The Chicago, Illinois personal injury lawyers at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg put together a guide to the dog bite laws in Illinois, which can help dog bite victims understand their rights after a vicious animal attack.
Being attacked by a dog results in both physical and psychological injuries, which often have a profound impact on victims’ lives. Every state is responsible for creating its own dog bite laws, which determine when an animal’s owner can be held financially liable for injuries caused by their pet.
One of the most common dog bite laws is referred to as the “one bite” rule. The one bite rule provides that a dog bite victim can only recover compensation from an animal’s owner is they can prove that the owner knew their dog was dangerous. This rule is referred to as the one-bite rule because, in most cases, an owner is on notice that their pet is dangerous only after the animal attacks someone. Thus, the first time an animal bites someone usually doesn’t result in an owner’s liability under the one-bite rule.
Illinois does not use the one-bite rule in dog bite cases. Instead, Illinois employs a strict liability framework when assessing dog owner liability. Under a strict liability analysis, a dog owner is liable for injuries caused by their animal regardless of whether they were negligent. This also means that there is no requirement to prove that a dog has bitten someone else in the past.
Not all Illinois dog bite cases fall under the strict
liability framework; however. In order for strict liability to apply, the dog
bite victim must meet each of the following criteria:
·
They were not provoking the animal at the time
of the attack;
·
They were “peaceably conducting themselves” at
the time of the attack; and
· They were in a place they were legally allowed to be.
Also, under Illinois dog bite law, a dog does not need to bite a victim for the owner to be liable for the victim’s injuries. This means that a victim who is injured while trying to escape from a vicious dog can still bring a dog bite lawsuit against the animal’s owner.
It is important to understand that animal owners facing a dog bite claim have a variety of defenses available to them, which may defeat a victim’s claim. The most common defenses to an Illinois dog bite claim are that the victim was trespassing at the time of the attack or that the victim provoked the animal.
It is important to remember that you have many options when it comes to selecting a dog bite attorney. Your decision regarding which dog bite lawyer you allow to represent you is one of the most important decisions you will make in your case. For over 35 years, the personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg have been advocating on behalf of individuals and families who suffered as a result of others’ negligence. Our dog bite attorneys are compassionate, dedicated advocates who can explain your rights and effectively pursue a claim for fair compensation from the party responsible for your injuries.
Call today to speak with an Illinois
dog bite attorney at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg
Briskman Briskman & Greenberg
351 W Hubbard St #810
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 222-0010
https://www.briskmanandbriskman.com
175 N Chicago St
Joliet, IL 60432
(312) 222-0010
For details visit: https://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/practice-areas/chicago-dog-bite-lawyer/