Dog Bite Statistics
Each year approximately 800,000 dog bites occur in the United States, and every one of those situations is different. Dog bites can become seriously infected because of the bacteria that live in a dog’s mouth and left untreated these infections can become fatal. In fact, at least 10 dog bite victims die each year from their wounds.
The cost for medical treatment of dog bites exceeds $1 billion a year. Therefore, if you are a victim of a dog bite and you ae incurring expenses due to your injuries, you may want to consider filing a lawsuit against the owner of the dog.
Dog Bites and the Law
As a dog bite victim, you have a right to sue to recoup the expenses incurred as a result of the injury. The type of lawsuit you will be filing is known as a personal injury lawsuit.Laws regarding dog bites vary from state to state, but Illinois is known as a “strict liability” state. That means that the dog’s owner or owners are liable for any injury caused by their dog.
If you or someone you love has been injured in an attack that resulted in a dog bite injury, we encourage you to seek a consultation with a qualified Joliet personal injury attorney from Shea Law Group. Our experienced and compassionate legal team has helped countless dog-bite victims attain the compensation they were entitled to, and we are here to help you.
There are, however, some specific exceptions, including if the victim was trespassing on private property or if the victim was provoking the dog intentionally. Additionally, a veterinarian that is injured while treating a dog may not be able to successfully sue the owner of the dog.
Negligence
If a dog’s owner’s actions are careless or reckless and these actions result in the dog causing injury to you, you may be able to sue even if your case does not meet the criteria for strict liability. For instance, if the dog’s owner blatantly ignores leash laws or leaves their gate open, the owner may be considered negligent.
Shea Law Group
Give us a call at (877)-365-0040 or fill out a contact form online to book your free, no-obligation consultation with a dedicated personal injury attorney today. There is absolutely no risk, as we never charge a dime unless we win a settlement for you.
