Roughly 31% of Illinois households include a pet dog according to a 2021 study [1]. Even responsible pet owners can lose control of their dogs, resulting in the animals attacking another person. If you experience injuries from a bite, then you should contact a Peoria dog bite lawyer to file a claim against the owner.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help victims file dog bite injury claims to recover damages after an animal attack. We offer a free consultation to anyone who needs to know more about their legal options. Whether the injuries caused by the dog are mild or severe enough to be life-threatening, you deserve an experienced lawyer to help pursue your claim.
What to Do If You’re Attacked By a Dog in Peoria, IL
Dog attacks can be serious incidents leaving you horribly injured and upset with the owner. Navigating the complex dog bite laws in Illinois will be challenging if you do not follow the proper steps after the attack occurs. Take these steps to give your lawsuit a better chance of success.
Identify the Owner
Dog owners are responsible for keeping their pets restrained and making sure others are not harmed by their pets. To file a claim, you must be able to determine who the defendant is, and in most dog bite cases, this is the owner of the dog. If you are struggling to find the owner, then a Peoria dog bite attorney can help you locate them.
Call Local Authorities
Reporting the incident to the appropriate authorities is necessary if you are thinking of filing a personal injury claim against the owner. You can either call 911 to inform the police or you can get in touch with Peoria County Animal Protection Services at 309-672-2440.
An official report can serve as evidence in your case, so this is another reason to report the incident as quickly as possible after the attack.
Get Medical Attention
Receiving medical treatment for your injuries is a top priority after a dog attacks you. There may be internal injuries that are not immediately obvious but require medical care. Keep a record of all documentation from your treatment, including bills and the doctor’s findings.
Even if you receive medical treatment shortly after the incident, it would be wise to schedule a more thorough exam later in case internal injuries are discovered later.
Contact a Dog Bite Attorney
Getting in touch with a dog bite lawyer is the most important step. When you suffer from major injuries, you could be dealing with legal damages. A Peoria dog bite attorney from our law firm can help you build a strong case, collect compelling evidence, and negotiate for a fair compensation claim to recover those losses.Â
If the case cannot be settled, then we can also represent you in court. Personal injury cases are our specialty, and the sooner you get in touch with a Peoria dog bite attorney from our team, the stronger your chance of winning compensation.
Common Injuries From Dog Bites
Some bites are more severe than others since it depends on the breed and size of the dog as well as the person being attacked. Unfortunately, the most common victims of these bites are small children since they often cannot recognize the signs of tension in a dog. An animal attack can result in a wide range of injuries, including:
- Lacerations
- Facial wounds
- Puncture wounds
- Nerve damage
- Broken bones
- Infections
- Head trauma
- Rabies
- Fractures
- Emotional trauma
Who is Liable for Dog Bites in Peoria?
Your personal injury attorneys will work to help you identify who is liable for the dog attack you experienced. Typically, the liable person is the dog owner. However, there are a few scenarios where it could be someone else. If there is a temporary caretaker while the dog owner is traveling or otherwise busy, that caretaker could be held liable.
Additionally, a property owner could be held responsible for the incident if they failed to secure the animal in their yard or house. Even a government agency that has custody of an animal could be liable if that animal gets loose and bites someone.
Important Dog Bite Laws in Peoria, Illinois
Dog bite laws exist to protect dog owners and the general public from these types of situations. Owners are expected to keep their dogs restrained and in control, while victims of animal attacks have the right to pursue damages if a bite occurs. Here are a few local codes that will play a role in your dog bite case.
Strict Liability
Some states have a one-bite rule that prevents victims from bringing a lawsuit against the owner if it is the first time the dog has bitten someone and that animal has not shown aggressive behavior in the past.
Illinois has a statutory strict liability law for dog-related injuries. This means the owner can be held liable for any injuries to other parties even if the dog has not shown violent propensities in the past.
Modified Comparative Negligence
Illinois has modified comparative negligence. This means fault for an injury can be rated based on a percentage.
For example, if you are partially responsible for the dog attack because of entering a property uninvited, then the owner is not 100% responsible for the attack. With modified comparative negligence, a victim must be less than 50% responsible for a personal injury to pursue compensation.
Statute of Limitations
Dog bites follow the same statute of limitations as other forms of personal injury in Illinois. You have two years from the day of the attack to file your claim against the defendant. If you wait any longer, you will not be allowed to take any legal action in the form of an injury claim.
Some exceptions can delay this timeline, such as an owner who is hard to find or who leaves the state while you are attempting to file your claim.
Dog Bite Injury Levels
One of the main components of your case will be the severity of your injuries. The more extensive the physical damage, the more legal damages you may suffer from, increasing the amount of compensation you can receive. Dog bites are rated based on a system known as the Dunbar dog bite scale. This rates the level of the attack according to the injuries suffered.
Level one refers to the pre-bite stage where the dog may snap at the air. Level three involves skin punctures that are shallower than the length of the dog’s tooth. Level five is a very serious attack with multiple bites and very deep puncture wounds. The only level above this is if the victim dies from the attack [2].
Damages Available to Dog Bite Victims
There are four main categories of damages a dog bite victim may experience; economic, non-economic, punitive, and wrongful death. Economic damages include lost wages, medical bills, and property damage. Non-economic damages involve physical pain, loss of quality of life, and emotional distress.
Punitive damages are given if the defendant behaved with malicious intent. If the victim dies of their injuries, then surviving family members can claim compensation for damages like loss of financial support, funeral costs, and loss of companionship.
Contact Experienced Peoria Dog Bite Lawyers
To protect your interests under Illinois law, you can file a claim with the help of our legal team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers. We will help you assess the financial impact of the attack, make a plan for collecting evidence, negotiate with the insurance company, and guide you through the legal process.
Pet owners who behave negligently must be held accountable when their animals attack innocent victims. Many dog bites occur unexpectedly, occurring anywhere from the public park to a neighbor’s backyard. Between the public dog parks, walking trails, and even pet-friendly businesses around Peoria, there are plenty of places where an attack can happen [3].
Call our law office today at 888-424-5757 or fill out a contact form to schedule your free consultation. Together, we will determine what your legal options are.
Resources: [1] Central Illinois Proud: Dogs or Cats, [2] Wiggle Butt Academy: Dog Bite Scale, [3] Peoria Dogs: Pup-Friendly Places,