The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that more than 4.5 million Americans are injured from dog bites every year. If you are bitten by a dog, your best option may be to contact a Chicago dog bite lawyer immediately after receiving appropriate medical care. With help from an experienced personal injury attorney, you may be able to receive significant compensation for your injuries.
The Dangers of Dogs
Though much about a dog’s behavior can be attributed to the way they are treated by owners, there are some alarming statistics surrounding certain dog breeds. More than two-thirds of dog bite incidents involve pit bulls, despite ownership of those breeds hovering around 5%. Other notably dangerous dogs include Rottweilers.
For this reason, there has been an influx of dog ownership laws seeking to regulate the kinds of dogs a person can and stipulating rules for the care and containment of dogs. Though it is not always the case, a dog bite may indicate that the owner neglected to follow certain legal regulations, and an experienced dog bite lawyer in Chicago could help clients determine whether a clear breach of the law occurred.
The Illinois Animal Control Act
The state laws relevant to dog bites and animal attacks in Chicago can be found in the Illinois Animal Control Act. For a person to have an actionable case against the dog’s owner, they must prove they were acting peaceably and not in a way that might provoke the animal to attack.
It is also important that the attack occurred in an area where the plaintiff was legally allowed to be. In other words, a person who is bitten by a dog while trespassing may not have a solid case for reimbursement. However, if it can be shown that the bitten person was acting in a non-threatening way and was not trespassing, the owner of the dog may be required to pay for all the damages incurred by the person who was bitten.
Who is Responsible for Dog Bite Injuries?
In Chicago dog bite cases, the owner of the dog is responsible for reimbursing the person who was bitten. However, the legal definition of “owner” is rather expansive. Anyone who exerts some measure of responsibility or care over the animal may be considered its owner.
The law also states that someone who knows about a dog’s presence on their property and allows the dog to be there may be considered liable for damages. An experienced dog bite attorney could assess the situation and determine who may be liable or most responsible for the damages that the injured person has accumulated due to the injury.
What A Chicago Dog Bite Attorney Could Do for You
Injuries from dog bite incidents can be very serious, potentially including severe scarring, persistent nerve damage, and even the loss of a limb. When seeking compensation for your dog bite injury, it could be of the utmost importance to have an experienced dog bite lawyer on your side.
If you are bitten by a dog, contacting a seasoned attorney could be the best way to receive top-notch advice and support as you pursue restitution for your injuries. Call today to get started on your case.
