How Insurance Companies Try To Deny or Reduce Dog Bite Claims

 Posted on December 24, 2025 in Dog Bite Injuries

A dog bite can lead to serious injuries, medical bills, and lasting emotional trauma. You would expect the dog owner's insurance company to handle the claim fairly, but insurers routinely look for reasons to deny responsibility or minimize payouts. Understanding these tactics is essential for protecting your rights after an attack. If you were bitten by a dog, consult with our Cook County, IL dog bite lawyers. We can help you counter insurer arguments and navigate Illinois's strict liability laws, which insurance companies are well-versed in exploiting to reduce what they owe.

Why Do Insurance Companies Fight Dog Bite Claims?

Insurance companies are known to be focused on reducing payouts. Even when a dog bite seems straightforward, adjusters often search for ways to challenge liability or minimize injuries. They may rely on confusion about the law or pressure injured people to accept less than they deserve.

How Insurance Companies Use Provocation to Deny Dog Bite Claims

One of the most common defenses is claiming that the injured person provoked the dog. Illinois follows a strict liability rule for dog bites under the Illinois Animal Control Act. This law allows injured people to seek compensation even if the dog had never bitten anyone before. Insurance companies often try to avoid this rule by arguing provocation. Adjusters may exaggerate normal actions, such as walking past a dog, entering a shared space, or making sudden movements, to suggest the dog’s reaction was justified.

Can Insurance Companies Claim I Was Trespassing?

Another tactic insurance companies use is to argue that the injured person did not have a legal right to be on the property where the bite occurred. Illinois law requires that the injured person was lawfully present at the time of the attack. In Cook County, this issue commonly comes up in apartment buildings, shared yards, delivery situations, or visits to friends and family. Insurers may raise trespassing claims even when permission was implied or clearly given.

How Insurers Downplay the Severity of Dog Bite Injuries

Another common tactic is minimizing the seriousness of the injuries. Insurance companies may argue that wounds healed quickly, scars are minor, or treatment was unnecessary. Emotional trauma, especially in cases involving children or facial injuries, is often dismissed or questioned. Infections and complications that develop after the initial bite are also frequently challenged. Medical records and consistent treatment help show the true impact of a dog bite injury.

Why Insurance Companies Delay Dog Bite Claims

Delays are often used to pressure injured people into settling. Insurance companies may take weeks to respond, request repeated paperwork, or claim the file is still under review. These delays can be especially stressful when medical bills are piling up.

Illinois law limits how long you have to take legal action. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, most dog bite lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury. Delays can become more damaging as this deadline approaches, but your attorney will help you challenge the insurer and file a lawsuit if necessary.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our DuPage County, IL Dog Bite Attorneys

If an insurance company is trying to deny or reduce your dog bite claim, we can help. At Dog Bite Injury Lawyer - Mevorah Law Offices LLC, we represent injured clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid if compensation is recovered. Our team brings more than 175 years of combined experience and prepares every case with the expectation that it may need to be tried in court. Call 630-552-6860 to schedule a free consultation with our Cook County, IL dog bite lawyers.