Posted on February 12, 2021 in Dog Bite Injuries

In recent weeks, Illinois residents have dealt with the effects of major snowstorms and near-zero temperatures, including the risk of slipping and falling on icy sidewalks and driveways. This risk may increase if you encounter a dog while you are out walking, as unfamiliar and friendly dogs alike may jump on you or run into your path, causing you to lose your balance. Unfortunately, falling on ice can often lead to serious injuries including broken bones, concussions, and more. If you have been injured in a fall caused by a dog, you may wonder whether it is possible to recover compensation from the dog’s owner.

Compensation for Non-Bite Injuries Caused By Dogs

Under Illinois law, a dog’s owner is considered liable for damages when their dog “attacks, attempts to attack, or injures” a person without provocation, provided that the injured person was lawfully permitted to be in the place where the injury occurred. Notably, unlike some other states, Illinois dog owner liability law does not specify that the injuries must have been caused by a bite. Therefore, the law can apply to a person who suffers injuries that require medical attention in a fall for which a dog is responsible. The injured person can pursue both economic damages related to medical care and damaged property, as well as non-economic damages related to pain and suffering, depending on the effects of the injuries.

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 Posted on January 15, 2021 in Dog Bite Injuries

Although the percentage of dog bites and attacks that result in fatal injuries is relatively small, an attack can be deadly, especially when the victim is a child or someone else who is unable to effectively defend themself. These cases can be especially devastating for the victim’s surviving family members, and while there is no way to bring the victim back, there are ways to hold the dog’s owner accountable.

Strict Liability for Illinois Dog Owners

According to Illinois law, a dog’s owner is strictly liable for all civil damages if someone is injured because the dog attacks without provocation and the attack occurs at a location where the victim is legally allowed to be. This means that a victim does not need to demonstrate that the owner’s negligence led to the attack, or that the dog had a history of violence that the owner was aware of. This strict liability applies not only to dog bites, but also any other unprovoked actions from the dog that cause an injury, including scratching and knocking a person to the ground.

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 Posted on December 17, 2020 in Dog Bite Injuries

Many people think of dogs as friendly animals, and this is often true, especially when they are cared for by responsible pet owners. However, if you have been bitten by a dog, you know just how dangerous they can sometimes be. In certain circumstances, a dog may be classified as dangerous, or even vicious, under Illinois law, and you may have questions about how these classifications can come into play in your case for compensation.

Illinois’s Dangerous Dog Classification

According to the Illinois Animal Control Act, there are two primary circumstances under which a dog can be defined as dangerous:

1. When the dog is off its owner’s property, unattended by its owner, without a leash or muzzle, and acting in a way that threatens a person or their pet.

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 Posted on November 06, 2020 in Dog Bite Injuries

A dog attack is often traumatizing in the moment, both mentally and physically, and unfortunately, many victims continue to experience trauma for many years after the fact. This is especially true for victims whose injuries result in permanent scarring or disfigurement that affects their appearance and physical abilities. If your dog bite injuries have left you with permanent scars, it is important that you understand your options for recovering damages.

Why Dog Bites Often Lead to Scarring

Though we often think of dogs as friendly animals, biologically they are predators, with teeth and jaws that can cause serious damage. Research indicates that some dog breeds can bite with a force of over 500 pounds, and when this force is used on a human, it can result in deep wounds and soft tissue that is torn or even ripped away completely, leaving the surrounding skin to scar as it attempts to heal. Medical researchers also suggest that permanent scarring may be more likely when a dog bite wound becomes infected, as the infection interferes with the healing process. Children, who are at a greater risk of dog bite injuries in the first place, also often scar more easily than adults.

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 Posted on October 22, 2020 in Dog Bite Injuries

Though you may have seen portrayals of rabies in the media, it may not be a disease that you ever expect to contract yourself. It is true that rabies infections among humans are uncommon in the United States, but if you are bitten by a strange dog, it is still important that you take all of the necessary health precautions to avoid becoming infected with rabies or another disease.

What is Rabies and How Does it Spread?

