Under Illinois law, a dog owner is liable for any injuries that have been caused as a result of a dog bite or attack. This means that the animal’s owner is liable for their pet’s actions, even if the dog has never attacked anyone before.
Dog attacks can have a physical, financial, and emotional impact on every aspect of a person’s life. Our Illinois dog bite lawyers have years of experience with dog attack cases and will fight for a client’s legal rights during negotiations or in the courtroom.
If you have been bitten by a dog, then you’ll need to take some important actions in order to protect your legal rights. Our lawyers have outlined the most important actions you need to take including the following:
- Identify the owner of the animal
- Identify the dog
- Obtain the dog owner’s information, including their phone number, name, and address.
- Obtain the names and telephone numbers of anyone who witnessed the attack.
Typically, dog owners will not be truthful concerning a dog attack because they’re afraid that their dog will be euthanized. In this type of case, witness testimony or a witness statement will be crucial in getting you the compensation you deserve.
- Contact law enforcement or animal control to file an incident report.
- Take photos of your clothing, wounds, and any scratches and bruising.
- Seek medical treatment
- Contact a lawyer
To protect your rights, you must not do the following:
- Sign anything that the dog owner, property owner, or landlord has prepared
- Sign anything from adverse attorneys or insurance representatives
- Avoid seeking medical treatment