A dog attack can be a terrifying and painful experience that can leave you with extensive injuries and considerable emotional scars.
As well as painful, dog bites can be expensive. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), the average dog bite claim was $32,072 in 2014.
Dogs can make loving and cute pets as well as protective companions. However, dogs are animals and will sometimes act on instincts that can be hard to predict even for their owners.
The owner of a dog has the responsibility to keep their pet under control at all times. Sometimes, dog owners can be careless or think that their dog would never bite anyone, and they fail to leash their dog or do not keep the animal close to them.
If you suffered any injuries in a dog attack, you could receive compensation for expenses as well as any suffering resulting from the attack. An Orland Park dog bite lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm might be able to help. For further information call, (800) 794-0444.
Responsibility in Dog Bite Cases
Dog bites can potentially cause serious injuries that may require expensive and ongoing treatments, and sometimes even rehabilitation. Some of the injuries dog bite victims can suffer from include:
- Fractures
- Puncture wounds and lacerations
- Facial injuries and disfigurement
- Head and brain injuries
- Nerve damage
- Extensive scarring
- Infections
- Rabies
- Emotional effects such as anxiety and trauma
Dog bites are particularly prone to develop serious infections, which can cause complications for dog bite victims. Even a small dog bite from a dog infected with rabies can potentially be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 60 and 70 rabid dogs are reported each year in the U.S.
If you suffered injuries from a dog bite in Orland Park, you might have legal recourse. Generally speaking, the law is on your side. The Illinois Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/16) provides that: “If a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks, attempts to attack, or injures any person who is peaceably conducting himself or herself in any place where he or she may lawfully be, the owner of such dog or other animal is liable in civil damages to such person for the full amount of the injury proximately caused thereby.”
However, the dog owner will most likely fight any claim and may assert that the dog attack was your fault or partly your fault. We can help you establish liability and hold a negligent dog owner to account for your injuries. A lawyer from our Pintas & Mullins Law Firm might be able to help you.
Dog Bite Compensation
Dog attacks can be traumatizing, painful, and expensive. Dog bites may need expensive surgery in some cases. Some victims have to live with disfigurement or scarring for the rest of their lives. There are also the psychological effects of a dog attack and dog bites. A victim may develop anxiety or be afraid to go near dogs. All of this can have detrimental and long-lasting impacts on a dog bite victim’s life.
However, you could potentially receive compensation for your physical as well as your emotional injuries. In a personal injury lawsuit, you could receive the following damages, as well as others:
- Medical bills and future medical expenses
- Physical therapy
- Medical equipment or devices
- Psychotherapy and counseling
- Lost income and future lost income
- Emotional and physical anguish
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of a limb
- Loss of life quality
- Property damage
However, every dog bite case is unique, and so is compensation. If you would like to find out more about the damages you could receive in your specific case, consult with your Orland Park dog bite lawyer.
For a free legal consultation with a Dog Bites Lawyer serving Orland Park, call (800) 794-0444
Timely Action Can Help to Recover Compensation
Do not wait to act and hold a dog owner to account for your costs associated with a dog attack. First of all, the sooner you start initiating legal action, the sooner you could potentially benefit from compensation that can help you move on from a dog attack.
Personal injury lawsuits also have time restrictions in the state of Illinois. The Illinois statute of limitations (735 ILCS 5/) generally gives you two years to file your personal injury lawsuit, starting with the day of injury. It can be easier for you and your lawyer to collect the necessary evidence and witness statements to prove your case immediately after the dog attack happened, rather than months or years later.
Orland Park Dog Bites Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
How Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Can Help You
Do not hesitate to consult with an Orland Park dog bite lawyer for advice if you have suffered any dog bite injuries recently. If you had medical bills and property damage due to a dog attack, we might be able to help you get compensation and justice. We do not shy away from tough cases and will fight vigorously for your rights.
Some of the ways in which we can help you with a personal injury lawsuit include:
- Analyzing your case thoroughly and offer legal advice
- Standing up to insurance companies and help negotiate a fair settlement
- Gathering the evidence needed to prove your case
- Representing you strongly in court
- Work for you without charging upfront attorney’s fees
If someone failed to control their dog, they should be liable for your costs and damages and not you. It can be a challenge for a layperson to deal with a dog bite injury case by themselves, as the laws can be confusing. However, you do not need to do this on your own. Let us handle your dog bite case for you. We could help you get justice and compensation for your injuries.
Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now for a free consultation with one of our team members at (800) 794-0444.
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