Rockford Dog Bite Lawyers – Free Consultation
- Were you injured by a dog or other animal?
- Did they attack you unprovoked?
- Were you in a space that was unrestricted and legal for you to be there?
If you answered yes to any of these you have a strong case to file a dog bite lawsuit against the owner of the animal. You’ll need our help — Contact Our Dog Bite Lawyers Today! We serve all of Rockford and the surrounding areas. If you can’t make it to us – we’ll make it to you.
Should I Get A Lawyer For A Dog Bite?
Animal attacks can be traumatic. An attack doesn’t only mean that you were bit, but can be any injury you’ve sustained during an attack. This is where a lawyer can help. Talking to an attorney is your best first step.
Sharing what happened during your attack can help us decide if you have a strong case or not. Hiring an attorney is your next best step. An attorney who litigates dog attack injuries, or other animal attacks, can take the guesswork out of your case and provide guidance and help you settle your case most of the time without going to court.
Illinois One-Bite Rule
Illinois does not follow the “one free bite” rule that some other states use.
Essentially, in Illinois, victims that are injured in an attack are in a much better position to recover from any injuries sustained in a dog, or other animal attack. In some other states recovering damages in a lawsuit from an attack means that animal likely has a history of attacks. In Illinois, the animal does not need to have attacked someone in the past for you to be able to recover.
Illinois Statute on Animal Attacks and Injuries
Our Illinois law statute is fairly specific in regards to animal attacks such as dog attacks. You can read more here – Sec. 16. Animal attacks or injuries.
(510 ILCS 5/16) (from Ch. 8, par. 366)
Sec. 16. Animal attacks or injuries. If a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks, attempts to attack, or injures any person who is peaceably conducting himself or herself in any place where he or she may lawfully be, the owner of such dog or other animal is liable in civil damages to such person for the full amount of the injury proximately caused thereby.
(Source: P.A. 94-819, eff. 5-31-06.)
This means that an injury doesn’t only have to be from an aggressive attack, but can also be any injury sustained from an attempted attack. If you were:
- In an areas where you were lawfully able to be;
- Conducting yourself peacefully or without provocation;
- An animal attacks or attempts to attack;
- You sustained injuries from the attack or attempted attack;
You might have a dog bite claim where you can recover any damages from your injuries, loss of work and time, and other expenses related to the injury.
Dog Attack Lawsuits When Provoking An Animal or, Trespassing
If you were trespassing on private property or you were provoking an animal you won’t have a strong case. But being where you shouldn’t have been and still being attacked doesn’t mean you won’t win your case, it just makes it harder.
Who Counts as the “Owner” of a Dog in Illinois?
Under the Animal Control Act, “owner” means more than the person whose name is on the vet records. It includes anyone who has a property right in the animal, anyone who keeps or harbors it, anyone who has it in their care or acts as its custodian, and anyone who knowingly lets it stay on property they occupy (510 ILCS 5/2.16). That can include a dog sitter, a relative watching the dog, or someone who lets a friend’s dog live at their home. Courts look at who actually had control of the animal.
Who Pays for a Dog Bite Claim?
In most cases, a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy pays dog bite claims, not the owner personally. Many families worry about suing a neighbor or relative. In reality, the claim is usually handled by the insurance company the owner has been paying premiums to for exactly this kind of situation. Some policies exclude certain breeds or dogs with a bite history, which is one more reason to have a lawyer review the coverage early.
Dog Bite Injuries Are Often Worse Than They Look
Dog bites cause deep puncture wounds, torn tissue, nerve damage, broken bones, and infections. Children are bitten most often, and their injuries are frequently to the face and head, leaving scars that may need plastic surgery years later as they grow. Falls caused by a lunging or charging dog, even without a bite, can also be covered by the Act, which applies when an animal attacks, attempts to attack, or injures someone.
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Rockford
- Get medical care right away. Bites get infected easily, and rabies questions need answers fast.
- Identify the dog and owner. Get names, addresses, and vaccination information if you can.
- Report the bite to animal control. An official report documents what happened and triggers the required quarantine and rabies checks.
- Take photos of your injuries as they heal, torn clothing, and the place where it happened.
- Get witness names.
- Don’t give a recorded statement to the owner’s insurance company before talking to a lawyer.
Mail Carriers, Delivery Drivers, and Workers
People who are lawfully on a property to do their jobs, like mail carriers, delivery drivers, meter readers, and contractors, are protected by the Animal Control Act. If you were bitten while working, you may also have a workers’ compensation claim, and the two claims have to be coordinated.
Quick Answers About Illinois Dog Bite Claims
Does the dog have to have bitten someone before?
No. Under 510 ILCS 5/16, the owner can be liable for a first bite if the dog attacked without provocation and you were acting peaceably in a place you had a right to be.
What counts as provocation?
Illinois courts look at provocation from the perspective of a normal dog, and even unintentional acts can count in some cases. Whether something was provocation is often the main fight in a dog bite case.
How long do I have to file?
Most Illinois personal injury claims must be filed within two years (735 ILCS 5/13-202). For children, the deadline is usually extended until two years after they turn 18, but waiting makes cases harder to prove. Settlements of a child’s claim must be approved by the court.
What does it cost to talk to you?
Nothing. Consultations are free. Call (815) 964-8303, any time.
Reviewed by Attorney Paul M. Marriett, Rockford Injury Lawyers.
Call Our Offices for a Free Consultation on Your Animal Attack
For a confidential, compassionate, in-depth, AND FREE consultation contact Rockford Personal Injury Lawyers about your dog bite, or other animal bite attack.
We service Rockford and elsewhere in the State of Illinois. Call or text us 24/7/365 at (815) 964-8303. We offer in-office consultations, and routinely make visits to clients’ homes, hospital rooms, nursing homes, and other off-site locations to make retaining our services as easy as possible. Contact a Rockford personal injury lawyer TODAY for help!