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If you’ve been injured by a dog, you may be worried about how to get compensation for your injuries. Our personal injury lawyer Decatur Illinois is here to help. Contact us today at 312-622-2900 for a consultation. Our attorneys are knowledgeable, experienced, and passionate about pursuing justice for you.
You have a right to be compensated for the harm your dog bite injuries caused as well as any other losses you suffered. You could also be entitled to punitive damages if the owner or manager of a place that allows dogs to run free knew or should have known that the dog was dangerous and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent injury.
Who can make a claim for dog bite injuries?
In Illinois, anyone who suffers an injury from a dog bite is entitled to make a claim for their damages. This includes: a person who is bitten in the home of a dog owner and anyone else who was injured by the dog (such as someone who tried to break up a fight between two animals).
You can sue the owner of a dog that bites you, even if they don’t have a license. If your claim is successful, you may be able to recover compensation for: medical bills and other expenses related to your injury, lost wages from missing work because of your injuries, and pain and suffering caused by being bitten by the dog.
At Carlson Bier Associates, our personal injury lawyer Decatur Illinois can help you pursue your dog bit claim. Some dog bite injuries can be extremely serious and you deserve to be compensated for your injuries. Contact us today for a consultation.
When dogs are running free
If you were injured at a place that allows dogs to run free, you can sue the owner or manager of that place. Our personal injury lawyer Decatur Illinois can help you with your lawsuit. This includes public parks and beaches where dogs are allowed off-leash. It also includes any private property where permission has been given for dogs to run free; for example, a dog owner might be allowed to bring his pet into your backyard without a leash.
If you were injured by an unleashed dog on this type of property, it’s possible that both owners could be liable for damages if they acted negligently. If your injuries occurred while walking down the street or through another public area where no one had given permission for pets to run free (for example, if you were bitten while walking past someone’s house with no posted signs) then its owner could be held responsible for your injuries under Illinois law (though other laws may apply).
How much can my lawyer get me for my injuries in an Illinois dog bite claim?
The amount of compensation you can get depends on the severity of your injuries and the extent of your pain. In addition, other factors affect how much money you receive in an Illinois dog bite claim:
- The value of your lost wages and medical expenses (and any future medical expenses).
- Whether or not someone else was at fault for causing this accident or incident. For example, if another person was walking their dog without a leash when it bit you, then they could be responsible for paying some or all of your damages because they did not take reasonable precautions against possible incidents like this one. They also did not keep control over their pet at all times while outside in public places where other people might come into contact with them.
Punitive Damages and Compensatory Damages
Punitive damages are awarded to punish the defendant for their actions. In order to be eligible for punitive damages, you must show that:
- The defendant’s conduct was willful, wanton or reckless; and
- You suffered actual harm as a result of that conduct.
Punitive damages are not awarded in all cases but only when they’re deemed appropriate by a jury or judge. If you win a punitive damages case, you can collect money from the defendant’s insurance company after your medical bills have been paid out by them (or another third-party).
Compensatory damages are designed to make the injured party whole again. This means that compensation for a dog bite claim may include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages and/or future earning capacity (if you cannot work due to your injuries)
- Pain and suffering
When you contact our personal injury lawyer Decatur Illinois, we will evaluate your case and determine the best course of action. We want to make sure that you get the compensation and justice you deserve.
Our personal injury lawyer Decatur Illinois will pursue justice for you
If you or someone you know has been injured by a dog, it’s important to hire a personal injury lawyer Decatur Illinois as soon as possible. The lawyers at Carlson Bier Associates have years of experience handling Illinois dog-bite cases and can help you get the compensation you deserve.
