Dog Bite Injuries

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Chicago dog bite lawyers, Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. have litigated numerous dog bite lawsuits resulting in fair and just compensation for our clients. Victims of dog bite injuries know how traumatic injuries sustained by an animal attack can be. Our Illinois dog bite attorneys can provide the expertise necessary to evaluate your dog bite injury and explain your legal rights. Whether you reside in Cook County, Madison County, DuPage County, Kane County, Will County, or a surrounding Illinois county, our Animal Attack attorneys are prepared to assess the potential value of recovery of your dog bite lawsuit during a free personal injury consultation.

Each year 4.7 million people in the United States suffer dog bites and as many as 1 in 5 of these bites require medical attention. A high percentage of these bites become infected and require antibiotics. Every year 30,000 people require reconstructive surgery as a result of severe injuries sustained by a dog bite or during a dog attack. A dog bite can be psychologically damaging as well. Victims, especially children, may develop a fear of dogs, and/or become emotionally distressed when dogs are present. Visual scars can also be traumatic to victims who are disfigured by a dog bite. If you, or your child, have been bitten by a dog, the Chicago dog bite attorneys at Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have the experience and resources to obtain the maximum compensation for your injuries.

If you are the victim of a dog bite or dog attack that occurred in Illinois, it is important to understand the laws applicable to dog bite injuries and dog bite lawsuits. The State of Illinois is a strict liability state which means that when a person is bitten by a dog, and sustains injury, the injured party, can recover damages against the person or persons who harbor the dog, as long as the following elements are met:

• The injury was caused by the dog;
• The defendant or defendants owned and/or took care of the dog;
• The dog was not provoked by the injured person; and
• The injured person was in a place they were legally entitled to be.

In Chicago, pursuant to citizen complaint regarding a dog bite, a dog attack, or a dog behaving in a threatening manner, an animal control investigator will prepare a written finding as to whether a dog is dangerous or not. If a dog is then declared dangerous by animal control, animal control may order the humane destruction of the dog in circumstances where the dog has caused severe injuries or death. Where the dog has been declared dangerous but has not been ordered destroyed then the dangerous dog owner must comply with the following requirements:

• The owner must confine the dog inside or have a secure pen outside;
• The dog must be muzzled when leaving the owner’s property; and
• A sign must be put on the owner’s property warning of the dangerous dog;
• The owner must have a microchip installed under the dog’s skin at the owner’s expense;
• The dog owner must have the dog sterilized, at the owner’s expense;
• The dog owner must procure and maintain liability insurance on the dog; and
• The dog owner must complete a course of animal obedience training.

When choosing an Animal Attack Lawyer in Chicago, it is important to make sure that your injury attorney can provide expertise beyond the general area of personal injury, such that the lawyer can provide specialized knowledge in the area of dog bites or dog attacks. Such expertise can be found in the representation provided by the Dog Bite Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C.

If you or a loved one has been attacked or injured by a dog or other animal, contact the Chicago dog bite attorneys online or call us at 773-516-4100 to set up a FREE personal injury consultation to discuss your legal options.