When individuals or families are looking to adopt a dog, it is important to consider every possible factor. For example, although canines are often viewed as fun-loving, playful animals, certain sounds or actions may lead to aggressive forms of behavior. A dog bite attack can leave a victim suffering from nerve damage, disfiguring scars, and various other injuries. In the most extreme cases, a wrongful death can result from an attack. If your loved one has lost their life due to the negligence of a dog owner, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you seek financial compensation for your loss.    

Aggressive Dog Breeds

Despite the fact that a dog may seem friendly and non-threatening, it is possible that an act of aggression can happen unexpectedly. Although it is possible that any breed of dog can act violently, there are certain breeds that may be more likely to attack. For instance, some of the breeds that are more commonly linked to aggressive actions include:

• Bulldogs

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Dogs are often viewed as furry companions to men, women, and children, and they are usually expected to be friendly and loving to whoever interacts with them. While this is true in many situations, it is impossible to predict how an animal is going to behave. Dogs may unexpectedly become violent or aggressive, biting someone and causing serious injuries. If you or a loved one have suffered a dog bite injury, you may be able to recover financial compensation from the animal's owner.

Examples of Aggressive Dog Behaviors

Dogs will typically display aggressive behavior if they feel threatened. For instance, a dog may become more hostile when protecting their territory or offspring. There are several behavioral tendencies that dogs may display that indicate that they may attack someone, such as:

• Becoming stiff or rigid

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It is not uncommon for a person to display signs of love and affection towards a canine. Often referred to as man's best friend, a dog can be playful and joyous in many situations. However, a canine’s behavior can be impossible to predict, and severe injuries could result from a dog attack. Although it may be tempting to try and pet or interact with a dog, your conduct should be well thought out. Before any actions are taken towards a canine, there are several “Do’s” and “Don’ts” that should be considered.  

Appropriate Conduct

Due to the fact that an animal attack can be unpredictable, it is always important to consider how a canine might interpret your behavior. Regardless if you are familiar with the dog or not, a miscalculated action could put a dog into a defensive mindset. Before you attempt to interact with a canine, it is considered a best practice to:

• Ask the owner if it is okay to pet the dog (if it is not your dog)
• Remain still if you are approached by an unfamiliar canine
• Curl into a ball and protect your head if you are knocked to the ground by a dog
• Immediately report any strange behavior to the dog’s owner or appropriate party

Behaviors to Avoid

Scars and disfigurement, nerve damage, or wrongful death can be the aftermath of a dog bite attack. The aggressive nature of a canine should not be taken lightly, considering that nearly 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States. To better increase your chances of avoiding an attack, an individual should not:

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), more than 4.5 million people each year are bitten by dogs in the United States. In addition, it is estimated that roughly 800,000 victims require medical attention after an attack. Loss of wages coinciding with treatment can lead to a significant financial strain for the victim. In order to hold the correct party responsible for a canine’s reckless actions, the state of Illinois has enacted several laws and regulations for dog attacks. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite, it is important to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney.  

Strict Liability

In Illinois, a canine owner can be responsible for any injuries that occur if their pet attacks another person. According to (510 ILCS 5/16), if a dog or other animal attacks, or attempts to attack, a person without provocation in any place where the victim may lawfully be, the owner can be liable for the full amount of the injuries. For example, if a dog attacked a house guest without a justifiable cause, the owner could be held accountable. It should be recognized that liability laws vary from state to state.   

Illinois Classifications

The Illinois Animal Control Act recognizes that certain situations and considerations may be the reason behind a canine attack. In Illinois, a “dangerous dog” is defined as an individual canine found anywhere other than its owner’s property that is unmuzzled, unleashed, or unattended by its owner, and is behaving in a threatening manner. In addition, a “vicious dog” is classified as a canine that attacks a person and causes serious physical injury or death without provocation. A dog can also be designated “vicious” if it has been classified as “dangerous” on three separate occasions.  

