Dog Bite Attorney Explains What To Do After A Dog Bite.

What a Dog Bite Attorney Actually Does for You Behind the Scenes

A lot of people assume hiring a dog bite attorney just means someone sends a letter to the dog owner and waits for a check. That's not how it works. Not even close. When you hire a lawyer for a dog attack case, there's a mountain of work happening behind the scenes that most people never see.

First, we have to identify every possible source of insurance coverage. That means tracking down the dog owner's homeowner's insurance or renter's insurance policy. Sometimes the attack happened at a relative's house, or the dog was being watched by someone else, and there might be coverage under a different policy entirely. We dig into all of that because leaving money on the table isn't something I'm willing to do for my clients.

Then there's the investigation. We want to find out if this dog has a history. Has it bitten someone before? Has it gotten loose before? Were there complaints to animal control? In Illinois, we have what's called strict liability for dog bites under the Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/16), which means the owner is responsible even if the dog has never bitten anyone before. But proving prior incidents makes the case even stronger, especially if we need to argue for punitive damages or if the owner was reckless.

We also coordinate with your medical providers. Dog bites can cause serious infections, nerve damage, scarring, and emotional trauma that lasts for years. Some of my clients have needed plastic surgery. Others have developed a genuine phobia of dogs that affects their daily life. Your attorney needs to make sure all of that is documented properly so the insurance company can't minimize what you've been through.

One thing I always tell people: do not give a recorded statement to the dog owner's insurance company before talking to a lawyer. They'll call you sounding friendly and concerned, but everything you say is being recorded and will be used to reduce your claim. I've seen cases where a client casually said 'I'm doing okay' on the phone, and the insurance adjuster used that statement months later to argue the injuries weren't that serious.

The bottom line is that a good dog bite lawyer handles the entire process so you can focus on healing. From filing the claim, to negotiating with the insurance adjuster, to preparing for trial if they refuse to pay fair value — that's what you're hiring us to do. And in Illinois, you don't pay us anything unless we recover money for you. So there's literally no risk in making the call.

What to Do If You Got Bit By A Dog

If you were bitten by a dog, talking to a Chicago dog bite lawyer is the smartest thing you can do.  Make sure you talk to someone who has handled dog bite cases before, and only represents injured people.

Injury lawyers give free consultations.  That means you can get all of your questions answered fast and for free.

If you need to talk about your dog bite, and what to do and what NOT to do to make sure your medical bills are covered and you are fully compensated, just click below.  I'd be happy to hear from you.

Potential Harm From a Dog Bite

First off, there is a lot to discuss regarding the potential harm caused by a dog bite. Obviously, a larger dog causes more harm. It doesn’t take a lawyer to understand that an angry dachshund will not hurt you as much as a vicious Rottweiler.

However, even in the case of large dogs, people often do not understand the potential harm that could result from a dog bite. On the other hand, lawyers in Chicago know that dog bites are extremely serious.

For people of all ages, being attacked by a dog can cause serious trauma. A lifelong fear of dogs is not an uncommon result of an attack. In the case of a more serious and unexpected attack, deeper trauma can occur.

In some cases, a person can even fear leaving the house as the result of an attack. There are also physical risks. Along with the dozens of deaths that result from dog attacks every year, a person attacked by a dog can experience lifelong scarring and disability.

This is particularly true if a person is attacked by a dog like a pitbull, which can bite with over 230 pounds of pressure. This pressure can easily break the limbs of an attack victim.

What to Do If Approached by an Angry Dog

There are ways to minimize risk. While you cannot help the way others raise their dogs, there are actions you can take to keep yourself safe.

Do Not Approach Strange Dogs

This is the first and most effective piece of advice. If you see a dog, especially a large one, do not approach it to pet it. Unless you are expressly invited to by the dog’s owner, you have no idea how a dog will react.

Respect a dog’s right to personal space and do not get into an unnecessary altercation.

Do Not Run

If a dog approaches you, it is important to ignore your instinct and try not to run. If you run away from a dog, you will find that dog becoming more aggressive.

This is because dogs initially evolved as a hunter and have a strong prey drive instinct for those who decide to get into a chase. Instead of running from an angry dog, stay perfectly still and lay down in a fetal position.

Communicating submission to a dog is one of the best ways to stop an attack.

Do Not Make Eye Contact

When lawyers in Chicago see clients attacked by a dog they did not approach, the cause is often eye contact. Making eye contact with a dog can seem harmless to somebody who does not know much about these animals.

But if you are an expert on dogs, you will recognize that many dogs see this as a challenge. Avoid making eye contact with dogs, particularly dogs that are walking off-leash.

If Bitten, Do Not Pull Away

Finally, if you have been bitten by a dog, there are ways to minimize the harm. One of the most effective is resisting the temptation to pull the clenched limb away from the animal.

When you pull your hand away, the dog will see this as an invitation to partake in a tug-of-war with the clenched individual. This will end poorly for you. This makes it absolutely essential that dog bite victims resist the temptation to pull away from a dog.

What to Do If You’ve Been Bitten By a Dog

If you have been bitten by a dog, the first response is probably to remove yourself (or the dog) from the situation. Even if the dog didn’t mean to bite aggressively, the ensuing commotion may cause the dog to panic further. This can result in greater injury.

After that, there are a few steps to take to clean the dog bite and prevent infection.

1. Apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. If possible, find a clean cloth or towel to prevent contamination.

2. Go to the nearest kitchen or bathroom to clean the bite with soap and water.

3. If the wound is very large or deep, head to a local clinic or doctor’s office, as you may need stitches or other assistance.

3. Apply a clean bandage and a disinfecting ointment to the wound each day.

4. Over the next few days, continue to change the bandages and check for any redness, swelling, or discharge that could indicate infection.

If you notice any of these symptoms, go to your doctor for antibiotics and treatment.

Dog Bite Laws in Illinois

Before you hire lawyers in Chicago for your dog bite, you should know about the laws around dog bites in the state. This can help you make sure that you have legal options for your situation.

The first thing to know is the statute of limitations. In the state of Illinois, there is a two-year statute for dog bites. If you were bitten over two years ago, lawyers in Chicago will probably be unable to help you.

Another thing to consider is whether you provoked the dog. If you provoked a dog to attack you, you do not have the right to legal recourse within the state of Illinois. This is an important consideration when weighing your legal options in the case of an attack.

Finally, you need to consider where you were. If you were bitten by a dog while trespassing, you obviously do not have the right to pursue legal action.

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 dogs or other animals 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 has 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.

When to Seek Legal Advice

If you’ve already been bitten and the injury was severe enough to require medical attention, or if there have been any complications afterward, it’s best to follow up with a dog bite attorney. There can be a number of costly complications following a dog attack.

In addition to obvious medical bills from stitches, antibiotics and follow-up care, you may also need mental health care. Traumatic events such as dog attacks can leave lasting effects. You may even develop PTSD or other issues that can negatively impact your daily life.

Avoiding dogs altogether might seem like a solution, but it’s very difficult to predict when someone will be walking their dog on the sidewalk alongside you. To cope with this, you may need emotional support and therapy for years to return to a state of normalcy.

If this is the case, it makes sense to hire a dog bite attorney who can review the case and work to get monetary coverage and reimbursement for these related costs. If you’ve been bitten by a dog, here are some ways that lawyers in Chicago can help.

Benefits of Working with a Dog Bite Attorney

An experienced dog bite attorney can listen to the facts and determine liability. In addition, even if you think it’s clear who owes you reimbursement, it can be difficult to collect outside of the legal system.

Having an attorney will help recoup your funds and make sure you receive the resources necessary to heal.