Holy Shih Tzu! My Neighbor’s Dog Bit Me, What Now?

Americans love dogs. But news of vicious dog attacks appear in the news on a daily basis. According to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year.

If you or your children have been attacked or injured by a dog, you need to know your rights and all of your options. The Illinois legislature has passed several measures to protect the general public from just such attacks, but understanding your rights can be complicated and attempting to navigate those rights on your own can prove to be impossible or at best damaging to the scope of your possible recovery.

Illinois law on dog bites

The Illinois Animal Control Act makes it clear that; “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 she or he may lawfully be, the owner of such dog or other animal is liable in civil damages. . .”

The old law in Illinois used to essentially give each dog “one free bite,” with the idea in mind that the owner couldn’t know that their dog would bite until they have bitten someone the first time – then they were on notice that their dog is dangerous. That is no longer the law – if a dog attacks someone without being provoked, there is a very good chance the owner is responsible for the victim’s medical bills, disfigurement, pain and suffering, loss of a normal life, lost wages, and/or mental distress.

Steps to take after a dog bite

You should know that there are defenses that the dog owner’s insurance company will often try to use to avoid liability. They might claim you provoked the dog, you were somewhere you weren’t supposed to be, or that the insurance policy doesn’t cover the bite for some reason or another. In some cases their defense might be valid, but many times the insurance company is taking a position to see if you will go away without a fight. Our attorneys can review the insurance policy at issue to ensure you aren’t giving up a viable avenue of recovery.

Don’t give a statement to the insurance company without at least speaking to a dog bite attorney first – our consultations are free, so you have nothing to lose.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog attack, contact the experienced injury team at Crannell Law Group for a free consultation and case assessment.