Hoffman Estates
There are over 80 million pet dogs in the United States, with 45% of homes at least having one dog. While dogs are the most popular house pets, they can be dangerous. Around 4.5 million people get bitten by dogs each year in the US. Even the cuddliest and sweetest pet dog can bite, resulting in severe injuries. Illinois ranks in the top ten states for dog bites.
If you have been injured in a dog bite, don’t make the mistake of underestimating the cost of treatments or assuming that the case would be straightforward for you to recover maximum compensation. Dog bite cases can often get complex, however, with an experienced Hoffman Estates dog bite lawyer on your side, you can navigate the legal process more effectively and increase your chances of obtaining fair compensation.
Why Do Dogs Bite?
A dog bite or dog attack usually occurs when the dog feels stressed or threatened. Unlike humans, dogs can’t express their anger, pain, or frustration through words, so they express themselves through aggressive behavior, such as growling, snarling, snapping, and biting.
There are several factors that can play a role in the dog behaving in an aggressive manner. In some cases, an underlying injury or illness can cause the dog to be easily aggravated causing them to bite in response. Dogs are also overprotective about their food and can become aggressive if they get too close to them during a meal.
While dogs can attack their owners, unfamiliar people are typically at a higher risk of suffering from a dog bite. This is why dog owners must keep their dogs on a leash in unfamiliar situations. Dogs are protective about their litter, and a mother dog will bite if she feels her puppies need protection.
Unfortunately, children are at a higher risk of suffering dog bites as they are more likely to set off aggressive or fearful responses in dogs. This highlights the need to educate children on how to safely interact with dogs. Parents should try to supervise their children’s interaction with dogs.
It’s also worth noting that certain dog breeds can be more aggressive than others. For example, a pit bull-type dog is typically more aggressive than other dog breeds. However, any dog can bite and cause harm, so caution is always advised regardless of the breed.
Understanding Dog Bite Laws in Illinois
Illinois follows a strict liability law for dog bite cases. Under this law, the dog owners are liable for any damages their dogs cause victims, without the need to prove that the dog owner was negligent. This places less burden of proof on dog bite victims, who can claim compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, and other losses that were a result of the dog bite.
The dog owner can be released from liability for a victim’s losses in two circumstances if the victim was trespassing at the time of the bite or if the dog bite victim aggravated or provoked the dog into attacking. The Illinois law for dog bites also requires dog bite cases to be reported to the local Animal Services. This helps ensure others are protected from getting hurt by the dog, who could have a tendency to attack.
According to the Illinois Animal Control Act, a dog can be deemed as a vicious or dangerous dog if it has a history of biting incidents or behaves in a manner that poses a serious and unjustified threat to others. The dog owner may be required to take certain steps to keep others safe from their vicious dog. This may include keeping the dog in an enclosure, wearing a muzzle, or having the dog spayed or neutered, if necessary.
Steps to Take After a Dog Bite Incident
Knowing what to do after a dog bite incident can help you manage the stress and trauma that often comes in the aftermath of such an incident. It can also help protect your rights and lay the foundation for recovering compensation for your suffering.
A dog bite can result in different types of injuries, ranging from minor to severe. Regardless of the severity of the injuries, you must seek medical attention after a dog bite. Even if the bite wound appears minor, you can be at risk of suffering infection or other complications. For severe wounds, you will most likely need to visit the nearest medical emergency center. You can do initial care by cleaning the wound, applying an antiseptic to disinfect the wound, and covering the wound with a sterile bandage.
While at the accident site, document the scene to gather evidence as that can play a key role in your dog bite claim or litigation. Take photos of your dog bite injuries, the location of the incident, and the dog. Also, gather the contact information of the dog’s owner. You should also ask about the dog’s vaccination records and request proof of the status.
An unvaccinated dog is at higher risk of contracting and spreading rabies, and they pose a serious health risk to humans and other dogs. If you have been bitten by a dog that has not been vaccinated for rabies or is suspected of having rabies, you need to take immediate measures to prevent infection.
You also want to get an attorney involved early in the process so they can stop you from making mistakes that can jeopardize your case, and to handle all the legal aspects of the case, so you can focus on recovering from the horrific incident. Dog bite legal advice Hoffman Estates IL can be invaluable in helping victims understand their rights and navigate the complexities of their dog bite claims.
Get Legal Guidance From Dog Bite Attorney Hoffman Estates IL
Experiencing a dog bite is not only a traumatic experience but can also lead to legal challenges and financial difficulties. You could be facing lost income, hefty medical expenses, loss of future earning capacity, and emotional distress that doesn’t allow you to focus on your work.
If you have a straightforward dog bite case, then the attorney can help you wrap up the matter as quickly as possible and recover maximum compensation for your losses. However, if there is evidence of provocation or trespassing, then the case could become significantly more complex.
While a dog owner is required to restrain their dog in public places or in situations where there are strangers present, such requirements are relaxed on their private property. This means that if you have suffered a dog bite while trespassing on their private property, then your case would be signal weakened. However, with the help of a skilled Schaumburg dog bite lawyer, you could shift some liability to the dog owner even if you were trespassing.
Our dog bite attorneys are well-versed in local and state laws related to bite cases. We use our extensive experience and legal expertise to help dog bite victims get compensation for their suffering. We take a personalized approach to each case, ensuring we fully understand the case and its nuances before we offer advice and representation on their best legal course of action.
As a law firm that specializes in dog bite cases in Illinois, we have established relationships with local court and legal professionals so we can tap into these resources for assistance in our cases. Our dog bite lawyers are easily accessible throughout the process so you won’t have to chase them to get updates on your case. You will be getting reims updates on your progress. To learn more about how we can help you hold the dog owner responsible for their actions and get full and fair compensation for your suffering, please contact us to get legal help for dog bites Hoffman Estates IL.
