Under Illinois state law, dog owners have a legal obligation to keep their pets under control at all times, and they typically hold “strict liability” for any injuries their dog causes by biting or otherwise attacking another person. However, while this rule does simplify the process of filing suit over a dog attack, it is generally far from simple to recover comprehensively for the full effects of your injuries.
Guidance from a seasoned Carpentersville dog bite lawyer could make a significant difference in your ability to enforce your legal rights and effectively demand the restitution you deserve. Once retained, your dedicated personal injury attorney could explain exactly who holds legal fault for your injuries, identify all losses you could seek compensation for, and work tenaciously on your behalf to pursue a positive outcome to your lawsuit or settlement demand.
Under 510 Illinois Compiled Statutes § 5/16, if a domesticated dog or other animal kept as a pet, service animal, or for any other purpose attacks or injures any person who is lawfully present and acting peaceably, the animal’s owner is liable for all civil damages. As per 510 ILCS § 5/2.16, the term “owner” in this context covers not only people with property rights over the animal in question but also any person who has the animal in their care or is knowingly allowing the animal to remain on their property at the time of the attack.
When a dog bite incident or other animal attack occurs in a common area of an apartment complex or other premises owned and managed by someone other than the dog’s owner, that residential property owner may also hold civil liability for ensuing injuries. As a Carpentersville dog attack attorney could explain, though, strict liability for dog bite injuries may not apply in situations where the bitten or otherwise injured person was provoking or harassing the dog, trespassing on the dog owner’s property, or committing another type of criminal offense.
Even bites from small dogs can cause deep lacerations and potentially lead to life-threatening infections. Attacks from larger animals can often have permanently debilitating and sometimes deadly repercussions, particularly for young children and elderly adults. For this reason, it is crucial when filing suit over dog bite injuries to account for the long-term effects of those injuries, such as:
A dog bite attorney in Carpentersville could help identify and estimate a fair value for damages like these. Our team could also help recover for short-term losses like emergency medical bills and lost work income.
Dog attacks can lead to life-altering injuries, and recovering fairly for that harm through civil litigation can be challenging. Without support from experienced legal counsel, you may have trouble obtaining any compensation at all, let alone the full amount you are entitled to under state law.
A Carpentersville dog bite lawyer could be your ally from beginning to end of the legal process. Call today to discuss your options with a trusted advocate from our team.
Costa Ivone, LLC
N/a
English
Español