Dogs are normally lovable companions. But sometimes they can be dangerous. A dog that has been scared, mistreated, or surprised can bite without warning and cause not only in-the-moment panic but also long-term medical complications.
If you have been bitten by a dog in the Schaumburg, IL area, you may be entitled to financial settlement. The team with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you understand the complexities of dog bite litigation and will work to determine what awards your case may generate.
A Schaumburg dog bite lawyer can help you with your case. Contact our team today at (800) 794-0444.
Undertaking Dog Bite Cases In Schaumburg
Dog ownership involves more legislation in the Cook County area than you might think. According to local ordinance, dog owners must keep their dogs collared when out in public. These collars must include a tag indicating that the dog has received its rabies vaccination, as mandated by the county. According to Section 10-8 of County Ordinances, dog owners must also work to preserve the safety of anyone they are out in public with by preventing their animals from:
- Biting
- Attacking
- Chasing
- Barking, crying, or whining in excess
Dogs that have been classified as dangerous by the county – not due to breed but rather due to past recorded behavior – are required by Section 10-12 to remain caged or muzzled whenever their owner is away from their location.
Requirements regarding animal care do not stop there, however. According to Illinois 510 ILCS S5 Animal Control Act, Section 16:
“If a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks, attempts to attack, or injures any person who is peaceably conducting [themselves] in any place where [they] 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.”
Put another way: even if an owner acts to prevent a dog from attacking another party, that owner will be responsible for both the emotional and financial damage endured by another party as a result of their dog’s behavior.
Working With a Schaumburg Dog Bite Lawyer
Physically recovering from a dog bite takes time and patience. Your mental and emotional recovery can take even longer. When you are trying to balance your needs with the demands of a legal case, it can feel as though the world is against you.
A Schaumburg dog bite lawyer with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help lighten your load by:
Understanding The Complexities Of Your Case
To first understand what happened at the time of an attack, the team with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can work with you to establish evidence. In doing so, you and affiliated parties can collect:
- Medical records established or elaborated on after the attack
- The dog owner’s animal registration information
- The dog’s veterinary records or history of violence
- Photo evidence of wounds sustained from the accident
- Testimony from animal experts explaining what may have triggered the dog’s behavior
- Insurance claims filed by all parties involved in the case
- Video, audio, or photo evidence of the attack as it took place
Establishing Party Liability
When it comes to dog bites, you will never be prosecuting the animal in question, but rather the owner. According to Illinois 510 ILCS S5 Animal Control Act, the term “owner” describes any individual who retains a dog or another animal on their property knowingly. As such, when seeking to file a dog bite case, you can work with legal representatives to identify the attacking dog’s owner for prosecution.
Calculating Any Applicable Awards
After establishing your complaint and the identity of a dog’s owner, you can work with a legal representative to determine what compensation you may be entitled to. Compensation after a dog bite accident can include:
- Medical bill reparations for punctures, lacerations, contusions, abrasions, fractures, and other injuries
- Nerve damage reparations
- Infection care
- Future procedures to restore a person’s original quality of life
- Psychological counseling
- Emotional distress and anxiety
- Lost wages and opportunity for employment
- Wrongful death
Representing You In Or Out Of Court
If you want to try and reach a settlement with a dog’s owner outside of the courtroom, you may seek the means to do so. The team with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you work through what compensation you may be entitled to and help you circumvent insufficient settlement offers. If you opt to take a case into court, our team can represent you throughout your case.
Respecting Your Time And Resources
The team with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm knows that, after a dog bite and affiliated medical procedures, you need to focus on your recovery. As such, you will not pay a dime for any services rendered through our law firm upon first seeking out our legal advice. If you are awarded compensation by the court, we will take our fee from the settlement that you receive. This way, you can use the resources you already have to take care of yourself and your loved ones instead of focusing on legal expenses.
For a free legal consultation with a Dog Bites Lawyer serving Schaumburg, call (800) 794-0444
A Schaumburg Dog Bite Lawyer Can Assess Your Case
It can be a challenge to imagine man’s best friend hurting you or the people you care about. Dogs, however, are animals and can react unpredictably when frightened or stressed.
If you have been the victim of a dog bite or attack, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. You can reach out to the team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to discuss your options: (800) 794-0444.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
