Gurnee Dog Bite Lawyers

Experienced Gurnee Dog Bite Lawyers Are On Your Side Every Step Of the Way

Dogs may be “man’s best friend,” but they’re also animals who have been bred over centuries with certain instincts – including the instinct to bite if they feel threatened or attacked. Any dog may bite, and any dog bite can cause serious injuries. 

Illinois consistently ranks among the top states for dog bite claims. If you’ve been injured by a dog bite in Gurnee, speak to an experienced Gurney dog bite injury attorney today. The team at Briskman, Briskman & Greenberg can help. 

How Common are Gurnee Dog Bite Claims?

In Illinois, dog bite claims are common. A State Farm study found that in 2022, Illinois ranked seventh in the US in dog bite claims. In that year, 729 dog bite lawsuits were filed, resulting in $49 million in paid insurance claims. 

Illinois also ranked seventh in the United States Postal Service (USPS) rankings for dog bite injuries to postal workers. In 2021, Chicago ranked eighth among US cities for the number of dog bite attacks. Dog bites are also common in communities linked to Chicago, including Gurnee and others in Lake County. Illinois continues to post high rates of dog bite injuries despite having one of the US’s lowest rates of dog ownership Only about 31 percent of Illinois households have a dog, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. 

Any dog can bite, and any human can be bitten. However, young children are statistically more likely to suffer dog bites. Approximately 27 percent of all dog bite injuries occur in children ages 9 and younger. About 57 percent of those who die from dog attacks are age 16 or younger. Children are also more likely to suffer severe injuries; 80 percent of severe dog bite injuries to children occur on the head, neck, or face. 

Determining Fault in a Gurnee Dog Bite Case

Illinois adheres to a “strict liability” rule for dog bite claims. This rule holds a dog’s owner liable any time the dog causes harm to another person, even if the dog has never acted aggressively before. The owner is liable as long as the victim is “peaceably conducting himself or herself in any place where he or she may lawfully be,” under Illinois’s dog bite statute. 

In practice, this means that a dog owner may be at fault for failing to take ordinary steps to restrain a dog or protect others, including:

• Keeping the dog on a leash,
• Installing proper fences, door latches, and other items to keep a dog in its house or yard, or
• Posting warning signs to alert passersby about a dog’s presence. 

Those injured by dog bites in Gurnee must provide “plausible facts” that show the owner breached their responsibility to restrain the dog or warn others about the dog. An “owner” may be anyone responsible for the dog, including someone who is keeping the dog for a friend or who allows the dog to roam their yard. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Gurnee Dog Bite Lawsuit?

In Illinois, personal injury claims must typically be filed within two years of the date of injury. This rule is called the “statute of limitations.” The deadline it sets is a strict one. 

If a dog bite claim is not filed within two years of the date of injury, the injured person loses the opportunity to file their claim in court. This means the injured person cannot go to trial to prove fault or damages. It also means that the injured person loses the opportunity to use the promise of a lawsuit as leverage in settlement negotiations with a dog’s owner or insurance company. 

Some exceptions to the two-year rule exist, but they apply only in narrow circumstances. Speak to an experienced Gurnee dog bite attorney as soon as possible. 

Common Injuries in a Gurnee Dog Bite Case

Dog bites are rarely fatal, but they frequently cause permanent scarring and damage. Common injuries caused by dog bites include:

• Lacerations and puncture wounds,
• Damage to skin, muscles, and nerves,
• Infections, which can become dangerous, and
• Scarring and disfigurement. 

Psychological injuries, such as post-traumatic stress symptoms or a lingering fear of dogs, are also common. Children are especially likely to develop a strong fear of dogs after a dog attack. 

In some situations, a dog does not bite a person. Instead, the person is injured in other ways. For example, a person may be scratched by a dog’s claws. A person knocked to the ground by a dog may suffer injuries as well. 

These injuries can also be compensated in a dog bite or dog attack claim. The same rules apply to other dog-related injuries as to dog bites. Speak to a knowledgeable Gurnee dog attack injury lawyer to learn more. 

