Dog bites are serious and potentially life-threatening injuries that can leave victims with intense pain and physical deformities. In some cases, the bite itself may be the beginning of significant or ongoing issues. Dog bites can transmit disease and cause infections that may require extensive medical treatment or lost time from work. While young, elderly, and disabled victims face unique dangers, anyone can be severely injured. If you or a loved one was bitten by a dog, contact Granite City dog bite attorney George H. Albers and Albers Injury Law to review your case and explore your options.
Dog Bite Lawsuits in Granite City, IL
Thousands of people seek emergency medical treatment each year for dog bites. In addition to staggering medical bills, victims can face problems, such as ongoing health issues and missed time from work. Illinois law allows the victim to file a lawsuit against the responsible party (typically the dog owner) to recover damages.
Filing a lawsuit requires compelling evidence, as the burden to prove liability rests with the dog bite victim. Evidence may include the following:
- Police or animal control report
- Eyewitness statements
- Videos and pictures of the injuries and accident scene
- Surveillance camera footage
- Medical records and doctors’ statements
- The victim’s account of the attack
Your Granite City dog bite attorney will investigate the accident, collect evidence, and determine who may be liable. Typically, the dog’s owner, the person in charge of the dog, or some combination of the two are usually at fault for dog bites.
The dog’s owner
The owner is liable for the full amount of a dog bite victim’s injuries if their dog causes injury to someone who:
- Does not provoke the dog to attack
- Is peaceably conducting themselves
- Has a lawful right to be in the location where the bite occurs
- Person in charge of the dog
The person who was actually in control of the dog at the time of the bite could also be liable. The owner may have left the dog with a neighbor, for example, who assumed control of the pet. In those cases, it is the neighbor who is responsible for ensuring the dog is secured from attacking anyone. Failing this, the neighbor could be sued for damages if someone is injured.
Granite City, IL Dog Bite Injuries
Even if you have already administered first aid, you should see a doctor right away for proper medical attention to a dog bite. Your doctor will determine if you’ve suffered these common injuries and how they should be treated:
- Puncture wounds and cuts
- Muscle and nerve tissue damage
- Bone fractures
- Crush injuries
- Bruises
- Infection and disease (e.g. rabies)
- Scarring, disfigurement, and disability
- Loss of limbs and other body parts
- Stress, anxiety, and PTSD
- Difficulty sleeping
- Secondary injuries (e.g. being knocked down by the dog and suffering a head injury)
Collecting Damages After a Dog Bite in Granite City
The nature and amount of your damages will depend on the specific facts in your case. A seasoned dog bite lawyer in Granite City will review the evidence and determine what you can seek from a lawsuit. Most victims can claim the following:
- Medical expenses, such as hospitalization, surgery, prescription medications, treatments for disease and infection, adaptive medical equipment, and physical therapy
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Disability
- Lost wages due to time spent recovering
- Lost earning capacity if the dog bite causes the victim to be unable to work the same job as before
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological distress
- Property damage
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
Factors That Affect the Value of Your Claim
It goes without saying that the circumstances of every dog bite are different. Your Granite City dog bite lawyer will need to review the evidence in your case to determine the value of your claim. Factors that may affect your claim include:
- Your age and medical condition (for example, older people and those with disabilities are often more severely injured)
- The severity of the injuries
- The medical procedures needed to treat your injuries, including reasonably projected future needs
- The impact of the dog bite on your ability to work, now and in the future
- Any mental or emotional injuries you suffered in the attack
- Whether there is evidence that you provoked the dog
- Where the dog bite happened (for example on public property where you had a right to be)
- Whether the owner claims you were committing a crime (e.g. trespassing) when the bite happened
What To Do After a Dog Bite Injury in Granite City, IL
The actions you take after suffering a dog bite will affect both your health and legal claim. We suggest the following:
Leave the immediate area: Stay close by but get away from the immediate vicinity of the dog and its owner (especially if the owner is being hostile).
Try to find out the owner’s information: Ask the owner for identification or at least note the person’s and dog’s description and other information, such as the property address.
Apply first aid or seek medical attention: Emergency care is strongly recommended, but first aid can be used to address urgent problems, such as severe bleeding.
Call law enforcement: When the police arrive, tell them the details of what happened and ask for them to generate an accident report. You can also inform the police if the owner is being aggressive or refusing to provide information about the dog.
Do not admit fault: Whether you are speaking with police, the dog’s owner, or witnesses, don’t apologize or admit you did anything wrong.
Obtain whatever evidence you can: Take pictures and video of the dog, the owner, your injuries, and where the accident happened. Also, speak to witnesses and obtain their contact information.
How Prevalent Are Dog Attacks in Granite City?
Although they do not happen as often as drunk driving accidents and other causes of bodily injury, dog bites are not uncommon. Illinois was the second-leading state for dog bite attacks in 2022.
Get Help From a Granite City Dog Bite Lawyer
Don’t underestimate the seriousness of these attacks and don’t want long to retain a seasoned attorney. Victims only have two years from the date of the attack to file a lawsuit, however, you should act much sooner to make your strongest case. Reach out to Albers Injury Law today to get started.