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Store or Dog Owner? - Liability for a Dog Bite Inside a Store
Most of us have become accustomed to seeing owners with their dogs in "pet-friendly" stores like Lowe’s and Tractor Supply. Dogs are often welcome in many open-air farmer’s markets and in some smaller family-owned stores. Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead to dog fights and dog bites. As an example, a three-year-old boy who was with his father and Grandmother in a North Carolina Lowe’s was bitten in the face by a dog belonging to another customer.
The dog was on a leash, being walked through the garden department of Lowe’s by its owner when it bit the boy in the face. The injuries were severe, requiring 50 stitches. The boy’s parents filed a lawsuit alleging the store was responsible for the incident because it allowed the dog in the store. The lawsuit further stated that employees who witnessed the dog attack failed to call 911.
Investigators found that the dog had been involved in prior incidents with your children. Deeming the owner "irresponsible," the dog was subsequently placed in a shelter. A Lowe’s spokesperson maintains that only service animals are allowed inside Lowe’s stores for "safety and sanitary reasons." Illinois has a strict liability policy for dog bites, generally holding the dog owner liable for medical bills.
Are Children Particularly Vulnerable to Dog Bites?
At the end of June, an eight-year-old girl was attacked by the family dog in Alton. A neighbor called 911, reporting that the child had been bitten and was bleeding and that the other children were unable to get the dog away from her. When police arrived, the dog had been taken outside and was being held by that same neighbor; police said the dog "appeared calm," although it had blood around its mouth.
The girl was locked in the bathroom on the second floor. When the officers gained entry, they found her in the bathtub, covered in blood. While the police were checking on the girl, the dog escaped the neighbor’s grasp on its collar and began attacking Alton Fire Department personnel. After multiple attempts to secure the dog via less lethal methods (including a Taser), officers were forced to euthanize the dog so the girl could be air-evacuated to the hospital in St. Louis.
Unfortunately, it is not entirely uncommon for a family dog to bite a child, even if the dog has never shown aggression to the child before. The child may have startled the dog or hurt the dog unintentionally. More often, children’s dog bites are from an unknown dog who may be unused to children or could be naturally aggressive. If your child has been bitten by a dog, it can be helpful to speak to an Aurora, IL dog bite attorney from Dog Bite Injury Lawyer - Mevorah Law Offices LLC.
Can Counseling Help the Emotional Trauma from a Dog Bite?
Dog bites often result in lifelong injuries, including prominent disfigurement when the dog bite is in the facial area. Being attacked by a dog can be a traumatizing event. While most dogs are friendly, all dogs have the capacity to bite, especially when startled, frightened, or when the dog is defending his owner or property. The individual who is bitten can be left with lingering phobias, PTSD, and other emotional trauma long after the physical effects of a dog bite have begun to fade.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, you need solid legal assistance. Although money cannot change what happened to you, it can help you get the medical and psychological help you need to move forward in your life. Speaking to a knowledgeable Naperville, IL dog bite attorney from Dog Bite Injury Lawyer - Mevorah Law Offices LLC can help ensure you receive a fair settlement for your dog bite injuries. Our experienced attorneys will explore all avenues for compensation for your physical and emotional trauma resulting from a dog bite.
Are Untrained Dogs More Likely To Attack and Bite?
It is said that dogs are man’s best friends. That may be true in most cases, but dog attacks and bites happen far too often. Along with the potentially severe physical injuries, victims can also suffer from mental and psychological trauma. If you think about dog attacks, you may assume the dog is an aggressive breed or has been mistreated, but that is not always the case.
Training and socialization — or the lack thereof — affect a dog’s behaviors and responses. Even if dog owners are not financially able to have their pets trained professionally, there are still things they can do on their own to reduce the likelihood of attacks. If a dog bite injured you or your child, the skilled lawyers at Dog Bite Injury Lawyer - Mevorah Law Offices LLC can help you hold its owner accountable.
Why Do Dogs Attack or Bite?
Even a generally docile dog may attack in some situations, particularly when provoked. Several factors make bites more likely, such as:
When Are Dog Owners Not Liable for Bites or Attacks?
Often called "man’s best friends," dogs can make great companions. Unfortunately, they can also be dangerous. Dog attacks can include knockdowns, bites, and severe emotional trauma; they may also cause secondary accidents that further injure victims.
Each state has laws that define a dog owner’s responsibilities and liability if the animal attacks someone. Are you familiar with Illinois dog bite laws? Is the dog’s owner always liable for injuries sustained in an attack? Our experienced DuPage County dog bite injury lawyers answer these vital questions.
What Is the Illinois Dog Bite Law?
