Personal Injury Law Blog

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon took time away from the team after a dog bite injury on Christmas Day 2023 left him with lacerations to his face and hand, according to a CNN Sports report.

Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone noted that Gordon’s time off included time to recover from both physical and mental injuries after the dog bite. “That’s something where you have to heal from the physical, but you also have to heal from the mental and what you just kind of went through,” Malone told ESPN. 

Dog bites pose serious challenges for thousands of injured people each year. Illinois ranks among the states with the most recorded dog bites annually. 

Illinois: A Top State for Dog Bite Injuries

In 2023, 19,062 legal claims for dog bite injuries were filed nationwide, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the Insurance Information Institute (III), and State Farm Insurance.

This number continues a rising trend of serious dog bite incidents nationwide. 2023’s number was eight percent higher than in 2022 and 110 percent higher than in 2013. While the average cost per claim has dropped, it still costs $58,545. This cost covers medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses from dog bites. 

Illinois ranks second in the United States for the number and cost of dog bite claims, according to State Farm. In 2022, Illinois recorded 255 dog bite injury lawsuits at a total cost of $17.5 million. The only state with higher numbers was California, with 400 claims and a cost of $32.2 million. 

Among US cities, Chicago ranks third in the US Postal Services’ dog bite statistics. In 2023. 48 mail carriers were bitten by dogs in Chicago. Only Houston with 56 bites and Los Angeles with 65 ranked higher. Throughout Illinois, mail carriers suffered 316 dog bites in 2023, making the state the fifth most dangerous for postal workers. 

In a March 2023 survey by the National Dog Bite Prevention Coalition, 1,330 respondents answered questions about their experience with dogs. In that study:

• 23 percent said they’d suffered a dog scratch,
• 19 percent said a dog bite had injured them,
• 11 percent filed an insurance claim for a dog-related injury, and
• 6 percent had filed a lawsuit or been served with a lawsuit for a dog-related injury. 

In short, anyone can suffer a dog bite, and any dog can cause injuries. While most dog bite injuries aren’t fatal, many cause severe injuries that require medical treatment and leave lifelong scars or other damage. 

What to Do If You Suffer a Dog Bite

If you’re bitten by a dog, these steps can help you get quick medical care and protect your legal rights. 

Safety first. As soon as possible, get away from the dog or get the dog secured in a location where it cannot continue to bite or attack. If possible, make sure the dog remains secured, as the animal may need to be tested for rabies or other diseases. 

Get contact information. If you can, get the contact information of the dog’s owner. If no owner is around, noting the address or location where you were attacked can help you or your attorney work to track down the dog’s owner. If you can speak to the dog’s owner, get their contact information as well as contact information for their homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, or dog bite liability insurance carrier. 

Seek medical attention right away. A dog bite can tear skin, damage muscles and nerves, and sharply increase your risk of a serious infection. Seek emergency room treatment immediately if you suffer dog bite injuries, especially if the dog’s bite broke the skin. 

Keep all your paperwork secure in one place. Save all your bills, receipts, and other paperwork related to the dog bite injury. This may include medical bills, paperwork from your doctor’s visits, pay stubs showing lost wages if you need time off from work, and any other paperwork that shows what you paid or lost due to the dog bite. Your attorney can use this information to fight for full and fair compensation in your case. 

File an insurance claim. Homeowners’ and renters’ insurance often covers dog-related injuries. When this insurance excludes certain dog breeds, an owner may also have dog bite liability insurance to cover the dog’s behavior. Contact the appropriate insurance company to file a claim. 

Talk to an experienced attorney. After a severe dog bite, you may struggle to recover from both physical and psychological injuries. An attorney can help manage your claim while you focus on recovery. Speak to an experienced Chicago dog bite injury lawyer to learn more.