6 Steps For Filing A Dog Bite Lawsuit

• The first requirement that will be looked at in a potential dog bite lawsuit requires that a dog attacked, attempted to attack, or injured a person [1].
• The person who was injured had a lawful right to be where they were at the time of the attack. For example, if someone was walking down a public sidewalk and then attacked, the person who was attacked had a lawful right to be on that sidewalk.
• The person did not provoke the dog.
• The dog attacking someone doesn’t have to bite them. For example, jumping on someone and knocking them down would also be grounds for a lawsuit.

The state of Illinois is a strict liability dog bite law state. What does that mean? It means that the owner of a dog that bites someone cannot argue that they had no prior knowledge that their dog was aggressive or dangerous.

Furthermore, if someone doesn’t provoke your dog and it attacks them, you are liable. It’s as simple as that. That’s why it’s the responsibility of dog owners to keep their dog contained and prevent it from getting out where it could possibly bite someone.

There are only two possible defenses that a dog owner can use in Illinois if their dog bites someone. First, if someone teases, hurts, or harasses a dog and then it bites them, the owner of the dog may not be liable.

The other possible defense is if your dog bites someone who is trespassing on your property.

If you were bitten by a dog, the first thing you should do is call the police. Then you should seek medical care. Furthermore, the dog that bit you will need to go into quarantine to ensure that it doesn’t have rabies.

You should prioritize your health after a dog bite and seek whatever care you feel that you need. You may need stitches and there’s also a good chance that you could develop an infection.

After making sure that you are okay, your next call should be to an experienced lawyer. If it’s found that the owner of the dog did not meet their responsibilities and that you did nothing wrong when you were bitten, then you should file a lawsuit.

Seeking the aid of a dog bite lawyer in Chicago will help you navigate through Illinois’ many specific dog bite laws.

Receiving a personal injury is one of the main reasons to seek help from an attorney in a dog attack situation. Furthermore, with a severe bite injury, you should seek medical attention immediately. Your health, or the health of a loved one, should always be the first priority.

After proper medical treatment, continue to follow all medical instructions as directed. During medical treatment at the emergency room, hospital stays, or follow up care, document and keep all paperwork pertaining to your injury.

In Illinois, you have a deadline of two years from the exact day of the bite to file a claim. Furthermore, a lawyer will need all the medical information you saved during the claims process.

Another factor in considering hiring a lawyer is evidence of the circumstances surrounding the claim. To be successful in a dog bite lawsuit, you must prove three vital elements to show the owner of the animal is liable:

• You must be able to prove the dog caused the injuries. Therefore, the documentation of your medical treatment will provide the proof you need for your case.
• The victim of the attack had a right to be in the area where they received the bite. Therefore, if you entered a secure dog pen with a proper ‘beware of dog’ warning signage posted, you may be responsible for your injuries. Or if you were trespassing at the time of the dog bite, you cannot hold the owner accountable.
• The dog was not provoked by the victim. If you were teasing or hitting the dog, you may be held accountable for your own injuries, not the dog owner.

In Illinois, the law covers both the injured party and the dog owner. However, if the correct elements can be proven in court, the owner will have to pay compensation. Each dog attack situation is different.

Seeking advice from an experienced dog bite lawyer is the best way to determine if you have a valid claim.