Why Choose Midwest Injury Lawyers After a Dog Bite Injury?
At Midwest Injury Lawyers, we champion the rights of those whom others have hurt. Our commitment is unwavering – we treat every case with the utmost importance because we believe you and your concerns come first.
Here are just some of the benefits you get from working with our Joliet dog bite lawyers:
- Trust and Personal Attention: Choosing us means entrusting your case to a team that prioritizes you. We believe in honest, direct communication. If we see potential issues with your case, we’ll share our concerns, allowing you to make an informed decision about your options.
- No Win, No Fee Commitment: We operate on a contingency basis. This means our payment hinges on winning your case. There are no upfront costs or out-of-pocket fees. This approach ensures that anyone can seek justice for their dog bite injury regardless of their financial situation.
- Proficiency in Personal Injury Law: As a leading law firm in Joliet, Midwest Injury Lawyers stands out for assertive and effective representation. Founders Chester “Chet” L. Cameron Jr. and Samuel “Sam” R. Carl bring decades of experience in fighting for the rights of accident victims and families in Joliet.
- Track Record of Success: We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients. Our team is ready to handle your entire case, from investigation to negotiation to trial, in the event that the other side won’t pay you the full amount you deserve.
- National Recognition for Excellence: Our attorneys have ranked among the top five percent of personal injury lawyers nationwide. Our past clients consistently praise us for our professionalism and service.
How Much Is a Dog Bite Injury Claim Worth?
Several factors come into play when determining the value of a dog bite injury claim. The severity of your injuries is one of the biggest. More serious injuries often lead to higher compensation because they require longer and costlier medical care.
Specific circumstances of the incident could also affect the claim’s value, such as whether the dog’s owner was knowingly breaking the law at the time of the attack.
In your dog bite injury claim, you can demand compensation for your personal and financial harm, such as:
- Medical Expenses: Costs for hospital visits, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and any future medical care for your injuries
- Lost Income: Income you’ve lost due to time off work while recovering
- Lost Earning Capacity: Projected losses in your lifetime earning potential if the injury affects your ability to work in the future
- Pain and Suffering: Physical pain and emotional distress due to the injury
- Disfigurement and Scarring: Visible scars or other permanent disfigurement resulting from the dog bite
- Emotional Distress: Psychological effects like anxiety, depression, or fear resulting from the incident
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: The inability to engage in activities or hobbies you once enjoyed due to your injuries
Dog Bite Injury Laws in Illinois
Illinois follows a strict liability rule when it comes to dog bite injury claims, which makes a dog owner responsible for any harm their dog causes, regardless of the dog’s past behavior or the owner’s knowledge of such behavior.
Strict liability laws make it easier for victims to seek compensation. This is because, even if a dog has never shown aggression or bitten someone before, the owner is still responsible for the dog’s actions.
Critically, the statute eliminates the need for injured parties to prove that the dog owner was negligent in their handling of the animal or that the dog had a history of aggression.
Many other jurisdictions require you to prove negligence or prior knowledge to recover compensation, but this is not the case with dog bites in Illinois. Victims only need to identify the dog’s owner, demonstrate that the dog bite occurred, and show that it resulted in injury.
However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. If the victim provoked the dog or was trespassing on the owner’s property at the time of the attack, the strict liability law might not apply. Additionally, different rules might apply if the victim was performing a paid service involving the dog, like grooming or veterinary care.
Illinois’ strict liability laws for dog bites provide a more straightforward path for victims to claim compensation for their injuries. The focus is on the fact of the injury rather than the circumstances leading to the bite, simplifying the legal process for victims seeking fair recoveries.
Why Are Dog Bite Injuries So Dangerous?
Dog bite injuries are particularly dangerous in comparison to many other types of injuries for several reasons, such as the possibility of:
Skin Punctures
Dog bites often result in deep puncture wounds. Unlike superficial cuts or scrapes, these deep wounds reach below the skin, affecting muscles, nerves, and even bones. This can lead to severe infections, as bacteria from the dog’s mouth gets deep into the tissue.
Infections
The risk of infection from dog bites is higher than it is for many other injuries. Dogs’ mouths contain a wide range of bacteria, which can transfer into wounds when they bite. Infections like rabies or tetanus can be life-threatening without prompt and proper treatment.
Severe Trauma
Another concern is the potential for severe physical damage. Dogs have strong jaws and sharp teeth for tearing and crushing, and when they sink their teeth into human flesh, they can cause serious injuries that are difficult to treat. Sometimes, these wounds lead to long-term complications like nerve damage or loss of function.
Psychological Harm
Furthermore, dog bites can cause significant psychological trauma, especially in children. Victims of dog bites often experience fear, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially around other dogs.
This psychological trauma is often just as debilitating as the physical injuries, negatively affecting the victim’s quality of life.
Recovery Difficulties
Healing from dog bite injuries is often a long, complex process. Due to the nature of the wounds, patients might require specialized medical care, such as surgery to repair deep tissue damage or ongoing treatment to prevent infection.
