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Dog Bite Injuries

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.

Many personal injury attorneys handle numerous dog bite cases each year. When it comes to these injuries, Illinois is a “strict liability” state; the owner or keeper of any animal is held liable for any injuries sustained to another person with or without negligence on behalf of him/her.

According 510 ILCS 5/16 – Section 16: “If a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks, attempts to attack or injures any person who is peaceably conducting himself/herself in any place where he/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 the injury proximately caused thereby.” Based on this statute, victims of dog bites (with or without negligence) may be eligible to file personal injury claims against dog owners.

Emotional distress may be among these civil damages, provided that it was caused directly by the physical injuries sustained. It is usually insufficient by itself to recover damages, but with one exception in the form of a right of action: a “zone of danger” doctrine applies to individuals who are within zones of physical danger and fear for their own safety as a result.

In addition to strict liability, property owners/managers may also be responsible for warning others of dangerous animals on their premises. This “knowledge of dangerousness” of an animal, particularly a dog, need not come from past bites and may be established by things such as “beware of dog” signs and reinforced fencing.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a dog bite or similar injury, contact 844 See Mike, LLC for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.

Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorney’s fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.

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