Chicago Dog Bite Eye Injury Attorney
Being attacked by a dog is a terrifying experience; however, the injuries can be even more traumatic than the attack itself. This is especially the case if a dog attack targets your face and eyes. Dog bite injuries to the eyes are more common than most people realize. There are more than one million people who are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, and dog bite injuries to the eyes make up about 17 percent of all dog-bite-related injuries. At the law firm of Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, our Chicago dog bite lawyers proudly represent children and adults who suffered vicious dog bites to their eyes and face. Since 1987, we’ve been helping our injured clients obtain the compensation that they need and deserve to begin the process of moving on with their lives.
Common Types of Dog Bite Injuries to the Eyes
The thought of a dog biting your face is enough to make almost anyone cringe. Indeed, these attacks are often extremely painful. Not only that, but they can also cause permanent damage to your vision and other lifelong issues related to the eye. Some of the most common types of dog bite facial injuries include:
- Corneal Abrasions (scratches to the eye);
- Punctured or ruptured eyeballs;
- Avulsions (tearing of the eye tissue);
- Perforation or dislocation of the lens;
- Fractures of the orbital bones;
- Intraocular hemorrhage (bleeding of the eyeball due to physical trauma); and
- Loss of an Eye
Frequently, those who suffer eye injuries after a dog bite also experience other injuries to the face, including to the cheeks, lips, and nose. These injuries often require reconstructive surgery and other invasive medical procedures.
Who Is Most at Risk for Dog Bite Injuries to the Face?
While anyone who encounters a dog is at risk of getting attacked, a recent study revealed that children are 4.2 times more likely to experience dog bite injuries to the face. To conduct the study, researchers reviewed data from 342 dog bites between 2003 and 2013. Over this period, 91 of the 342 bites involved ocular injuries. The average age of dog bite victims who did not sustain injuries to the face was 30, whereas the average age of those victims who suffered ocular injuries was 14.
Are Some Breeds of Dog More Likely to Attack Your Face?
Recently, researchers from the University of Virginia Health System and Nationwide Children’s Hospital conducted a dog bite study focusing on facial injuries. The study reviewed more than 26,000 dog bite cases over the past 15 years. The result of the study revealed that certain breeds were more likely to attack the face than other breeds. For example, pit bull terriers were responsible for 22.5 percent of all facial dog bite injuries and German shepherds for 17.8 percent. Mix-breed dogs were also responsible for a significant number of facial injuries, as many mixed breed dogs are pit-bull mixes.
Can Dog Bite Victims Hold Pet Owners Accountable?
After a dog bite resulting in injuries to your face, you may be wondering whether you can file a legal claim against the animal’s owner. You can. Additionally, Illinois dog bite laws impose strict liability after most dog attacks. This means that you will not need to prove that the owner knew their dog was dangerous, that it had bitten before, or that they failed to take the necessary steps to keep their dog secure. In other words, you don’t need to show that the dog’s owner was negligent. The only situations in which strict liability doesn’t apply are when the victim provoked the dog, was trespassing or was not “peaceably conducting themselves.”
Even if a dog’s owner cannot be held strictly liable due to one of the three exceptions, you may still pursue a negligence claim against them. Of course, these cases are harder to prove and require you present evidence of the owner’s negligence.
What Damages Can a Dog Bite Victim Obtain?
If you are successful in bringing a Chicago dog bite lawsuit, you can recover financial compensation for the injuries you sustained in the attack. Depending on the specific situation, a case involving dog bite injuries to the face may result in the following damages:
- Past medical expenses,
- Future medical costs,
- Lost wages,
- Decrease in earning capacity,
- Pain and suffering,
- Emotional distress,
- Disability or disfigurement, and
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
Keep in mind, even though the animal’s owner is legally the responsible party, in most cases, their homeowner’s insurance company will defend the claim. Dog bites generally fall under a homeowner’s insurance policy unless the policy contains an exclusion for certain dangerous breeds. Dealing with an insurance company after an accident can add frustration and stress to what is already an overwhelming time. Insurance companies routinely minimize a victim’s injuries, trying to settle the case for as little as possible. At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, we have almost a century of experience aggressively pursuing full and fair compensation for our injured clients and know how to effectively present a dog bite claim to ensure you recover everything you deserve.
Contact the Chicago Dog Bite Lawyers at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg to Schedule a Free Consultation
If you, your child, or a family member suffered dog bite injuries to the face, contact the Chicago dog bite attorneys at the law firm of Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, our knowledgeable attorneys have extensive experience bringing all types of dog bite claims under Illinois law. We have successfully represented many clients helping them recover meaningful compensation for what they’ve been through. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with one of our Illinois dog bite lawyers, give us a call at 877-595-4878. You can also reach us through our online contact form.