This specialized care is often costly and time-consuming, adding to the overall burden of the injury.
Common Examples of Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bite injuries can vary considerably in severity and type based on the size and breed of the dog and the circumstances of the attack.
Here are some common examples of dog bite injuries:
- Lacerations: Lacerations are cuts or tears in the skin. Unlike puncture wounds, lacerations are usually longer and more open, which can lead to significant bleeding. These injuries often require stitches to close and can leave scarring if the cuts are deep.
- Contusions (Bruising): Dog bites can also cause bruises, which are areas of damage to the skin and underlying tissue resulting from the force of the bite. These injuries might not break the skin but can result in painful swelling, tenderness, and discoloration. They can also indicate deeper injuries, like muscle or tendon damage, especially in more aggressive attacks.
- Puncture Wounds: Puncture wounds are deeper and narrower than lacerations, caused by sharp teeth sinking into the flesh. Puncture wounds are particularly dangerous because they are prone to infection and can reach deep tissues, muscles, and even bones.
- Avulsion Injuries: Avulsion injuries involve the tearing away of skin, tissue, or muscle from the body, sometimes even exposing underlying bones. These injuries are particularly severe because they involve significant damage to multiple layers of tissue.
- Eye and Face Injuries: Dog bites to the face and eyes are especially dangerous due to the sensitivity and functional importance of these areas. Bites to the face can cause severe lacerations, broken bones, and damage to critical structures like nerves and blood vessels. Children are at particularly high risk of these injuries because they are closer in height to the attacking animal.
- Nerve Damage: In severe cases, dog bites can penetrate deep enough to damage nerves. Symptoms of nerve damage include loss of sensation, tingling, or weakness in the affected area. Nerve damage is particularly serious because it can lead to long-term or permanent loss of function.
Filing an Insurance Claim After a Dog Bite Injury
Most renters’ and homeowners’ insurance policies cover bites caused by the policyholder’s dog. As such, your adversary after a dog bite is not the pet’s owner but their insurance provider – and getting fair compensation from these insurance claims is often a challenging process.
When you file a claim, you’re essentially asking the insurance company to cover your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses resulting from the dog bite. However, insurance companies care more about their profits than ensuring injury victims have the financial resources they need to recover.
To that end, insurance companies employ various tactics to minimize the amount they pay out. For instance, they might question the severity of your injuries or argue that you provoked the dog, even if that’s not the case. They might also offer a quick settlement that seems appealing but is actually much less than what you deserve.
Another common tactic is to delay the process. They might take a long time to respond to your claim or ask for unnecessary paperwork. Their goal is to frustrate you and wear you down, hoping you’ll accept a lower settlement out of desperation.
This is where having legal representation matters. A Joliet dog bite injury lawyer knows how to respond to and beat these tactics. They can gather evidence to support your claim, such as medical records and witness statements.
They can also negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf or even take your case to court if the other side doesn’t play fair. Having a lawyer increases your chances of receiving fair compensation for all your expenses and suffering.
What to Do After a Dog Bite
There are several steps you can take to protect your health and your legal rights after a dog bite. First and foremost, follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
Attend all follow-up appointments and adhere strictly to the medical advice and treatments they prescribe. This aids in your recovery and creates a record of your injuries and treatment, which is necessary for any legal claim.
Next, gather whatever evidence you can. Take photos of your injuries, the location where the incident occurred, and, if possible, the dog that bit you. If any witnesses were present, get their contact details so they can provide statements that support your version of the events.
Keep a record of all medical visits, treatments, and other expenses that relate to the dog bite. This information will be essential in demonstrating how the incident has affected your life and finances.
Finally and most importantly, contact a Joliet dog bite injury attorney. A lawyer can guide you through the legal process, gather and present evidence, and represent your interests in insurance negotiations or in the courtroom.
They are there to protect your rights and help you seek the compensation you deserve for your injuries and suffering.
Get in Touch With a Joliet Dog Bite Injury Lawyer
Hurting from a dog bite incident? A Joliet dog bite injury attorney from Midwest Injury Lawyers is ready to help. Contact our firm now at (815) 714-6131 to discuss your dog bite claim in a free case evaluation.
Joliet Office
210 N Hammes Ave
Unit 205 C
Joliet, IL 60435
(815) 714-6131
A Word from our Work Injury Attorney
Receiving maximum compensation for workplace injuries requires knowledge of workers’ compensation law, as well as the ability to identify any negligent third parties who may share some responsibility for causing an injury. It is crucial to get advice from an attorney who understands how to obtain quick and sufficient compensation for a workplace injury.
– Chester L. Cameron
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Tell our experienced team about your accident and/or injuries. One of our personal injury attorneys will contact you to schedule a free case evaluation. Remember: you won’t pay for anything unless we secure a compensation on your behalf.
Call (312) 786-5881 or send us a message online to get started.