What To Do If You Are Bitten By A Dog

As Chicago personal injury lawyers, we know that dogs are not always man’s best friend. They sometimes bite, and unfortunately, the victims of dog bites and attacks are often children. Dog bites and attacks can lead to long-term problems, including a lifelong fear of dogs and permanent scars from bites and attacks.

It is important to remember that if a dog is provoked and attacks the person provoking them, the animal is not considered dangerous, and you probably would not be entitled to damages. But if the attack is unprovoked, you may be entitled to compensation.

In trying to determine your right to damages from an attack by a dog, there are provisions in the Illinois Animal Control Act to keep in mind.

The Illinois Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/) states: “If a dog or animal attacks, attempts to attack any person who is peaceably conducting himself or herself in any place where he or she may lawfully be, the owner of such dog or other animal is liable in civil damages to such person for the full amount of the injury proximately caused thereby.”

The Illinois Animal Control Act permits a person to recover money if they have been bitten by a dog. Under the law, you can recover damages from the dog’s owner under the following circumstances:

• The person actually owns the animal.
• You did not provoke the dog.
• You were acting peaceably.
• You were standing in a place where you were legally entitled to be.

If you can prove these four things, you are entitled to recover from the dog’s owner for medical bills, future medical care, pain and suffering, lost wages and disfigurement suffered in the attack.

Further, even if this is the first time a dog has attacked or bitten anyone, you might still collect from the owner’s insurance company. Most homeowner policies cover this type of incident under general liability policies.

However, in order to collect you need Chicago personal injury lawyers to represent you as insurance companies often try to place the blame for the attack on the victim.

As Chicago personal injury lawyers,  the Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo LLC we’ve spent years helping victims of dog bites collect the damages they deserve. If you’ve suffered a severe dog bite, we urge you to contact us to arrange your free consultation.