Owners are Responsible for Dog Bites

Illinois is a strict liability state, meaning that the dog’s owner, and their homeowner insurance policy provider, is liable for any damages or injuries that they should cause. The owner cannot argue that they had no prior knowledge of aggressive behavior and according to The Illinois Dog Bite Statute, 510 ILCS 5/16, the dog attack must meet the following parameters: 

“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 the injury proximately caused thereby.”

This means that to prove that the owner of a dog, or other animals, that has bitten is liable for the bite, the injured party must prove three things:

• The dog or other animal attempted to attack, attacked, or injured the victim.
• The victim had the legal right to be in the place where the attack occurred.
• The dog or other animal was not in any way provoked into attacking.

This statute covers non-bite injuries as well, such as being knocked down because of a dog attacking or the damages caused when trying to run away from an attacking dog.

Dog owners are responsible not only for the care of their pet, in Illinois, they are also tasked with keeping the general public safe from the behaviors of their dog. If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog bite attack, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you receive all that you are entitled to.

We at 844 See Mike are proud to serve our fellow citizens in personal injury cases, including when you or a loved one has been injured in a dog bite attack, and we are fully committed to protecting your rights and ensuring that the other party is held legally accountable when negligence occurs. We will fight until the very end to ensure that you are fully compensated for all injuries and losses resulting from the accident, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and you won’t owe us a dime for our services.

We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at what we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at 844 See Mike, we put People, First.

Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our unique formula has earned us over 900 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 120 five-star reviews on Google. Call 888-572-0176, e-mail us at michael@agrusslawfirm.com or schedule a meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.