Known as man’s best friend, a dog can provide companionship and joy to animal lovers. Although dogs can be trained to follow certain behaviors, it is impossible to completely control a dog’s actions. Loud noises, unfamiliar people, or specific practices could lead to a dog acting with aggression. If a dog bite does take place, outcomes such as scars and disfigurement, nerve damage, and wrongful deaths can result. In addition, the spreading of germs can cause serious infections in a victim. If you or a loved one has been attacked by a dog, speaking to an experienced attorney can help in your pursuit of compensation.   

Types of Infections

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 18 percent of dog bites become infected with bacteria. Although 60 different bacteria have been linked to a dog’s mouth, only a finite amount of these germs can lead to a victim getting sick. If bacteria spread after a bite, certain infections can result:

• Rabies: A virus that affects the brain and can be life-threatening, rabies is most commonly spread through the bite and saliva of an infected animal.    
• Capnocytophaga Bacteria: Living in the mouth of people and dogs, these bacteria can lead to possible illnesses. Although rare, Capnocytophaga bacteria can infect humans through bites, scratches, or close contact. 
• Pasteurella: One of the most common types of bacteria that can be spread from a dog bite, Pasteurella can cause a red infection where the bite took place. More serious diseases may result in people with a weakened immune system. Swollen glands, joints, and difficulty moving can be prevalent. 
• Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA): A staph infection can lead to lung, skin or urinary tract infections in people. In certain cases, MRSA can spread to the bloodstream or lungs, causing dangerous infections.
• Tetanus: A toxin that is produced from bacteria (Clostridium tetani), tetanus can lead to rigid paralysis.

What Should be Done After a Dog Bite?

The actions a victim takes after an attack can greatly affect his or her well-being. A dog bite injury can leave an injured party with extensive medical bills, missed time at work, loss of freedom, and life-changing injuries; financial compensation may be necessary to move on. If a dog bite does occur, the person who suffered the attack should: 

In the event that a person is injured from a dog bite attack, he or she may be able to hold the owner liable for civil damages. Pain and suffering, serious injuries, and wrongful deaths can result from an unprovoked animal attack. On average, homeowners’ insurance companies pay out more than $300 million per year for dog bite injuries. Medical bills, lost wages, disability or disfigurement, and trauma can all factor into the amount of compensation that the victim is owed. Depending on whether or not the guilty party has insurance, the route to compensation may be drastically different.

What to Do After the Dog Bite?

Dog bite incidents can be rather complex if the owner is a friend or family member of the victim. Despite who is involved, it is important for a victim to immediately seek medical assistance after the bite. Depending on the severity of any injuries sustained, financial compensation may be required. After the injuries are treated, the victim should gather pictures, medical records, videos, and statements to help strengthen his or her case.   

If the Owner Has Insurance

If a dog bite occurs without provocation, in a location where the injured party was lawfully allowed to be, compensation may be sought. If the dog owner has insurance, the injured person may have a better opportunity to receive restitution. Dependent on the dog owners’ policy coverage, the insurance company may help cover liability costs. Victims should be wary of an initial “low-ball” offer from the insurance company.

According to a recent report from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), close to 5 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs on an annual basis. These studies also reveal that children make up the largest number of victims of dog bites and that more children are bitten by family pets than by random, stray dogs. As much as these statistics tell us, narrowing down the types of dogs involved and the nature of the incidents has been more difficult. Identifying which dog breeds are most responsible for victim injuries has been heavily debated among experts and the general public in recent years.

The Most Dangerous Dog Breeds

In order to delve further into the big questions surrounding dog bites, researchers from the Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University combined data from two primary factors: decades worth of breed-specific data, and detailed reports of bite trauma cases. They examined the bite severity of these cases, all of which involved injury to the face. They looked at everything from wound size and the tearing of tissue to more severe bone fractures and bone structural damage. This study allowed the researchers to assess both the frequency of bites as well as the severity. Here is what they discovered: