Many residents in Elgin take joy in the companionship and comfort that their dogs bring to them. Unfortunately, some dogs have been known to bite people, and those wounds can cause emotional, physical, and financial harm.
If you recently suffered the pain of a dog bite, you might be facing a lengthy recuperation, which includes multiple doctors’ visits, painful surgeries, and hospital stays. The bites might also leave you with disfiguring scars that serve as a permanent reminder of the frightening attack, which can produce anxiety, stress, and depression. It can be difficult to pay for all of your medical bills, especially if your injuries have made it impossible for you to work.
Fortunately, an Elgin dog bite lawyer could help you pursue a judgment that could ease some of your financial burdens. A compassionate personal injury attorney is available to help.
Not every person who is attacked by a dog suffers the same degree of harm. Sometimes, people are able to fend off the dog before being seriously bitten. Others are not as fortunate and may suffer extensive lacerations, deep wounds, tissue loss, crushed or broken bones, nervous system damage, and muscle damage. Some of the factors that can influence the severity of a canine attack are as follows:
An Elgin animal attack lawyer could help an injured claimant recover damages to compensate them for all of their physical and emotional losses.
Illinois law establishes how a dog owner can be legally responsible for dog bite injuries. According to 510 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/16 , in order to prevail in court against a dog owner, an injured claimant needs to demonstrate:
Because the dog bite statute is a strict liability statute, injured claimants do not need to show that the dog owner was negligent. In other words, they do not need to prove that the dog had a history of aggressiveness, and dog owners cannot use their pet’s prior history of good behavior as a defense.
A local dog bite attorney could help formulate the argument that shows strict liability on behalf of the defendant, and tally up the calculable losses to make a case for compensation.
Animal bites have the potential to cause serious complications if not dealt with right away. If you suffered serious injuries in an unprovoked dog attack, an Elgin dog bite lawyer could provide the legal knowledge that you need to secure victory. Reach out to our team of dedicated and compassionate attorneys to discuss your situation.