EXPERIENCED PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS
Illinois Dog Bite Injuries
Dog Bites, Pit Bull Attacks & Other Injuries from Animals
- Dog Attacks on Children
- Dog Bite Claims for Delivery Drivers
- Illinois Dog Bite FAQ
- Do I need a Lawyer for my Dog Bite Case?
- Dog Bite Statistics & Our Current Dog Bite Cases
- Illinois Pit Bull Attacks
- Local Illinois Dog Bite & Animal Attack Resources
Why are Dog Bite Cases on the Rise?
Dog bites are a serious, and increasingly common, personal injury. According to the CDC, more than 4 million dog bites occurred last year, with approximately 1,000 bites occurring every day. Be advised that Illinois ranks second-highest among all states when it comes to dog bites and attacks. Last year alone, State Farm Insurance Company paid over $118 million for injuries in dog bite claims. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average amount paid out in financial compensation in a single dog bite claim in 2017 was over $37,000. To reduce these costs, insurance companies are getting tougher on dog bite cases. Nonetheless, as dog ownership continues to increase in Illinois, the number of attacks is expected to rise. Having a knowledgeable lawyer to represent you in your dog bite case is more important now than ever.
Our team of knowledgeable lawyers will take your dog bite case seriously. We know how to properly evaluate your case and get you the compensation you and your family deserve.
Illinois Dog Bite Law: Strict Liability & Negligence
What evidence is needed to successfully prove a dog bite case in Illinois? Illinois is a strict liability state when it comes to dog bites and other animal attacks. A dog bite victim does not need to prove that the dog owner was negligent; the victim need only prove: (1) that he or she was harmed by the animal; and (2) that the animal was not provoked. A knowledgeable dog bite attorney can plead both strict liability and negligence in seeking a recovery of damages for victims. An experienced attorney will take steps to hold the owner of the animal (and the owner’s insurance carrier) responsible for the reasonable value of the damages (monetary damages) resulting from the attack, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of a normal life, and in some cases emotional injuries.
The Illinois Animal Control Act states:
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 where he or she may lawfully be, the owner of such dog or other animal is liable in civil damages to such person for the full amount of injury proximately caused thereby.” 510 ILCS 5/1, et seq
The Act provides that persons injured due to an attack, or even an attempt to attack, may seek redress against the animal’s owner.
The Act eliminates the requirement that the owner have prior knowledge of the animal’s vicious or dangerous propensity. Steinberg v. Petta , 114 Ill.2d 496 (1986). The Act encourages strict control over animals by imposing liability on their owners for injuries ( Partipilo v. DiMaria , 211 Ill.App.3d 813 (1991)) and eliminates the old “one bite rule,” which previously required plaintiffs to prove that the dog owner previously knew that their dog had a propensity to injure people. Docherty v. Saddler , 293 Ill.App.3d 892 (1997).
What Legal Steps Should be Taken After Someone Suffers a Dog Bite?
After obtaining appropriate medical attention in a hospital emergency room, a report of the dog bite incident should be made to local animal control authorities so that dangerous animals can be safely monitored. After a dog bite or pit bull attack, animal control officials in your community will interview witnesses, document the animal’s history, including veterinary and vaccination records, and provide a written report for future use. Reporting a dog bites provided a useful record of the attack and allows animal control to work to prevent other victims from being bitten or attacked by a potentially dangerous animal in the future.
The experienced personal injury lawyers at John J. Malm & Associates are committed to helping our clients obtain the dog bite settlements they deserve. If you have suffered injuries from a dog bite or attack, it is important that you seek medical attention immediately and speak directly with one of our knowledgeable attorneys.
Our Firm’s Recent Dog Bite Case Settlements in Kane County, Kendall County, and DuPage County
Pit bull attack, negligence. Cook County, Illinois. Settlement for $500,000 was reached on behalf of a woman who was viciously attacked by a pit bull in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Illinois dog bite lawyers John Malm and Jason Schneider negotiated a pre-suit settlement with the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance carrier, State Farm Insurance, after the vicious animal suddenly attacked the woman in her home. The woman, who had been watching the animal as a favor for a family friend, was running a vacuum cleaner, which precipitated the unprovoked attack. The woman suffered permanent injuries to nerves in her hand and wrist and required multiple surgeries.
Pit bull attack, negligence Kane County, Illinois. Settlement for $400,000 was reached on behalf of a victim of a vicious dog attack by our Naperville dog bite lawyers. The dog bite claim was settled with the property owner’s insurance carrier, Farmers Insurance Company, after a pit bull jumped the low fence on the property and attacked a woman walking on the sidewalk in front of the property with her young children. As a result of the deep puncture wounds, a life-threatening infection spread, requiring multiple surgeries.
Dog bite, negligence. DuPage County, Illinois. Settlement for $295,000 was reached on behalf of a victim of a dog attack by our Naperville dog bite lawyers. The dog bite case was settled with the property owner’s insurance carrier, Travelers Insurance Company, after the dog suddenly attacked and bit the victim’s hand. In addition to suffering bite injuries, the victim suffered a wrist sprain and nerve damage, requiring two surgeries.
