Even in dog friendly areas around the city of Chicago, such as Pottawattomie, dog bites and attacks can happen to innocent people. When negligent dog owners or guardians fail to control their animal, they can be viewed as a “dangerous animal” in the eyes of the law.
For instance, Chicago Municipal Code 7-12-050 addresses “dangerous animals,” and describes them as one that has bitten, injured, or killed a human in a public place without the animal being provoked.
Under the Illinois Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/), “strict liability” is used to hold a dog owner accountable when you have been bitten, attacked, or even chased in some instances. This form of liability differs from “one-bite” liability laws, which means a dog is not considered a “dangerous animal” until their first attack.
If you or a loved one is in need of a Chicago Pottawattomie Dog Friendly Area dog bite lawyer, the lawyers of Pintas & Mullins Law Firm are here to help. Contact us online to complete your free case review, or call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 816-0755.
Injuries You May Face From Dog Bites
According to research conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), 866 Americans require an emergency department visit each year for dog bites. The AHRQ’s study also found a variety of common injuries induced from dog bites, which include:
- Skin and subcutaneous tissue infections
- Open wounds (extremities, head, neck, and trunk)
- Fractures of upper limb
- Injuries from external causes
Along with these physical ailments that may lead to permanent scarring and surgeries, dog bites can leave you with infectious diseases. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has listed a variety of diseases which dogs can inflict on humans when they bite. Some of these diseases include rabies, ringworm, flea tapeworms, and more.
Children are also vulnerable to a dog bite, as their height can result in severe injuries to their face, along with mental trauma associated with an attack. Both physical and psychological injuries can be accounted for during a dog bite injury claim with the help of Pintas & Mullins Law Firm by your side.
What Causes Dog Bites?
Dog bites can happen for a variety of reasons, with or without the dog being provoked by a human. For instance, small children could be playing at a playground in Chicago and be attacked by a dog that senses agitation. Dogs tend to bite humans “most commonly as a reaction to something,” according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Additionally, the AVMA states the following other reasons why dogs might bite humans:
- The dog is in a stressful situation
- To defend itself or its territory
- When dogs are scared or have been startled
- When dogs feel threatened
- To protect themselves or something else (their puppies, toys, food, etc.)
- When they feel ill
- To play with humans
- When dogs are overly excited from playing
Regardless of what causes a dog to bite a human, in Illinois, all that matters to your personal injury claim is that you did not provoke the dog and that you were legally allowed to be at the location of the bite.
To learn more about your legal recourse options, contact a Chicago Pottawattomie Dog Friendly Area dog bite lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today.
For a free legal consultation with a Pottawattomie Dog Friendly Area Lawyer serving Chicago, call (800) 816-0755
Gathering Evidence for a Dog Bite Injury Claim
There are several steps you should take after a dog bite injury, all of which can attribute to you gathering evidence for a dog bite injury claim. First, be sure to seek medical attention after you have been bitten. This could mean a trip to a doctor’s office or going to the emergency room. By doing so, you will establish evidence of your related dog bite injuries, which can be used when determining compensation demands against the liable party.
Next, you should collect information from the scene of the dog bite. This may include:
- Contact information from the dog owner.
- Noting the type of dog breed and any additional details on the animal.
- Speaking with eye-witnesses and gathering their contact information.
- Saving the clothes you wore from the attack.
Once you have done so, the CDC advises that you report the accident to your local police department or animal control agency. This will help you obtain a law enforcement report of your dog bite attack, while also checking to determine if the dog had any vaccinations for diseases prior to it biting you.
Thankfully, a Chicago Pottawattomie Dog Friendly Area dog bite lawyer can help you determine what type of evidence you need, and they can discuss the evidence you have collected thus far with you.
Chicago Pottawattomie Dog Friendly Area Lawyer Near Me (800) 816-0755
Speak with a Chicago Dog Bite Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one was bitten by a dog at Chicago’s Pottawattomie Dog Friendly Area, contact the dog bite lawyers of Pintas & Mullins Law Firm for legal recourse options. When you complete a free case review online with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, our team of personal injury lawyers can investigate your claim and begin to piece together important evidence you need. We may also be able to help you determine liability if the dog’s owner was not present at the time of the bite.
For more information, call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 816-0755.
Call or text (800) 816-0755 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form