We think of our pet dogs as furry family members, but when someone else’s dog attacks, it’s a terrifying, traumatic, and painful experience. Dogs are animals with sharp teeth, strong jaws, and motives we don’t always understand or anticipate. If you or a close family member suffered injuries from a dog attack in Chicago, you don’t have to be left with the financial impacts as well as the physical and emotional consequences. Instead, call the Chicago dog bite attorneys at Smith LaCien LLP to learn more about your rights under the dog bite laws in Illinois.
Smith LaCien is a law firm with a long history of exceptional results for clients, having recovered over $3.5 billion for injury victims through settlements and court awards. Our reputation for success puts a strong voice behind your dog bite case in Chicago with the following advantages:
After a free consultation, we work tirelessly on your behalf with no upfront cost to you. Instead, our contingency-based payment system means you only pay for our services after we’ve recovered compensation for you in your Chicago dog bite claim.
A handful of states enforce strict liability for pet owners only after a dog has bitten at least once, indicating that it has a propensity to bite. Under Illinois 510 ILCS 5/16, the law states the following:
“…If a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks, attempts to attack, or injures 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…”
In short, there is no one-bite rule in Illinois. Instead, the state holds pet owners under strict liability for their pet’s actions from the moment the individual takes ownership or control of the pet. Under the strict liability law, a dog bite victim in Chicago does not have to prove that the dog’s owner was negligent. Instead, the bite victim only has to demonstrate evidence of the following:
An experienced dog bite attorney in Chicago represents your best interests throughout the process of your dog bite claim by gathering evidence and carefully calculating your damages to maximize the compensation you recover in your claim.
Dogs have deeply ingrained instincts that don’t always align with how we, as human beings, see things. They also lack the level of reasoning and impulse control that humans exhibit, leaving them far more likely to act on their instincts.
According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), dogs are more likely to bite when left chained or confined for long periods, or when left alone all day. Dogs need social interaction to avoid depression, withdrawal, and aggression. Unfortunately, today’s busy lives may mean more dogs who spend time alone and develop behavioral problems. Additionally, some pet owners intentionally train their dogs to behave aggressively.
Common reasons for a dog to show aggression and/or bite include the following:
In some cases, dogs attack and bite for no discernible reason, but instead, act on instincts and motives beyond our understanding.
Both medical professionals and dog trainers typically measure the severity of dog bites by the Dunbar Dog Bite Scale. This scale uses the dog’s tooth depth and number of bites in an attack as a quantifiable way to convey the severity of an attack. The following scale measures severity between level-1 and level-6 bites:
If you lost a loved one due to a fatal dog attack, a Chicago wrongful death attorney can help your family recover compensation and a sense of justice for your grievous loss.
Fortunately, nearly 99% of dog bites in Chicago and elsewhere are level one or two bites. However, this also means that one person out of a hundred suffers severe injuries or death from dog attacks, amounting to about 12,480 hospitalizations for dog bites each year in the U.S. alone. Tragically, there were 740 deaths from dog bites in the U.S. between 2005 and 2023.
Common injuries from dog attacks in Chicago include the following:
Sometimes, a dog bite victim suffers additional injuries during a fall when the attacking dog knocks them down. These may include soft-tissue injuries, fractures, and traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions or more severe brain injuries.
Suffering injuries from a dog bite or multiple bites is a terrifying experience, and a grim reminder that dogs are not merely pets and companions, but animals with sharp teeth and powerful jaws. A severely injured dog bite victim may be incapacitated and unable to take any action at the scene, but if the victim or an uninjured companion can use a cell phone, they can take the following actions to protect themselves physically and financially:
Always go directly to an emergency room. Then, ask for a detailed medical report of your injuries. Be sure to carefully follow your doctor’s instructions, including filling your antibiotic prescriptions to prevent infection.
Dog bites are prone to infections, requiring antibiotic treatments. After severe dog bite injuries, the injury victim may require reconstructive surgery to restore the function and appearance of the wounded areas. Dog bite injuries can be financially costly as well as painful and disfiguring. Common damages recovered in Chicago dog bite claims include the following:
Dog bite victims frequently report PTSD and anxiety caused by the emotional trauma of a dog attack. In some cases, additional compensation is awarded for catastrophic injuries such as permanent scarring, disfigurement, or loss of digits or limbs.
If a loved one died from dog bite injuries, a close family member could recover compensation such as medical, funeral, and burial costs, and lost earnings for the number of working years the victim would have had left to them.
Dog bite lawsuits are a type of personal injury claim. Most Chicago dog bite cases are filed against the dog owner’s property liability insurance, which covers dog bite damages even if the incident takes place away from the owner’s property. Unfortunately, insurance companies are private businesses that operate to make profits. An insurance adjuster’s job is to protect the company’s profits at your expense. Often, they do this by delaying, disputing, and devaluing claims, if not outright denying their policyholder’s liability. Your Chicago personal injury lawyer will defend against these and other common insurance company tactics that could adversely impact your claim.
An experienced Chicago dog bite lawyer pursues the maximum compensation available for a dog bite victim’s damages by doing the following:
Fortunately, most dog bite claims in Chicago are resolved through settlements, making it unlikely that your case will require a court. However, the trial-ready dog bite lawyers at Smith LaCien will prepare your case as though for trial throughout the process to make a more compelling claim.
Under 510 ILCS 5/13, the law states the following:
“The Deputy Administrator, or his or her authorized representative, shall have such dog or other animal confined under the observation of a licensed veterinarian. The confinement shall be for a period of not less than 10 days from the date the bite occurred and shall continue until the animal has been examined and released from confinement by a licensed veterinarian.”
The law goes on to state that the dog’s owner must present the dog to a licensed veterinarian for confinement within 24 hours of the bite, unless the owner produces evidence of the dog’s rabies vaccination.
The local court of the jurisdiction where an Illinois dog bite occurred determines if a dog should be euthanized after biting based on the severity of the attack, the dog’s history, and the dog’s home living conditions.
When someone else’s dog causes you physical harm, emotional trauma, and financial expenses, you have the right to recover compensation for your losses by demanding accountability from the dog’s owner. Call or contact Smith LaCien LLP online for experienced legal representation in your Chicago dog bite claim.
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