Maywood Dog Bite Lawyer

Pet ownership can be rewarding, and dogs often become four-legged members of the family. Pet ownership also requires that owners be responsible. A dog’s owner needs to train, care for and socialize their pet so not dangerous to the public.

Unfortunately, not all pet owners are responsible, which can lead to their pets being overly aggressive. A dog bite is a public safety issue because it can result in a serious injury and in some cases, the bite may be fatal.

Suffered an injury from a dog bite in Maywood? Contact an experienced Maywood dog bite lawyer to get an explanation of your rights and legal options. A skilled personal injury attorney can help you pursue your rights to compensation.

Strict Liability

Illinois uses a strict liability approach when individuals are injured by animals, including domestic pets. Under this standard, it is irrelevant the dog has a dangerous propensity. When a domestic pet, injures a person without provocation, the owner is responsible for the resulting injuries. To establish a pet owner’s liability, an injured person cannot simply show that there were injuries from a bite.

An injured victim must first establish that they had a right to be at the location at the time of the bite. For example, a pet owner may not be liable for their dog biting a person if the dog has bitten a person that has broken into their home.

Additionally, an injured victim or their Maywood dog bite attorney must establish that the dog attempted to attack and/or injured them. While injuries resulting from an actual dog attack are easier to establish because there is commonly physical evidence, establishing that only an attempted attack occurred can be more difficult. A skilled dog bite lawyer in Maywood can provide the necessary guidance to help the victim of an attempted attack meet their burden.

Finally, a dog bite victim must establish that the dog was not provoked into biting them. Hitting, kicking, or throwing something at a dog before being bitten typically establishes provocation for the animal to attack. The same type of physical assault on the dog’s owners may also establish provocation for the dog to attack.

Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations is the time post-incident a person has to file a claim. Failing to do so within that time frame results in the loss of a party’s right to bring a claim. For dog bite claims in Maywood, an injured victim has two years from the date of the bite to file.

How a Maywood Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help

So many people are afraid of dogs, often because of a traumatic experience with one in the past. While the physical wounds from puncture marks, scars, and other physical impairments may heal; the emotional scars of an attack may last much longer.

When an irresponsible pet owner abuses or fosters aggression in their pet and resulting in another person’s physical and emotional injury, responsibility should fall on them for their misconduct. For more information on what to do if you suffered a dog bite, contact a Maywood dog bite lawyer right away.