Damages in a Gurnee Dog Bite Lawsuit

Most personal injury claims seek two categories of damage: Economic and non-economic damages. Dog bite claims often seek both categories of damages. 

Examples of compensation for damages in a Gurnee dog bite lawsuit include:

• Medical bills. The costs of medical treatment after a dog bite are often included in a dog bite damages claim. Your claim may also include the costs of any future medical care you may need, like counseling to manage post-traumatic stress symptoms, additional surgeries, or medications to treat nerve pain caused by a dog bite. 
• Lost wages. If a dog bite prevented you from going to work, you can seek compensation for the wages you lost while you recovered from the injury. 
• Property damage. In some cases, a dog attack results in damaged property. If this occurs, you can seek compensation for the property damage in a Gurnee dog bite claim. 

These are examples of “economic” damages – losses that are easy to quantify with receipts, bills, and other paperwork showing exactly how much money you spent or lost as a result of the dog bite. 

“Non-economic” damages compensate you for losses that aren’t as easy to quantify. Common non-economic losses in a Gurnee dog bite claim include:

• Pain and suffering. Dog bites can be extremely painful. These damages compensate you for the pain and suffering you’ve already endured. Damages for pain and suffering you’ll face in the future may also be part of this claim. 
• Psychological distress. Post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression, and fear of dogs are common after a dog attack. These damages help compensate you for the loss of the confidence and peace of mind you had before the dog bite occurred.
• Loss of enjoyment of activities. If your injuries prevent you from engaging in activities or hobbies you once enjoyed, these damages seek to compensate you for that loss. 
• Scarring and disfigurement. Dog bite injuries can leave significant scars. Compensation for the emotional anguish and difficulty navigating other people’s reactions to your scarring is a form of non-economic compensation often available in a dog bite claim.

Other losses may also be compensated by a dog bite lawsuit. An experienced Gurnee dog bite injury lawyer can help you assess the full extent of your losses and fight for the compensation you deserve. 

Why You Should Hire an Experienced Dog Bite Attorney

Navigating Illinois’ dog bite laws can be complex. It’s even tougher when you’re already dealing with a serious injury. Many Illinois residents have little experience with the courts and aren’t sure where to begin seeking the compensation they need. 

When you work with an experienced Gurnee dog bite attorney, you gain an ally who can:

• Give you an honest assessment of your case. Insurance companies will often lowball your damages because they’re trying to protect their own bottom line. A dog owner will try to downplay the harm you suffered or claim you were at fault because they want to protect themselves and their pet. Your lawyer is on your side and can give you an honest opinion about the opportunities and challenges you face. 
• Level the playing field. Insurance is a for-profit business. This means insurance companies try to pay as little as possible. They’re skilled at using their understanding of Illinois law to tilt the facts in their favor. An attorney can level the playing field, ensuring your side is fully and fairly heard.

Build a strong case for full, fair compensation. Investigating the attack, negotiating with insurance companies, and protecting your legal rights are tough when you’re also injured. Your attorney can tackle these tasks for you, focusing on a full picture of the facts that leads to a full, fair settlement or verdict for your losses. 

The two-year statute of limitations gives you only a short time to start pursuing your case. Talk to an experienced attorney as soon as possible to begin the process. 

Contact the Experienced Gurnee Dog Bite Injury Lawyers at Briskman, Briskman & Greenberg

The dedicated Gurnee dog bite attorneys at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg understand that navigating compensation after a dog bite is tough. You’re struggling to recover from a serious, often terrifying injury. Dealing with insurance companies and thinking about lawsuits can feel like too much. 

Yet you deserve compensation. That’s why Briskman Briskman & Greenberg offers free consultations for those injured by a dog bite in Gurnee. We take dog bite cases on a contingency basis, which means you only pay us if we fail to recover compensation for you. 

To learn more, reach out to us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our experienced Gurnee dog bite injury lawyers.