Dog Bite Liability in Chicago

The reality is, dog bite injuries are a difficult subject. People who think they have a well-trained dog who would never hurt anyone may encounter a situation where their dog does end up causing injury. That’s why you need to understand the legal intricacies of dog bite liability in Chicago – and our personal injury attorneys are here to help.

Liability Elements That Must Be Considered

Just because someone happens to have a dog that bites someone does not mean that they are automatically fully liable for everything that happens next. There are elements that must be considered in any case like this. Among those elements are the following: 

• Ownership of the Dog – It must be proven that the defendant owns or harbors the dog that bit the victim. A stray dog that attacks someone does not have ownership, and a named defendant would likely not be liable for what a stray dog does. 

• Peaceful Conduct of the Plaintiff – The victim of the attack must have conducted themselves in a peaceful manner. 

• Unprovoked Attack – Similar to the finding that the plaintiff must have behaved in a peaceful manner is that the attack must have been unprovoked as well. In other words, the victim cannot have in any way attacked or provoked the dog into attacking them.
• Lawful Presence – The plaintiff must also have been in an area where they were legally allowed to be. They cannot have broken into someone’s home, for example, and expect that they can still file a lawsuit about getting bitten by a dog. 

These are circumstances that must be considered in every dog bite liability case in Chicago. It is important for both the victim and the defendant in these cases to be aware of liability concerns prior to any involvement with the courts. 

Immediately Report All Dog Bites

There are strict reporting requirements for all dog bite situations as well. In Chicago and in Cook County as a whole, it is necessary for dog bite victims to report any such incidents within 24 hours of them occurring. This is a requirement because the victim needs to have their injuries examined and it needs to be clear that a dog is responsible for these circumstances. 

In addition, the dog involved in the incident will very likely need to be put on a 10-day observation. This is performed by a licensed vet who will observe the behavior of the dog to determine if the dog is a threat to other members of the public.

Contact a Chicago Attorney to Discuss the Effects of Dog Bite Liability

Always reach out to a qualified attorney to assist you with all relevant legal matters involved in a dog bite that has caused you serious injury. The truth is that a dog attack can spring up almost out of nowhere, but you may be compensated if you can show that the dog’s owner failed in their duty of care.. 

For more information about dog bite liability in Chicago, reach out to our team as soon as possible and let us know how we can help you.