Pit bull attack, negligence. Kane County, Illinois. Settlement for $285,000 was reached on behalf of a victim of a dog attack by our Illinois dog bite lawyers. The dog bite claim was settled with the property owner’s insurance carrier, Allstate Insurance, after two pit bulls, which had been kept on the property, attacked a woman causing her to a fall down a set of stairs. In addition to suffering bite injuries, the victim suffered a head injury and two ruptured cervical vertebrae and underwent spinal fusion surgery .
Dog bite, negligence DuPage County, Illinois. Settlement for $220,000 was reached on behalf of a victim of a dog bite by our Illinois dog bite lawyers. The claim was settled with the property owner’s insurance carrier, Travelers Insurance Company, after the dog jumped on the victim and bit her on the face. As a result of the dog bite, the victim required surgical intervention.
Pit bull attack, negligence. Kane County, Illinois. Settlement for $80,000 was reached on behalf of a victim of a dog attack by our Naperville dog bite lawyers. The victim was attacked by a pit bull terrier when he tried to extricate his dog from the jaws of the pit bull at a local dog park. The victim required surgery to repair a fracture in his fingers.
Pit bull attack, negligence. DuPage County, Illinois. Settlement for $72,500 was reached on behalf of a victim of a dog attack by our Naperville dog bite lawyers. The pit bull attack case was filed in court and settled with the property owner’s insurance carrier. The victim was walking his dog when the attacking dog came up behind him and bit the victim’s hand. As a result of the attack, the victim suffered joint rupture in his hand that required surgery.
Dog attack, negligence. DuPage County, Illinois. Settlement for $60,000 was reached on behalf of a victim of a dog bite by our Illinois dog bite lawyers. The claim was settled with the property owner’s insurance carrier, State Farm Insurance Company, after the dog bit a postal worker who was delivering packages. The bite wounds required surgery to remove infected tissue.
Dog bite, negligence. Cook County, Illinois. Settlement for $60,000 was reached on behalf of a victim of a dog bite by our Naperville dog bite lawyers. The dog bite claim was filed in court and settled with the property owner’s insurance carrier. The victim, a toddler, was bit by the dog while playing at the dog owner’s residence. As a result of the dog bite, the victim sustained visible scarring.
Dog attack, negligence. DuPage County, Illinois. Settlement for $55,000 was reached on behalf of a victim of a dog bite by our Naperville dog bite lawyers. The dog bite case was settled with the property owner’s insurance carrier, State Farm Insurance Company, after the victim, a minor child, was attacked while playing at the dog owner’s residence.
Pit bull attack, negligence. DuPage County, Illinois. Settlement for $50,000 was reached on behalf of a victim of a dog bite by our Illinois dog bite lawyers. The dog bite claim was settled with the property owner’s insurance carrier, State Farm Insurance Company, after the complaint was filed in the local court. The victim, a minor child, was attacked while playing at the dog owner’s residence. As a result of the dog bite, the victim sustained visible scarring.
Dog bite, negligence. Kane County, Illinois. Settlement for $50,000 was reached on behalf of a victim of a dog bite by our Naperville dog bite lawyers. The dog bite case was settled with the property owner’s insurance carrier, State Farm Insurance Company, after the victim was bitten while visiting the dog owner’s residence.
Pit bull attack, negligence. Kane County, Illinois. Settlement for $50,000 was reached on behalf of a victim of a dog bite by our Illinois dog bite lawyers. The claim was settled with the property owner’s insurance carrier, Allstate Insurance Company, after the victim was attacked by an unrestrained pit bull while she was walking in her neighborhood.
Dog attack, negligence. Kane County, Illinois. Settlement for $46,000 was reached on behalf of a victim of a dog bite by our Naperville dog bite lawyers. The dog bite claim was settled with the property owner’s insurance carrier, Farmers Insurance Company, after the complaint was filed in the local court. The victim was injured while protecting his dog from his neighbor’s dog. In the attack, the victim fell and sustained an MCL injury, requiring cortisone injections.
Pit bull attack, negligence. Kane County, Illinois. Settlement for $45,000 was reached on behalf of a victim of a dog bite by our Illinois dog bite lawyers. The dog bite case was settled with the property owner’s insurance carrier, State Farm Insurance Company, after the complaint was filed in the local court. The victim was brutally attacked while walking on a local bike path. The dog had attacked multiple people prior to this attack.
Dog bite, negligence. Settlement for $45,000 was reached on behalf of a victim of a dog bite by our Naperville dog bite lawyers. The claim was settled with the property owner’s insurance carrier, State Farm Insurance Company, after the dog bit a postal worker who was delivering mail. In addition to puncture wounds, the victim sustained a tendon injury.
Contact the Naperville Dog Bite Lawyers at The Law Offices of John J. Malm & Associates
After seeking prompt emergency medical attention, you should report any dog bite incident or attack to local animal control. Then, consult with the Naperville dog bite lawyers at the Law Office of John J. Malm & Associates. We are an experienced personal injury law firm representing individuals and families who have suffered an injury or loss due to an accident. You may be entitled to a substantial settlement if you have been injured. Call 630-527-4177 and speak with Attorney John J. Malm and his team today.