call/text for free consultation
312.641.9200
Sustaining a bite from a dog is frightening under any circumstances. When the victim is your child, the shock, fear and questions that follow can feel even more overwhelming. What do you do first? Does the law protect your family? Can you hold the dog’s owner accountable?
The answer to the last two questions is almost always yes. Under Illinois’ Animal Control Act, a dog owner is liable for the full amount of injury caused by their dog if the victim was in a place they had a legal right to be and did nothing to provoke the attack. If your family is dealing with this unfortunate event, you as a parent should:
At The Horwitz Law Group, we have helped families secure compensation in dog bite cases, including a $1,000,000 recovery for the family of one dog bite victim. We can guide you through the legalities of this process to help your family heal after such a traumatic event.
Under the Illinois Animal Control Act, any person with knowledge of a dog bite must notify the County Administrator of the event within 24 hours. This will usually involve calling your local animal control agency and providing information about the dog as well as the dog owner’s name and address. Do not skip this step, as reporting creates an official record of the incident. That record strengthens your child’s case and may protect other children from being harmed by the same animal.
Even bites that appear minor can cause serious infections, nerve damage or scarring. Take your child to an emergency room or urgent care facility for treatment right away. To strengthen your claim, you will likely want to:
Documentation is the foundation of any personal injury claim. The more thorough your records, the stronger your case.
Dog bites do not only leave physical scars. Children are especially vulnerable to lasting psychological harm, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and fear of animals. You may want to schedule an evaluation with a child psychologist or therapist and document any behavioral changes or developmental concerns that you notice after the incident.
Psychological injuries are compensable under Illinois law. Failing to document them means leaving significant compensation unclaimed.
In Illinois, a minor cannot file a lawsuit independently. As a parent or legal guardian, however, you have the right to pursue a claim on your child’s behalf. Compensation can include:
Illinois law also tolls, or pauses, the statute of limitations for minors, meaning your child generally has time to pursue a claim on their own after turning 18. That said, evidence fades over time. Acting sooner may be best to protect your family now.
No parent should have to navigate the aftermath of a dog biting their child on their own. The Horwitz Law Group has spent over two decades fighting for injury victims across Illinois, taking on the cases other firms turn away and going to trial when insurance companies refuse to pay fairly. We are here to help you through this difficult situation.
If a dog has bitten your child and you are considering seeking compensation, contact us today for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.
To arrange a free initial consultation with an experienced Illinois injury lawyer complete the e-mail form below.
Attorney Advertising. This information is designed for general information only. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Past results and testimonials are not a guarantee, warranty, or prediction of the outcome of your case, and should not be construed as such. Past results cannot guarantee future performance. Any result in a single case is not meant to create an expectation of similar results in future matters because each case involves many different factors, therefore, results will differ on a case-by-case basis. By providing contact information, users acknowledge and give explicit consent to be contacted via the methods of communication provided, including SMS. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. Reply STOP to opt out.