If you or a loved one was bitten by a dog in Illinois, reporting the incident is a required legal step that also protects your health and any future injury claim. Here is who has to report a dog bite, how quickly, and why it matters.
Do You Have to Report a Dog Bite in Illinois?
Yes. The duty comes from the Animal Control Act, not the dog bite liability statute people usually think of. Any person who knows that someone has been bitten by an animal must notify the Administrator, the county animal control official, within 24 hours (510 ILCS 5/13). That includes you, the dog’s owner, and the doctor who treats you. It is also unlawful for the owner to conceal the animal’s whereabouts, sell it, give it away, euthanize it, or otherwise dispose of it until it has been examined and released from the 10-day observation period, and doing so is a criminal offense.
Do Doctors Have to Report Dog Bites?
Yes, though not to the police department. A physician who treats a dog bite falls under the same rule as everyone else with knowledge of the bite and must notify the county animal control Administrator within 24 hours (510 ILCS 5/13). Reporting to law enforcement is a separate question and is not what the Animal Control Act requires.
If you or a loved one was bitten or attacked by a dog, the doctor will question you about the incident and record the relevant information. That report goes to the Administrator, who decides what further measures are needed. This normally involves confining the dog for observation for at least 10 days from the date of the bite, either at home or with a licensed veterinarian, until a veterinarian releases it.
Why Reporting a Dog Bite Matters
The report of the dog bite incident is important. It begins a case on the offending animal and alerts officials that a possibly dangerous dog is in the area and helps prevent further attacks. When officials know that a dog is prone to biting, they can require the owner to take specific actions to keep the general public safe. Reporting a dog bite also allows animal control to intervene in the event that the dog is sickly or acting aggressively.
Just as importantly, the report documents the incident and the injuries you have sustained. Dog bite attacks are painful and expensive, and are often followed by multiple doctor’s appointments and, if the injury is severe, surgeries, rehabilitation, and missed work with lost wages. This official record strengthens your case when it comes time to discuss a settlement with the insurance company or pursue a civil suit to receive compensation for your damages. Every dog bite injury should be reported to authorities whether you intend to follow through with a lawsuit or not.
Illinois Dog Bite Statute of Limitations
In Illinois you generally have two years from the date of the bite to file a personal-injury lawsuit (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Two exceptions matter often in dog bite cases. If the victim was under 18 when it happened, the deadline does not start running until the child turns 18, and the claim can be brought within two years after that (735 ILCS 5/13-211). If the dog belonged to a city, village, park district, or other local public entity, or to one of its employees, the window shrinks to one year (745 ILCS 10/8-101). Because the deadline depends on facts you may not have yet, it is worth talking to a personal injury lawyer early.
The Illinois dog bite statute, 510 ILCS 5/16, makes an owner liable in civil damages for the full amount of the injury. To win a dog bite injury claim under it, you have to establish each of the following:
- The animal attacked, attempted to attack, or injured you
- The defendant was the animal’s owner, which the Act defines broadly enough to include someone who keeps or harbors the dog
- You were peaceably conducting yourself at the time, so you were not teasing, striking, or otherwise antagonizing the animal
- You were somewhere you had a lawful right to be
- The animal was not provoked
Missing any one of them can defeat the claim, and provocation and lawful presence are where insurers concentrate their defense. The statute covers more than bites, including injuries from being knocked down by a dog.
Compensation for Dog Bite Injuries
To receive full compensation for your dog bite injuries, it is important to be represented by a dedicated and experienced personal injury lawyer. Financial compensation for your dog bite injury depends on a variety of factors including:
- The extent of your injuries and associated medical bills
- Long-term medical treatment that may be required, including assistive devices, pain management, home assistance, therapy
- The insurance policy of the liable party, often a homeowner’s or renter’s policy
- Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, post-traumatic stress
Contact 844-SEE-MIKE
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog bite attack, 844-SEE-MIKE can review what happened, deal with the insurance company, and help you pursue compensation for your injuries and losses. You pay nothing unless we recover money for you, and the consultation is free. This article is general information, not legal advice.
