Injuries Beyond Bites: Additional Risks of Dog Attacks

 Posted on June 28, 2024 in Animal 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.
• Slip and fall: When someone tries to escape an aggressive dog, they could easily fall while running away. This type of fall could result in sprains, fractures, and spinal or brain trauma.
• Secondary injuries: While fleeing a vicious dog, you can suffer secondary injuries having nothing to do with a dog bite. It is easy to imagine someone tripping over an obstacle, crashing into a wall, having an asthma attack, suffering a concussion, or having a heart attack while trying as hard as they can to avoid getting bitten by an attacking dog.

Liability for Non-bite Injuries

When a dog attack results in injuries that are not related to a bite, it is important to consider the following when trying to seek compensation:

• Strict liability: Illinois holds dog owners strictly liable for any injuries their pets cause, whether the dog has been harmless until then or has a history of aggression. 
• Negligence claims: If you can demonstrate that the dog owner was negligent in his handling or controlling of the dog and that his negligence resulted in your injury, this might give you sufficient grounds for a negligence claim. 

Schedule a Free Consultation with a DuPage County, IL Dog Attack Attorney

If you were injured in a dog attack that resulted in a slip and fall or other non-bite related injury, speak with a qualified Naperville, IL personal injury lawyer. At Dog Bite Injury Lawyer - Mevorah Law Offices LLC, we have experience offering legal assessment, negotiation, and client advocacy in cases where a dog attack results in injury. Call us at 630-552-6860 to schedule a free consultation.