Dogs are an important part of many families. They are treated as important family members and seem like harmless creatures. Unfortunately these kind animals can suddenly feel threatened and snap at someone. When a dog bites another person, the owner can be held responsible for the injuries they cause, often through their homeowner’s insurance.
Being bitten by a dog can be a traumatic event, especially if the victim is a young child. Statistics show that most people who are injured in dog attacks are 11 years old or younger. A child may want only to play with the dog but get a little too close to its face or play a little too roughly. The dog may not necessarily mean to hurt the child, but sadly, it does. Even if the dog has never had a history of biting or injuring a person, the homeowner is still responsible for the injuries caused by his or her dog.
Even the smallest dogs can cause serious damage when they bite. Some problems that can be caused by a dog bite include:
Puncture wounds
Nerve damage
Emotional distress
Some states give dogs a “one bite free” rule, meaning they allow dogs without a violent history one free bite before the owner can be held liable for their dog’s injuries. Illinois is not one of those states. If you have suffered an injury, whether this dog has a history of bites or if this is its first, you can recover damages. If, however, the dog has a history of biting, a dog bite injury lawyer will work to uncover that history which can help bolster your claim.
If you have been bitten by a dog, the first thing to do is contact authorities. This is because the dog needs to be quarantined to make sure it does not have serious health issues such as rabies. It is also important to isolate it to make sure it does not bite anyone else.
Suffering a dog bite is a terrifying experience, especially for a child. But regardless of the victim’s age, it is important to hold the responsible parties accountable and make sure the injuries caused by the dog are fully compensated. Because it can take many months for the injuries to heal, and can in fact leave permanent scarring, it is important to hire an attorney who is familiar with these serious injuries. This way, a person can be confident that the amount they recover fully compensates them after this devastating injury.
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