Rabies is a virus that uniquely affects mammals and is primarily spread through the saliva of an animal that has been infected. In the United States, rabies is carried mostly by wild animals including foxes, raccoons, skunks, and bats, but it can also be spread by a dog that has not received a rabies vaccination and has been in contact with wild animals. If you are infected with rabies, it can progress through your nervous system and severely impact your brain activity, resulting in confusion, hallucinations, fear of water, other unusual behavior, and death. Early treatment is crucial to stop the spread and prevent the more serious effects from taking hold.

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 Posted on September 03, 2020 in Dog Bite Injuries

In the warm summer months, taking your dog to a dog park can be a fun activity for you and a great way for your dog to socialize and get exercise. However, because Illinois dog parks often allow dogs to run without a leash, there may be a greater risk of dog bite injuries. Before going to the park, you should take safety precautions that can protect you, your dog, and everyone around you.

Preparing For Your Trip to the Dog Park 

Dog park safety can start well before you arrive at the park itself. Here are some things you can do to promote a positive dog park experience:

• Train your dog well: Before you let your dog off-leash at a dog park, make sure that it understands commands including “sit,” “stay,” and “come,” and that it will respond to your commands regardless of the environment. You can also attend dog obedience classes to acclimate your dog to the presence of other dogs.

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 Posted on August 27, 2020 in Dog Bite Injuries

If you are a dog owner, you likely consider your dog to be a member of the family and want to keep it safe from harm. If your dog is attacked by another dog, the situation can be extremely upsetting, and it is understandable that you would want some kind of compensation for your distress. In Illinois, it is possible to pursue recovery from the other dog’s owner under certain circumstances, and an experienced dog bite attorney can help you make your case.

Keeping Your Dog Safe From Other Dog Attacks

The best way to avoid the trauma of an attack on your dog is to take steps that can prevent it from happening in the first place. As a responsible dog owner, you should make sure to do all of the following:

• Train your dog: Working with your dog on your own or attending a dog obedience class can ensure that your dog is comfortable around other dogs and abstains from behavior that could provoke another dog to attack.

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 Posted on August 04, 2020 in Dog Bite Injuries

Dogs are one of the most popular pets in the United States, but along with all of the positive aspects of owning a dog, there is a downside. Millions of Americans are bitten by dogs each year according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and young children are especially at risk for both serious injuries and wrongful death resulting from dog bites. The good news is that many dog bite injuries are preventable, and whether your family owns a dog or simply comes into contact with dogs on a regular basis, the following are some preventative measures you can take to keep your children from becoming victims.

1. Think carefully before adopting a dog. Before you decide to bring a dog into your household, you should research common behaviors of different breeds and learn about a dog’s personal history to ensure that the one you choose is a good fit for a home with young children. You should also make sure that you have the time and ability to properly train a dog and educate your children on dog ownership so as to minimize the potential for a bite.

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 Posted on July 30, 2020 in Dog Bite Injuries

As COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease in some places, one can expect to see an increased amount of activity outdoors, including more people out and about walking their dogs. Even though most of these dogs you will see are docile and friendly, a dog bite incident can occur at any time. Whether caused by poor ownership and handling or a simple misinterpretation of a dog’s body language, the effects of a dog bite can be serious, potentially fatal, and threaten not only the physical health of the victim but his or her mental state as well.

Considering the damage a single dog bite can do, it is unfortunate for residents of Illinois that the state ranks among the highest for dog bite incidents. Despite having one of the lowest rates of dog ownership in the United States, Illinois residents filed 822 claims for dog bites in 2018, according to a recent article from MoneyWise. This makes Illinois the fourth highest in the nation for dog bite-related claims, topping claims made by residents of Wisconsin, Michigan, and even New York.

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 Posted on July 10, 2020 in Dog Bite Injuries

Dogs, much like their human owners, are social creatures — they play, communicate, and sometimes show aggression. These behaviors may, however, be interpreted incorrectly by humans. The fact of the matter is, even dog-owning Americans can have difficulty interpreting their best friend’s behavior because play fighting may often be indistinguishable from the real thing. Dogs will growl, bark, bite, and scratch during play fighting, exactly the same as they may behave during an actual fight. Fundamentally, this is unlikely to change over the course of a dog’s life, and even adult and elderly dogs may engage in nipping and play biting, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). It is important to be aware of dogs' behaviors in case any encounters turn aggressive and result in injuries.  

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