If you or someone you love have been attacked by a dog or suffered an injury due to a dog bite, you may be unsure about the legal options available to you. Dog bites can cause multiple types of injuries, such as lacerations, puncture wounds, infections, nerve damage, and scarring. In the most serious cases, dog bites may even lead to the wrongful death of a victim. Fortunately, Illinois law states that a dog's owner or a person who was in control of a dog at the time of a dog bite is "strictly liable" for a victim's injuries and damages. This means that you do not have to prove that the person was negligent or failed to control their dog, and as long as you were not trespassing and did not provoke the dog, you can pursue compensation for your injuries. By understanding the types of compensation you can receive, you can make sure you will be able to make a full recovery from a dog bite.

Medical Expenses

In general, a dog bite lawsuit will reimburse you for all medical expenses related to the injuries suffered in an attack. This can include the costs of emergency room treatment, follow-up doctor's visits, surgeries, and rehabilitative therapy. In serious cases, extensive medical treatment may be needed, such as surgery to correct nerve damage or bones that were broken or crushed, as well as ongoing physical therapy, medications, and other forms of care. In addition to being repaid for treatment you have already received, compensation may address any future medical care that will be required.

Lost Wages

If you missed work while recovering from a dog bite, you may be repaid for all the income you would have earned during that time. In some cases, a dog bite injury may be serious enough to cause permanent disabilities, such as when a bite causes damage to the arms and hands, affecting a person's ability to perform fine motor skills and complete work-related tasks they had done in the past. In these situations, you may also be compensated for the loss of future income, as well as the benefits you would receive from continued employment.

Many people feel like their dogs are members of the family. We trust our dogs around our children, and many people rely on their dogs to protect their family and home. Unfortunately, not all dogs are properly trained or restrained, and when an unleashed or roaming dog attacks your own family pet, the results can be devastating. Dogs are frequently injured and even killed by other dogs, and owners may want compensation for their distress, loss, and to prevent the attacking dog from behaving similarly in the future. Fortunately, in certain situations, Illinois law allows people whose pets have been attacked by dogs to recover damages from the dog’s owner. 

Work to Actively Prevent Dog Attacks 

The old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is certainly true in cases where a dog is attacked and killed by another dog. The best thing dog owners can do to prevent dog attacks is to make sure their own dog is properly trained, leashed, and supervised - especially if it is a small dog, like a Minpin, Dachshund, or toy breed. This is especially true in places like dog parks, where unknown dogs are roaming about freely, and each dog’s owner is not necessarily paying attention. 

If you have a neighbor whose dog is allowed to wander onto your property, speak to your neighbor whether you believe the dog poses a threat or not. Even dogs who have never displayed aggression signs can unexpectedly attack dogs and people.