$110,000 Settlement in Dog Bite Case

While we love dogs here at Burger Law, we also represent people injured from dog bites and attacks. I recently
obtained an excellent settlement for our client, Ruth, viciously bitten by a dog several times.

Ruth was helping someone she knew move into a new home in Illinois when the dog owner’s German Shepherd got loose and
unexpectedly bit Ruth on the arm and back. Our client suffered severe physical injuries as well as emotional trauma.

We investigated the incident, obtained animal control and police reports, and demanded the case. However, the
insurance adjuster made a low offer because they claimed Ruth was partially at fault for the attack and that some of
her medical bills were unrelated to the dog bites.

So we filed a lawsuit, completed written discovery, and took the defendant’s deposition. A vital issue was that the
defendant claimed Ruth tried to grab the dog before the attack. Ruth, however, strongly denied this.

Under Illinois dog bite laws, a dog owner is strictly liable when their dog, without provocation, attacks a person in
a place where the victim had a legal right to be. In this case, the defendant tried to deny liability by alleging
that Ruth provoked the dog.

We were able to identify and interview several witnesses who would testify that Ruth did nothing to provoke the dog.
This helped us negotiate a great settlement of $110,000 for Ruth.

At Burger Law, we always fight to get the best possible result for our clients.