Springfield Dog Bite Injury Attorney

When dog owners fail to control their pets, serious injuries can occur. At Holley, Rosen & Beard, LLC, we are here if you need help from a Springfield dog bite injury attorney. We understand that these incidents can leave individuals with extensive medical bills, along with lost wages and significant pain and suffering. We want to help make sure that you recover compensation from the dog’s owner so you can begin the recovery process.

At Holley, Rosen & Beard, LLC, our Springfield dog bite injury lawyers offer a free initial consultation to answer your questions about dog bite law and explain your options. We represent dog bite victims in communities throughout central Illinois.

Choose Holley, Rosen & Beard, LLC for a Dog Bite Injury Case

• At Holley, Rosen & Beard, LLC, our Springfield dog bite injury attorneys focus on putting the client first at all times, which means we listen to your story and then formulate the best path forward to recover compensation.
• We handle dog bite injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so you will not have to worry about paying any legal fees until after we recover compensation for your losses.
• We value your time and know you want answers, so you will regularly hear from your attorney about the progress of your case as it moves forward.

Common Causes of Dog Bite Injuries in Illinois

Many people have pets that never bite a human. While research is often still out in terms of determining the cause of why some dogs react and bite and others do not, there are a few key factors that can increase the risk of a dog biting someone:

• The dog feels threatened. In some situations, dogs bite because they are threatened in some way.
• The dog is anxious or afraid.
• The dog may be afraid of children or unfamiliar people.
• Dogs are sometimes trained to attack others.
• The dog is protecting their family or territory
• The dog is ill with injuries or illness that makes them less tolerant
• The dog bites someone inadvertently while playing

Dog bites in any situation can be a high risk to victims. In every situation, seek medical care. Document what you can at the time. This information could help you to file a claim later.

What Should I Do If I Am Bitten by a Dog in Springfield?

After a dog bite or attack, your priority needs to be to protect yourself from further harm. Get out of the situation as soon as possible. Then, seek medical care if the injuries are serious. If it is safe to do so, there are several other steps you can take to help document the incident:

• Get the name and contact information for the dog’s owner. When possible, keep the conversation very basic so that you do not admit any fault.
• If there is any violence risk or the dog is on the loose, call the police for immediate help.
• Take photos of the dog, the injuries, and the surrounding area.
• File a police report if there are significant injuries and let the police conduct a thorough examination.
• Seek out the help of an attorney if your injuries are serious or you are unsure what your future may hold due to the injuries you have.
• Stay off social media, but keep a log of your losses and how you feel throughout the healing process.

Who Pays For Dog Bite Injuries?

In Illinois, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries caused by their pets from bites. This means that unless you provoked the animal or were a trespasser, the dog’s owner is responsible. In Illinois, the owner of dogs and other animals can even incur expenses from their animals running at large.

Some people are hesitant to file a dog bite injury claim because the dog’s owner is a relative, friend, or neighbor. However, in most cases, dog bite claims are covered by homeowners insurance.

As your lawyers, we work hard to prove the amount of your damages to the insurance company. Insurance companies will typically pay as little as possible, and it often takes a lawyer’s help to maximize your compensation. We work with doctors and other professionals to account for both the initial and long-term effects of the injury.

With more than 50 years of legal experience, we know full well the potential effects of dog bites and other types of injuries. As your attorneys, we will help you understand your options, pursue treatments, get opinions from medical professionals regarding long-term consequences, and get the money you and your family need.

How Much Compensation is Available?

There is no set amount of compensation paid to dog bite injury victims in Illinois. Rather, factors such as injury severity, how long it takes a person to recover, and insurance policy limits will all affect total compensation amounts. The most common route of recovering compensation after a dog bite is a settlement with the homeowners’ insurance policy of the dog owner.

However, in the event that the negligent dog owner does not have an insurance policy, or if the total expenses exceed the policy limits, it may be necessary to file a civil personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party.

Our team works diligently to recover various types of compensation on behalf of dog bite victims. This includes, but is not limited to, coverage of the following:

• All medical bills are rising due to the incident
• Coverage of lost wages if a person is unable to work
• Any property damage expenses
• Household out-of-pocket losses
• Compensation for pain and suffering or scarring and disfigurement

Dog Bite Laws in Illinois

When we examine Illinois law related to dog bite incidents, we can see that this is considered a “strict liability” state (510 ILCS 5/16). This means that a dog’s owner will become liable for the full amount of any injuries if their dog “attacks, attempts to attack, or injures any person” who is conducting themselves peacefully in a place where they have the right to be, so long as the individual does not provoke the dog.

It is important to point out that, unlike other states, Illinois law allows individuals to recover compensation after any type of dog attack, not just the actual dog bite. For example, if a dog pushes somebody down and causes them to sustain an injury, the strict liability rule will apply, and the dog’s owner will be responsible for paying compensation.

What Is Provocation Under the Illinois Animal Control Act?

The Illinois Animal Control Act aims to provide protection for people. The Provocation element of this law indicates that the dog was, in some way, provoked, stimulated, or excited into taking action. Provoking a dog could mean irritating or enraging the animal to take action or telling it to attack.

Under this law, provocation indicates that the dog was provoked in some way to take such actions. If the dog owner says this, it implies that the dog and owner should not be held responsible for the pet’s actions. This means that the victim, in some way, provoked the dog, such as teasing or angering the animal first, causing the incident to occur.

What Is Peaceable Conduct Under the Illinois Animal Control Act?

Peaceable conduct refers to the actions of the victim prior to the dog attack. The law makes it possible to hold the owner liable for the dog’s actions and any damages resulting from them if the dog bites or otherwise hurts the victim when that person is acting in a peaceful manner. That can be interpreted in various ways, but it means the victim did not provoke the dog.

Free Injury Consultation About Your Dog Bite

If you or somebody you love has been bitten by a dog in or around the Springfield area in Illinois, reach out to the team at Holley, Rosen & Beard, LLC as soon as possible. We have a track record of success in helping dog bite victims recover compensation for their losses. We understand what it takes to stand up to aggressive insurance carriers or at-fault parties to recover the compensation our clients need. When you need a Springfield dog bite injury attorney, you can reach us for a free consultation of your claim by filling out our contact form or calling us at (877) 671-5884.