What Types of Compensation Can I Receive for a Dog Bite Injury?

 Posted on March 14, 2023 in Uncategorized

If you or someone you love have been attacked by a dog or suffered an injury due to a dog bite, you may be unsure about the legal options available to you. Dog bites can cause multiple types of injuries, such as lacerations, puncture wounds, infections, nerve damage, and scarring. In the most serious cases, dog bites may even lead to the wrongful death of a victim. Fortunately, Illinois law states that a dog's owner or a person who was in control of a dog at the time of a dog bite is "strictly liable" for a victim's injuries and damages. This means that you do not have to prove that the person was negligent or failed to control their dog, and as long as you were not trespassing and did not provoke the dog, you can pursue compensation for your injuries. By understanding the types of compensation you can receive, you can make sure you will be able to make a full recovery from a dog bite.

Medical Expenses

In general, a dog bite lawsuit will reimburse you for all medical expenses related to the injuries suffered in an attack. This can include the costs of emergency room treatment, follow-up doctor's visits, surgeries, and rehabilitative therapy. In serious cases, extensive medical treatment may be needed, such as surgery to correct nerve damage or bones that were broken or crushed, as well as ongoing physical therapy, medications, and other forms of care. In addition to being repaid for treatment you have already received, compensation may address any future medical care that will be required.

Lost Wages

If you missed work while recovering from a dog bite, you may be repaid for all the income you would have earned during that time. In some cases, a dog bite injury may be serious enough to cause permanent disabilities, such as when a bite causes damage to the arms and hands, affecting a person's ability to perform fine motor skills and complete work-related tasks they had done in the past. In these situations, you may also be compensated for the loss of future income, as well as the benefits you would receive from continued employment.

Pain and Suffering

Dog bites can cause a great deal of physical pain, as well as emotional trauma, and you should be compensated for this type of harm. While determining the monetary value of these types of damages is not always easy, there are methods that courts often use to determine an appropriate amount that should be paid to address physical pain and discomfort, emotional harm, loss of enjoyment of life, damage to family relationships, and other issues that have affected your overall well-being.

Punitive Damages

These types of damages are designed to punish a person who was responsible for an injury and deter future misconduct. They are not awarded in every case, but they may be appropriate if a dog's owner intended to cause an injury or acted very recklessly. For example, if the dog's owner knew that their dog was dangerous because it had bitten or attacked people in the past, but they did not take steps to restrain the dog or keep it away from other people, this could be considered gross negligence. As a result, punitive damages might be awarded in addition to compensatory damages.

Contact Our Aurora Dog Bite Injury Attorneys

If you or someone you love has been injured by a dog bite, there is a good chance that you may be entitled to compensatory damages from the dog's owner, and depending on the situation, punitive damages may be available as well. At Dog Bite Injury Lawyer - Mevorah Law Offices LLC, we can help you take legal action to pursue compensation, and we will fight to make sure you will be fully compensated for the harm you and your family have suffered. Contact our Kane County dog bite lawyers at 630-552-6860 and set up a free consultation today.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1704