Illinois Dog Bites & Animal Attack Lawyer

Animal attacks and dog bite injuries can be painful and cause long-term damage, even death. The physical and psychological injuries often require costly medical treatment. Often times it is young children, between ages of five and nine, who are the victims of these attacks. In Illinois, dogs and other animals are considered property under the law. Consequently, animal owners are responsible if their animal attacks or bites another person. These cases fall under premises liability law. If you have been bitten by a dog or attacked by any animal, you may have a personal injury case against the owner. Often an owners’ homeowners’ insurance policy will pay for damages.

Lake County, Illinois Attorney Bogdan Martinovich is a skilled Lake County, Illinois personal injury lawyer with over 35 years of experience. He will direct you to capable doctors who are experts in their field and fight for full compensation for the damage done by a dog bite or other animal attack.

Illinois case law and statutes governing dog bites and animal attacks is fairly straightforward. If you are injured in an animal attack or while fleeing from an animal, the owner of the animal is responsible for your injuries. Some states employ a “first bite” provision in their statutes, which protects dog owners from liability if the attack was the first known attack by the animal and therefore unforeseen. Illinois law does not have this provision. This means owners are liable for the attacks of their animals regardless of whether the animal was known to be dangerous. The only applicable exception to this liability is if the victim somehow provoked the animal to attack. The damages available in these cases include medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

Dog bites are a very common injury and can be devastating both physically and emotionally for the victim. Cases that involve children are often particularly traumatic. In rare cases, these attacks can result in death. If an animal attack causes the death of your loved one, you can bring a wrongful death case against the owner.

If you have been bitten by a dog or injured in an animal attack, contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case. We handle a wide variety of personal injury cases and are dedicated to achieving the best possible outcome for our clients.