends and lifelong companions to many. However, an aggressive or untrained dog is still a danger, even to people it is familiar with. If you have sustained injuries from a dog bite, you deserve a chance to recover your losses. The attorneys at Levin, Riback & Adelman have decades of collective experience and have recovered millions for injury clients. We can investigate the animal attack and devise a strategy to hold owners accountable for your injuries. Dog bite injuries are a serious matter and deserve a similarly serious legal response. Contact us online or call our Chicago offices today for a free case consultation with a dog bite attorney.