In many Illinois cases involving animal attacks — dogs and other kinds of animals as well — the owner is liable to compensate injured victims. This is true even if the animal has never attacked or bitten anyone, and the owner did not know the animal has aggressive tendencies.
Dog Bite Risks for Postal Workers in Illinois
Anyone can accidentally trigger aggression in a dog and be at risk of getting bitten. For postal workers who are out and about doing their job regardless of whether there is "snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night," the chances of encountering a dog during a delivery shift are quite high. As a result, they face a particular risk of dog bites. If you are a postal worker, you need to understand your legal rights if you are bitten by a dog while doing your job. Speak with a dedicated Cook County, IL dog bite attorney to find out more.
Why Do Postal Workers Have a Higher Risk of Getting Bitten?
While doing their job, postal workers often encounter dogs. Sometimes, the dogs are family pets at residential properties where they deliver the mail. Other times, they might encounter unleashed and unrestrained dogs walking around a neighborhood. Last month, the U.S. Postal Service launched a national awareness campaign about dog bites. As part of the campaign, it released data showing how dog bites are among the biggest hazards postal workers face.
Injuries Beyond Bites: Additional Risks of Dog Attacks
When people think about how dogs can cause injuries, dog bites often come to mind. If an aggressive dog chases you down and manages to bite you, the resulting injury can be severe. However, dog attacks can result in several other types of injury. If you are attacked by a dog and seeking compensation for your injuries that go beyond bite wounds, a skilled Kane County, IL dog attack lawyer can help you navigate the legal implications and explain your options.
Non-Bite Injuries from Dog Attacks
Dog bites are the most commonly recognized way people can get injured in dog attacks, but they are not the only way. Other injuries that can occur from dog attacks include:
- Emotional and psychological suffering: Recurring nightmares, anxiety, PTSD, and other psychological issues can be caused by the experience of being attacked by a dog, even if the dog does not bite.
What Dog Breeds Are Considered More Dangerous than Others?
People like to say dogs are man’s best friend, but they probably would not feel that way if they were viciously attacked by one. Dogs have been domesticated, and many people have them as family pets, but the truth is that they are descended from wolves, and many still have their wild instincts. While some kinds of dogs can be very well trained and others are mostly harmless, there are still some dog breeds historically considered vicious and dangerous.
Some people choose to keep these kinds of dogs around as a security measure, as they can serve as guard dogs. They can alert their owners if they feel someone is doing something wrong, and they can attack people they perceive as dangers to their owners. However, dogs are not perfect, they can misidentify an innocent person as a threat, and they can pose a serious risk to the people around them. This article will review some of the dog breeds that are considered the most dangerous. If you have been injured by a dog bite, an experienced Will County dog bite lawyer can review what happened and advise you whether there are any breed-related liabilities involved.
Who Is Liable When an Unleashed Dog Bites Someone in Illinois?
An unsupervised and unleashed dog can pose a serious risk to its surroundings. Even a generally tame and disciplined dog can present a threat. If, for example, it runs over to a dog that does not get along well with other dogs and they begin to fight, that other dog and people around could be injured. For another example, a well-behaved and well-meaning dog could walk over to someone with a serious phobia of dogs who could accidentally run into oncoming traffic to avoid the dog. Of course, if the dog is not tame and left to wander freely, this could pose a risk to people around as well. Dog bites can sometimes require immediate and serious medical attention and can result in a timely and expensive recovery process. If you were bitten by an unleashed dog, speak with a DuPage County, IL dog bite lawyer to formulate a plan for your compensation.
PTSD in Children After a Dog Bite in Illinois
It is estimated that approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in this country each year. More than half of those bitten are children. Dog bite injuries in children are often more severe than in adults because of how vulnerable their size leaves them. While much is focused on the physical injuries children suffer in dog attacks, parents and caregivers must be aware of the psychological impact the attack can have. It is estimated that almost half of children who suffer a dog bite injury will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If a dog has bitten your child, it is important to speak with an Illinois personal injury lawyer to find out what legal recourse you may have.
Signs of PTSD
When a child experiences a dog bite, the event can be deeply distressing, causing intense fear, pain, and feelings of helplessness. The sudden and unexpected nature of the attack can shatter a child's sense of safety and security, leaving lasting emotional scars. Moreover, the physical injuries resulting from the bite can compound the psychological trauma, serving as constant reminders of the terrifying encounter.
Contact an Illinois Dog Bite Attorney
If you have suffered a dog bite injury, our personal injury lawyers can help you determine the actual value of the damages you have suffered, and we will work to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call us at 630-552-6860 or fill out the form below to arrange a free consultation.
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134 N. Bloomingdale Road, Bloomingdale, IL 60108 630-529-4761 |
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900 E. Roosevelt Road, Lombard, IL 60148 630-932-9100 |
