Champaign Dog Bite Lawyers

Experienced Illinois Dog Bite Attorneys Help Champaign Residents Get the Help They Need After a Dog Causes Injury

Dogs are popular pets in Illinois. About half of all Illinois households include at least one pet, and one in three pets are dogs. Chicago has the highest dog-to-person ratio of any city in the US, with 22 dogs for every 100 residents. Other Illinois cities, including Champaign, have similarly high rates of canine residents.

Any dog can bite – and a bite can come from a dog of any size, age, or breed. Even dogs that are well-trained and have friendly dispositions may bite. Approximately 4.5 million people suffer dog bites in the United States each year. These injuries require about 800,000 people to seek medical attention from a doctor, urgent care center, or hospital emergency room. 

If you or someone you love has been injured by a dog, call the experienced Champaign dog bite lawyers at Briskman, Briskman & Greenberg today. 

Illinois Dog Bite Statistics

With so many dogs in Champaign and other Illinois locales, Illinois racks up yearly statistics on dog bites. Here are some numbers to know.

• $67,238: The average cost of an Illinois dog bite claim to an injured person and their family.
• 729: The number of dog bites that resulted in lawsuits filed in Illinois in 2022. Thousands more dog bites occurred but didn’t lead to a lawsuit.
• 245: The number of mail carriers who were bitten by dogs in Illinois in 2022 – making Illinois the sixth most dangerous state for mail carriers.
• $49 million: The total value of dog bite claims in Illinois in 2022.
• $14 million: The total compensation paid by just one insurance company (State Farm) on Illinois dog bite claims in 2016.

A dog bite can be costly for an injured person and their family – financially, physically, and emotionally. If you or someone you love suffered a dog-related injury, talk to an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

Common Dog Bite Injuries in Chicago 

Some minor dog bite wounds heal fully with basic treatment. Other injuries can cause long-term or permanent injuries and complications. 

Approximately 20 percent of dog bite injury victims require medical treatment for their injuries. Some require surgery or extended hospital stays to treat their injuries. Even with specialized treatment, permanent mobility problems, nerve damage, scarring, or disfigurement may occur.

Common injuries resulting from dog bites include:

• Puncture wounds and lacerations: Dogs are primarily carnivores, with teeth adapted to puncture and tear flesh. When a dog bites, their teeth may break the skin, causing deep wounds and heavy bleeding. The teeth can also introduce bacteria deep into the body, fostering infections. 
• Crush injuries: Dogs have powerful jaws relative to their size, and some breeds are cultivated to possess a strong bite. Dog bites from the largest breeds may cause broken bones, internal bleeding, or tissue or organ damage.
• Torn tissues or amputations: An injury in which tissues are torn from the body is called an “avulsion” injury. For example, if a dog tears a person’s ear partly or fully off the head, an avulsion injury occurs. 
• Facial injuries: A dog bite to the face may cause permanent scarring or damage to the eyes, mouth, ears, or nose. Children tend to suffer higher rates of facial injuries from dog bites than adults. 
• Infections: Bacteria from a dog’s mouth can cause serious or deadly infections, including MRSA, Pasteurella, rabies, staph, and tetanus. While some infections can be easily treated, others require specialized antibiotics or other measures. 

Any dog can bite, and any person can be bitten. Dog bites tend to happen most often to children under age 9. For children, the consequences of a dog bite may persist throughout their lives, requiring ongoing medical attention, extended therapy, or leaving the child with permanent pain, loss of function, or scarring. 

Dogs can also cause injuries without biting. For instance, a dog’s nails may cause punctures or lacerations in the skin. A dog that jumps on or runs into a person may knock the person down, causing injuries in a fall. 

Dog Owner Responsibilities After a Champaign Dog Bite Incident

Illinois’ dog bite law holds dog owners responsible for their dog’s behavior. A Champaign County court will assume that any dog is capable of biting and will not accept, “but my dog has never bitten anyone before!” as an excuse. 

Illinois’ dog bite law places responsibilities on the injured person as well, however. An injured person must provide evidence showing that the dog owner had a duty of care to prevent the bite and failed to do so, resulting in the bite and the injuries. 

Illinois also uses a “reasonable dog” standard, asking how a normal dog might react in a similar situation. If the dog was provoked, for example, the “reasonable dog” standard might find that a normal dog would also react to the provocation by biting or lashing out. 

Generally speaking, Champaign dog owners have a responsibility to control their dogs to prevent confrontations or situations that could lead to a dog attack or bite. Depending on where the bite occurs, these responsibilities might include using a fence to keep a dog in its yard, walking the dog on a leash, or monitoring interactions between a dog and a child. 

The facts and evidence in each dog bite case play a key role in determining responsibility. Your case isn’t the same as anyone else’s case. For this reason, it’s essential to speak to a Champaign dog bite attorney about your specific situation. 

What to Expect in Your Champaign Dog Bite Case

Illinois has several rules that guide injury cases. These include time limits on filing lawsuits and basic rules about the compensation available in a dog bite claim.

Time Limits

Dog bite claims are a type of personal injury claim. The time limit on Illinois personal injury claims is typically two years from the date of the injury. If you miss this two-year deadline, you cannot file a personal injury lawsuit in court. 

Some exceptions may apply to the two-year time limit. For instance, Illinois has exceptions that apply when a minor suffers injuries. Contact a Champaign dog bite attorney as soon as possible to learn how the time limit applies in your case.

Damages for Dog Bites

The medical and other costs of a dog bite can add up quickly. With a personal injury claim, you can seek compensation for these expenses for yourself or a loved one who is injured. 

In Illinois, a person injured by a dog can seek compensation no matter what type of dog caused the injuries. The dog doesn’t have to belong to a “dangerous” breed, and the dog does not have to have a history of aggression. 

Damages in an Illinois dog bite claim may compensate an injured person for losses like:

• Medical bills, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, prescription medications, and doctor’s visits,
• Future medical expenses if more treatment or therapy is needed in the future,
• Lost wages, if the injured person missed work due to their injuries,
• Reduced earning capacity, if the injuries limit the work the injured person can do in the future,
• Pain and suffering,
• Emotional anguish or trauma resulting from the attack.

Some of these damages can be calculated from bills, invoices, or receipts showing the exact dollar amount you spent or lost. Others, like emotional trauma, are tougher to calculate – but they are real losses that deserve real compensation. An experienced dog bite attorney can help you determine what your case is worth and fight to secure the compensation you need. 

Learn More From an Experienced Champaign Dog Bite Injury Lawyer

A dog bite or attack can be terrifying. A dog may seem to attack from nowhere, leaving you shaken and injured. When a dog bites a child, the child may suffer lifelong injuries as well as considerable fear of dogs or places where dogs may be present. 

At Briskman, Briskman & Greenberg, we understand how disruptive a dog bite injury can be. We’re here to help you pursue compensation for your losses and hold a dog’s owner accountable for the harm caused. 

When you work with an experienced Champaign dog bite attorney, your lawyer can:

• Answer your questions and help you choose the best way to protect your legal rights,
• Gather evidence to establish the full extent of your losses, 
• Negotiate with insurance companies and handle their paperwork,
• Fight for full and fair compensation for your losses and
• Prepare a complete and focused case for you at trial if needed. 

While your attorney takes on these tasks, you can focus on healing from your injuries or helping your loved one do so. 

We take dog bite cases “on contingency.” This means that you will not pay attorney’s fees if we cannot recover compensation for you. To learn more about how contingency fees work or how our experienced attorneys can help, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Champaign dog bite injury lawyer.