Illinois Dog Bite Lawyer – Top 10 Questions Answered Here
Hurt by a Dog? You Need to Watch This…
Discover how we can help you navigate through your legal case if you’ve been attacked by a dog in Illinois.
Shuman Legal® Dog Bite Lawyer – Why You Should Work With Us
Since 1996, Shuman Legal® – Illinois Dog Bite Lawyers have advocated on behalf of over 25,000 injury victims and their families, helping them successfully navigate the complexities of the legal process
We Have Helped Dog Bite Victims In Illinois For Over 35 Years. Get Free Legal Advice Today
Here’s what you can expect from our law firm:
- You will get to talk directly to an attorney who is experienced with dog bite injuries and will return your call in a timely manner.
- All of your questions will get answered in regards to your unique case.
- We will give you frequent updates on the status of your case.
- You’ll get an honest assessment of your injuries and what steps can be legally taken.
- You get a detailed and clear explanation of your legal options and what the result of each one will be.
- We take care of the hard part including paperwork and working directly with medical providers, insurance companies, and individual adjusters. We will be the main contact on your case so you don’t have to worry about it.
- Our focus is on helping you get on the road to recovery. We want to get you back to feeling happy and healthy. Our top priority is for you to be back on your feet physically, emotionally, and financially.
We are experienced personal injury dog bite lawyers that will assist you with evaluating the facts, assessing your options, and managing your legal challenges. As a result, you can get compensation for your loss from your injuries so that you can focus on getting back on your feet as soon as possible.
Be sure to read our other client testimonials and know that you will be working with a law firm that is focused on YOU. We are a law firm that returns phone calls, stays in communication with you, ensures your unpaid medical are getting paid, that you’re getting compensation for lost wages, that you aren’t buried in paperwork, and who is fighting, in YOUR favor.
1. What should I do if I’ve been injured by a dog bite?
It can definitely be scary if you need to reach out to a dog bite lawyer because you have been bitten or attacked. If you were bitten by a dog in Illinois, the most important thing to do is get medical treatment and get in touch with a personal lawyer to help you. According to dogbites.org, really bad dog bites can cost the person who has been bitten on average $250,000 to $1,000,000 in medical bills. It’s best to get your medical treatment documented by medical professionals as soon as possible.
Our legal team can send an investigator to the scene to help you get medical treatment. They will help you identify the attacking dog and get the name of the dog’s owner. They will also collect the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of any witnesses and take photos of the scene of the attack and your injuries.
2. How bad does a dog bite have to be to sue in Illinois?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, an ordinance passed in Chicago in 2001 penalizes irresponsible owners of “dangerous dogs.” Every dog attack is different and that is why it’s important to get advice from a reputable lawyer who frequently handles these types of cases to give you the best legal advice.
Since 1996, The Law Office of Shuman Legal® in the Greater Chicago Area has 77 years of combined experience and has helped over 25,000 victims just like you get the help they deserve.
3. How do you negotiate a dog bite settlement?
We will assign a specialized dog bite lawyer to help guide you and your case through the system. This will give you peace of mind. We help make sure your needs medically and financially are being protected and fought for while you recover from such a horrible event.
4. Can you sue for the pain and suffering of a dog bite?
While your medical expenses are a significant part of any claim stemming from a dog bite, some of the common damages stemming from dog bite lawsuits include:
- Lost income, should you be unable to work for a period of time following your injury
- Pain and suffering, such as when the victim was a child who suffers from nightmares or a fear of dogs stemming from the attack; as well as disfigurement from scarring, or other injuries such as nerve damage.
- Property damage, if your property or belongings were damaged as a result of the attack.
5. Why do you need to work with a dog bite attorney?
When you go through such a horrifying event, it’s hard enough to worry about seeking medical treatment and getting better. An experienced legal professional can help navigate the legal process and will know what steps to take next and will know what your rights are as the victim.
6. How long do you have to sue for a dog bite once you’ve been bitten?
Dog bites are considered personal injury claims in Illinois. These types of claims require you to file within 2 years. It is best to get legal advice as soon as you’ve been bitten, we will help you every step of the way from getting the correct medical treatment to filling out all the paperwork and arguing your case for you.
7. How do I prove that a dog’s owner was responsible when their dog bit me?
Illinois follows a legal theory referred to as ‘Strict Liability’. If a dog attacked or injured you, and you had a lawful right to be in the place of the attack – for example, it was in a public place, or you had been invited to their property, the owner is responsible for your injuries. This is true even if they had no previous knowledge that the animal might be dangerous, as long as you had not provoked the animal.
8. I was hurt while running from an aggressive dog. Can I still make a claim?
Often, yes. If you have received an injury while running away from a dog who is threatening you, you are also protected by Illinois law. The most frequent outcome of this kind of case is that the dog owner’s homeowners insurance will have to pay for the medical bills and lost wages resulting from the dog attack.
9. My dog bit someone who snuck into my yard and taunted him. Am I responsible?
There are two situations when a dog owner is not responsible for the injuries received from a dog bite or other injuries inflicted by their dogs. When a dog was provoked, such as through teasing or physical abuse, the person who provoked the dog is responsible, not the owner of the dog. Secondly, if someone trespassed on the dog owner’s property, then they were not lawfully on that property and therefore not protected by Illinois law. In that situation, the owner would be not liable for their injuries.
10. My dog was attacked and hurt by another dog, what can I do?
If the other dog owner was negligent in preventing their dog from attacking yours – for example, if they were off the leash, or they did not make an effort to keep them under control – they could be liable for the injuries of your dog. This could include compensation for vet bills, medications for your dog, or kennel fees while your dog is recovering. A dog bite lawyer may be able to help you determine if you could be eligible for this.
We Have Helped Dog Bite Victims In Illinois For Over 35 Years. Get Free Legal Advice Today
Since 1996, Shuman Legal® has advocated on behalf of over 25,000 injury victims and their families, helping them successfully navigate the complexities of the legal process.
An experienced personal injury lawyer from Shuman Legal® can assist you with evaluating the facts, assessing your options, and managing your legal challenges. As a result, you can get compensation for your loss so that you can focus on getting back on your feet.
