Who Is Legally Responsible For Injuries Caused By A Dog

Dogs can be loving, loyal companions. However, dogs who become aggressive toward humans can cause horrific injuries. A dog attack can result in puncture wounds, deep lacerations, nerve damage, broken bones, infection, and other major injuries. These injuries may leave the victim disfigured or disabled for the rest of his or her life. If you were the victim of a dog bite or dog attack, you may be entitled to compensation for your physical and mental injuries.

Dog Attack Laws in Illinois

Animal-related laws vary significantly from state to state. Illinois is a strict liability state when it comes to injuries caused by animals such as dogs. This means that a dog owner may be liable for injuries caused in a dog attack even if he or she did not know that the animal was aggressive or capable of injuring someone. According to Illinois statute, an owner is liable for injuries caused by his or her dog if:

• The dog attacked, attempted to attack, or otherwise injured the victim
• The victim was on public property or lawfully on private property when the injury occurred
• The dog was not provoked to attack

Although the state of Illinois has laws describing an owner’s liability for injuries caused by his or her dog, local laws may differ. According to some local regulations, a dog owner is only liable for injuries caused by a bite if he or she knew that the dog was aggressive or had previously bitten someone before.

Damages in a Dog Attack Injury Case

Dogs are often thought of as cute, cuddly creatures. However, an aggressive dog can cause severe, sometimes fatal injuries. If you were injured in a dog attack, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. The owner of the dog may be required to pay for your emergency room treatment, hospital stay, corrective surgery, and other medical costs caused by the dog attack. Additional compensation for your lost wages, reduced future earning capacity, pain and suffering, disfigurement, or disability may also be available. Being attacked by an animal is a deeply traumatic experience. Therefore, you may be entitled to compensation for your mental suffering and the psychological damage caused by the attack as well.

Contact a Waukegan Dog Bite Lawyer

Being the victim of a dog attack is a horrifying experience. To learn about your legal options following a dog bite or other dog-related injury, contact Salvi & Maher, L.L.C. Call us at 847-662-3303 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Lake County personal injury attorney.

Source:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=051000050K16