Dog Bite Facts and Laws You Should Know

 Posted on August 23, 2022 in Dog Bite Injuries

A dog bite can be very dangerous. Even if a bite does not seem serious at first, the potential for a serious infection remains. Of course, other bites are clearly very serious right away. Children are at particular risk for serious dog attacks, as they are more likely than an adult to unintentionally provoke a dog. Dog bites can lead to all sorts of complications. Disfigurement is a very common complaint in dog bite cases, particularly when a person’s face or arms have been bitten. Many will be left with scars around the bite area that will never go away. It can also be a very traumatic experience.

Even a normally friendly-looking dog can become terrifying in an instant when it begins to show aggression. If you are one of the many people who have been bitten by a dog this year, you may be entitled to compensation from the dog’s owner. 

Dog Bite Facts and Statistics Everyone Should Be Aware Of

While dogs can be man’s best friend, they can become a person’s worst enemy if they bite. A few facts you should know about dog bites and the laws regarding them include: 

• Strict liability - In Illinois, dog owners are strictly liable to anyone their dog injures. They must have complete control over their pet so that it does not harm anyone. It does not matter if the dog has never bitten or shown aggression before. 
• Provocation exception - A dog’s owner is not liable for a bite if the dog was provoked. Children especially may frighten, upset, or cause pain to a dog without meaning to in their eagerness to play with or pet it. 
• Defense exception - Dogs can become very protective of their owners - in fact, quite a few people get a dog primarily for protection. If the person bitten was trespassing or unlawfully trying to harm the owner, the owner is not liable for a bite. 
• Dogs you know - When a child is bitten by a dog, the culprit is usually a dog the child knows. Children are especially vulnerable to dog attacks. A young child’s face may be at roughly eye level for a dog, making facial bites more likely. 
• Commonality - More than 4.5 million people in the United States are bitten by a dog each year. 

If you or your child is bitten by a dog, it is important to seek medical care immediately. Even if the bite does not seem bad, infection is a big risk. Then, you should call an attorney. 

Contact an Illinois Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog Bite Injury Lawyer - Mevorah Law Offices LLC is skilled at helping people recover compensation in dog bite cases. Our experienced Cook County dog bite attorneys will fight for you to receive the highest possible award or settlement. Call 630-552-6860 for a free consultation. 

Source:

https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention