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Dog Bite Injuries Attorney in Smithton

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Personal Injury Lawyer Orland Park Illinois | Carlson Bier Associates

About Carlson Bier Associates

When experiencing the trauma of a dog bite injury, it’s paramount to choose legal representation that is adept in navigating such complex cases. At Carlson Bier, we specialize in personal injury law and have earned a winning reputation for successfully handling dog bite injuries. Serving clients throughout Illinois including Smithton residents, our seasoned attorneys bring forth expertise gained through years of focused practice. We understand the intricate nuances associated with these types of cases – from obtaining essential medical information to comprehending local animal control laws. Our commitment at Carlson Bier extends beyond courtroom success; we strive for client satisfaction by advocating tirelessly on your behalf until justice is served and appropriate compensation received. For those seeking steadfast legal representation following a distressing dog bite incident, consider the exemplary service record and deep-rooted proficiency offered only by Carlson Bier – distinguished professionals within the realm of personal injury litigation who consistently achieve optimal outcomes for their clients across Illinois.

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About Carlson Bier

Dog Bite Injuries Lawyers in Smithton Illinois

At the renowned Illinois-based law firm, Carlson Bier, we dedicate our expertise to understanding and successfully navigating complex personal injury cases. As seasoned legal warriors for victims of personal injury incidents, one area that remains a focal point in our practice is Dog Bite Injuries.

Dog bites can cause grave physical injuries alongside emotional trauma. They often fall under the category of personal injury law known as “strict liability,” making the dog owner legally accountable for damages irrespective of previous knowledge of the dog’s aggression. However, it should be noted that pursuing such cases often involves navigating intricate laws surrounding animal attacks and knowing how to negotiate with insurance companies—both areas where you’d find having an experienced attorney beneficial.

There are essential elements related to this form of personal injury litigation that everyone should take note:

• Severity Of The Injury: Always remember that major injuries requiring extensive medical treatment generally value higher in terms of claims compared to minor wounds.

• Nature Of The Defendant: Claims may decrease if the defendant lacks sufficient resources or insurance coverage.

• Type Of Liability Insurance Cover: It is worth noting that homeowners’ or renters’ policies usually cover dog bite injuries.

Delving deeper into Illinois-specific legislation concerning Dog Bite Injuries; under state statute 510 ILCS 5/16, it provides clearer guidelines on strict liability. According to this “Animal Control Act,” if a dog or any other pet animal injures someone unprovoked he/she has legal grounds to hold the owner responsible without proving negligence on their part. Understanding these provisions can help you grasp your rights better after encountering a horrifying experience such as a traumatic animal attack.

The associated financial burden resulting from treatments like surgery, vaccinations for rabies, wound dressing changes and long-term trauma counseling can quickly add up, making damage recovery through compensation imperative for victims. Lost wages due to absence from work may also be recoverable depending upon case specifics.

Additionally, certain circumstances allow punitive damages above medical costs to punish negligent pet owners and serve as an example for others. A crucial fact is that Illinois does not follow the “One Bite Rule,” which frees owners from liability if their dog hasn’t bitten anyone before.

At Carlson Bier, we are profoundly committed to advocating for victims of dog bite injuries. Our team brings immense prowess in comprehending these intricate laws, successfully negotiating with insurance companies, and striving vigorously towards getting you rightful compensation. We are passionate about amalgamating legal knowledge with empathy—an ethos carved out from years of stellar service in personal injury law in Illinois.

Saving our clients’ time by simplifying complicated legal jargon while preserving all critical information has been a defining service trait at Carlson Bier. Through this educational content on Dog Bite Injuries, we hope we could shed light on topics that concern your wellbeing greatly post such unfortunate incidents.

Now comes the question – what’s the worth of your case? The value can be vastly different depending upon various factors like severity, psychological impact, lost earnings etc., and it matters to have an expert assess its accurate worth. Thereby shielding yourself from inadvertently settling for less than you should or letting valuable times tick away unknowingly detrimental to your claim – issues commonly faced by folks trying to solo navigate this process.

We encourage you to click on the button below so that our team of experts can give you a proper evaluation—allowing you gain more clarity on possible outcomes tied up with your case thereby empowering rational decision-making strategies moving forward. Remember when it comes to personal injury law complexities; you aren’t alone when there’s Carlson Bier standing beside you.

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Notable Illinois Appellate Wins

Moruzzi v. CCC Servs., Inc., 2020 IL App (2d) 190411, 171 N.E.3d 61
Background: Insured motorist filed action against insurer for declaratory judgment seeking construction of automobile insurance policy issued to insured and that was in effect when insured was injured by an underinsured driver. The Circuit Court, DuPage County, Bonnie M. Wheaton, J., granted the insurer's motions for summary judgment. Insured appealed.Holdings: The Appellate Court, Zenoff, J., held that:1 medical payments reduction clause in automobile insurance policy conflicted with underinsured motorist provisions so as to render reduction clause ambiguous, and thus medical payment benefits were deductible from insured's damages;2 law firm representing insured did not create common fund or common funds when it reached settlement with underinsured motorist, and thus law firm was not entitled to recover fees under common-fund doctrine; and3 collateral estoppel did not bar automobile insurers from litigating whether common-fund doctrine applied in insured motorist's declaratory judgment action.Affirmed in part and reversed in part.
Maier v. CC Servs., Inc., 2019 IL App (3d) 170640, 132 N.E.3d 795
Background: After insured, who was injured in automobile collision with another driver, recovered full liability limits of driver's policy, she filed amended complaint for declaratory judgment against her own automobile insurer, alleging that insurer breached contractual duty to pay for insured's damages in accordance with uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage in insured's policy and that insurer acted in bad faith in denying insured such coverage. The Circuit Court, La Salle County, Troy D. Holland, J., granted the insurer's motion to dismiss claims as time-barred. Insured appealed.The Appellate Court ruled that neither the insurer nor the insured could add amended policy provisions to the court record. It was decided that the policy's requirement for a written arbitration demand applied to both uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. The court found that a letter from the insured's attorney to the insurer wasn't a valid arbitration demand nor a proof of loss to toll the statute of limitations. Finally, the insurer was permitted to use the defense based on the two-year statute of limitations period. The court's decision was affirmed.
Econ. Premier Assurance Co. v. Country Mut. Ins. Co., 2021 IL App (1st) 192364-U
Holding: The circuit court's order that granted defendant's motion for summary judgment and denied plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment was proper where defendant had no duty to indemnify its insured with respect to the underlying complaint and therefore plaintiff was not entitled to recover against defendant on its subrogation or unjust enrichment claims; affirmed.
Country Preferred Ins. Co. v. Westerheide, 2023 IL App (5th) 220343-U
Holding: The court affirmed judgment of the circuit court granting summary judgment in favor of the plaintiff where the defendant failed to make a written demand for arbitration within two years from the date of the accident as required by the underinsured provisions of the defendant's automotive insurance policy.
Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Olsak, 2022 IL App (1st) 200695, 216 N.E.3d 291
In a complex legal case, an insurer sought to avoid defending or indemnifying a hockey player under a policy issued to the player's stepfather after the player was sued for assaulting his coach. The initial Circuit Court ruling favored the insurer, but the Appellate Court reversed this decision, leading to a protracted legal battle. Ultimately, the Appellate Court determined the insurer was liable only up to the $3 million policy limit and found the insurer's four-year delay in seeking a declaratory judgment to be reasonable. This case highlights important aspects of insurance litigation and policy limit liabilities.
Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Durkin Elec. Co., Inc., 2022 IL App (1st) 210293-U, appeal denied, 199 N.E.3d 1187 (Ill. 2022)
Holding: The circuit court's order that denied plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment and found that defendant was an additional insured under the policy was proper. The circuit court's order that denied defendant's motion for summary judgment and found that plaintiff did not have a duty to defend or indemnify defendant under the policy was proper; affirmed.
Country Preferred Ins. Co. v. Groen, 2017 IL App (4th) 160028, 69 N.E.3d 911
Background: Uninsured motorist (UM) carrier brought action against insured for declaratory judgment that it owed no benefits since workers' compensation received by insured exceeded policy limits. The Circuit Court, Sangamon County, Chris Perrin, J., entered summary judgment in favor of the carrier. Insured appealed.Holdings: The Appellate Court, Harris, J., held that:1 employer's medical payments entitled carrier to setoff, and2 setoff clauses were enforceable.Affirmed.
Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Frobish, 2021 IL App (3d) 190473-U
Holding: Allegations in the underlying complaint that a township employee caused property damage by excavating and digging out a ditch failed to impose a duty to defend under township employee's individual farm insurance policy.
Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Jones, 2018 IL App (1st) 173154-U
Holding: The judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed; plaintiff is entitled to summary judgment on its claim for a declaratory judgment that it has no duty to defend or indemnify its insured against the underlying complaint because the loss claimed in the underlying complaint is subject to an exclusion. The court held that it would also enter judgment for plaintiff because the underlying complaint does not allege an “occurrence” causing bodily injury within the meaning of the policy.
Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Schmitt, 2021 IL App (5th) 190173-U
Holding: The appellate court reversed and remanded the judgment of the circuit court where plaintiff had no duty to defend its insured and thus was not stopped from raising policy defenses to coverage for the underlying tort action contained in the amended declaratory action.
Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Livorsi Marine, Inc., 222 Ill. 2d 303, 856 N.E.2d 338 (2006) (the late Keith Carlson)
Liability insurer brought action against insureds for a declaratory judgment based on failure to provide timely notice of lawsuits against them. The Circuit Court, Cook County, Stephen A. Schiller, J., entered judgment for the insurer. Insureds appealed. The Appellate Court, Wolfson, J., 358 Ill.App.3d 880, 295 Ill.Dec. 665, 833 N.E.2d 871, affirmed. Leave to appeal was granted.Holdings: The Supreme Court, Garman, J., held that:1 if the insurer did not receive reasonable notice of an occurrence or a lawsuit, the policyholder may not recover under the policy, regardless of whether the lack of reasonable notice prejudiced the insurer, overruling Rice v. AAA Aerostar, Inc., 294 Ill.App.3d 801, 229 Ill.Dec. 20, 690 N.E.2d 1067, and Cincinnati Insurance Co. v. Baur's Opera House, Inc., 296 Ill.App.3d 1011, 230 Ill.Dec. 624, 694 N.E.2d 593, and2 insured did not need to prove that it was prejudiced by delayed notice of lawsuits.Affirmed.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Dog Bite Injuries FAQ​

The most common causes of dog bite injuries in Chicago include:

  • Unprovoked attacks: These attacks occur when a dog bites someone with no warning or provocation.
  • Provoked attacks: These attacks occur when someone does something to provoke the dog, such as teasing it or trying to take its food away.
  • Territory guarding: These attacks occur when a dog bites someone who is entering its territory.
  • Motherhood protection: These attacks occur when a mother dog bites someone who is approaching her puppies.

If you are bitten by a dog in Chicago, you should:

  • Clean the wound immediately with soap and water.
  • Apply a bandage to the wound.
  • Seek medical attention immediately. Even if you don’t think your injuries are serious, it’s important to get checked out by a doctor.
  • Report the dog bite to the local animal control agency.

Dog bite injuries can have a number of long-term effects, both physical and emotional. Some people may experience chronic pain, scarring, or nerve damage. Others may develop a fear of dogs or other animals.

Illinois is a strict liability state when it comes to dog bites. This means that the owner of a dog is liable for any injuries caused by the dog, regardless of whether the owner knew the dog was capable of such behavior.

There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as if the person who was bitten was trespassing on private property or if the person provoked the dog.

Yes, you are entitled to compensation if you are bitten by a dog and have suffered injuries. You can file a lawsuit against the dog owner to recover your damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

All Attorney Services in Smithton

Areas of Practice in Smithton

Cycling Accidents

Expert in legal services for individuals injured in bicycle accidents due to responsible parties' lack of care or dangerous conditions.

Burn Traumas

Supplying professional legal assistance for individuals of major burn injuries caused by mishaps or misconduct.

Clinical Incompetence

Providing specialist legal advice for clients affected by medical malpractice, including negligent care.

Merchandise Fault

Handling cases involving dangerous products, supplying adept legal assistance to customers affected by faulty goods.

Aged Misconduct

Advocating for the rights of seniors who have been subjected to neglect in care facilities environments, ensuring justice.

Tumble & Trip Mishaps

Adept in addressing fall and trip accident cases, providing legal support to persons seeking restitution for their damages.

Childbirth Damages

Delivering legal guidance for relatives affected by medical carelessness resulting in infant injuries.

Automobile Collisions

Incidents: Dedicated to guiding sufferers of car accidents get reasonable compensation for wounds and impairment.

Bike Crashes

Committed to providing legal support for individuals involved in two-wheeler accidents, ensuring adequate recompense for traumas.

18-Wheeler Mishap

Extending experienced legal assistance for victims involved in trucking accidents, focusing on securing just claims for injuries.

Building Site Mishaps

Committed to advocating for workmen or bystanders injured in construction site accidents due to safety violations or negligence.

Head Harms

Expert in offering specialized legal assistance for victims suffering from cognitive injuries due to misconduct.

Dog Bite Harms

Proficient in handling cases for persons who have suffered damages from dog attacks or beast attacks.

Jogger Accidents

Dedicated to legal representation for walkers involved in accidents, providing dedicated assistance for recovering damages.

Undeserved Death

Striving for bereaved affected by a wrongful death, extending caring and skilled legal support to ensure justice.

Neural Impairment

Dedicated to defending patients with vertebral damage, offering compassionate legal services to secure compensation.

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The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

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