Chicago Petco Dog Bite Injury Attorneys

Experienced Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Help Those Who Suffered a Dog Bite While Visiting or Working in a Petco Store

Petco bills itself as a pet-friendly business. In addition to selling pet products, many Petco locations host pet adoption drives and offer grooming services. 

Petco also welcomes pets as visitors. Petco’s website states that “any domesticated, licensed, vaccinated companion animals are welcome to accompany you to Petco,” if they are “appropriately restrained” and do not pose a danger to others. 

Wherever dogs are present, so is the risk of a dog bite. If you’ve been bitten while at a Petco, speak to an experienced Chicago dog bite injury lawyer today. The team at Briskman, Briskman & Greenberg can help. 

Illinois Dog Bite Statistics

Illinois ranked second in the State Farm Insurance dog-related injury claims report in 2022. In that year, State Farm recorded 290 claims in Illinois, with a total cost of $16.6 million. Only California had more claims. 

While State Farm reports on dog bite claims each year, its numbers only reflect the claims that State Farm Insurance handles. Many other dog bite claims also occur in Illinois each year. 

The United States Postal Service tracks dog bites suffered by mail carriers. According to the USPS, Chicago ranked third among US cities for dog bites to mail carriers in 2023, with 48 total incidents. Illinois ranked fifth overall for the most dog bites suffered by postal workers, after California, Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

About 12,500 people are hospitalized after a dog bite injury in the US each year. Between 2011 and 2021, 486 people suffered fatal dog bite injuries, according to the CDC.

A dog can bite anyone. However, children suffer more dog bites than adults, and children ages 5 to 9 suffer more dog bites than other age groups. Many children suffer injuries to the face, head, and neck, which cause lasting scarring, disfigurement, and other symptoms.

Risks of a Dog Bite at Petco

Founded in 1965, Petco now sells pet products throughout the United States. The company also offers many pet-related services, such as dog grooming. 

Petco advertises itself as a pet-friendly place. All Petco stores allow pets inside, as long as the pets meet certain requirements. Pets must be domesticated and vaccinated. They must also be “appropriately restrained.” For dogs, this typically means the dog must be on a leash. Smaller dogs can enter Petco inside a carrier. 

In addition to allowing pets as visitors, Petco stores invite dogs and other pets in through adoption drives, pet grooming, and other pet-related services and events. 

These policies, events, and services create multiple opportunities for a dog bite.

Grooming and Other Services. Petco employees who perform grooming or other pet services may be exposed to a dog bite. In 2022, Briskman, Briskman & Greenberg helped a groomer recover a $300,000 settlement after the groomer suffered a dog bite while working at Petco. Petco employees who suffer dog bites may also seek coverage for some losses under workers’ compensation. 

Volunteers. Many Petco locations host dog adoption drives and similar events. A dog may bite volunteers who work these events. When this happens, the injured volunteer may seek compensation for the dog bite injury. 

Visitors. Visitors to Petco stores may meet dogs at an adoption drive or other event. They may also encounter dogs who are visiting the store with their owners. If a dog bites a Petco customer or visitor, the injured person may be able to seek compensation for the injuries the dog caused. 

Dog Bite Injuries While Visiting Petco

If you’re injured while visiting Petco, seek medical attention as soon as possible. In an emergency, call 911 or have someone at the Petco store call for you. 

If you can, collect information from the person responsible for the dog. This may be the owner of a visiting dog or the adoption agency responsible for an adoption drive or similar event. Try to get the responsible person’s name, address, and phone number. This information will help you communicate with the responsible person and their insurance company. 

Follow medical instructions carefully and keep follow-up appointments. Doing so will improve your overall recovery and healing. Remember, however, that your injuries may not vanish completely. Dog bites frequently leave scarring, residual pain, and other symptoms.

Keep all paperwork related to your injury in a safe place. Paperwork may include medical bills, accident or incident reports from Petco, letters or emails from Petco or the person responsible for the dog, and other bills or receipts. This paperwork can help you establish the full extent of your injuries. 

Finally, speak to an experienced Illinois dog bite injury attorney. A lawyer can help you gather evidence, investigate your case, and negotiate with insurance companies to get the compensation you need. 

Dog Bite Injuries While Working at Petco

Petco employees are exposed to dogs on a daily or near-daily basis. Employees may work as professional groomers, handling dogs on regular appointments. Employees who don’t work as groomers may still encounter dogs who are visiting the store. 

If you suffer a dog bite while working for Petco, you may be able to file both a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party claim. 

Workers’ Compensation

Illinois workers’ compensation covers employees who are injured on the job. At Petco, these employees might include a groomer who is bitten while grooming a dog or a shelf stocker who is bitten while stocking items or showing a customer where to find an item. 

To start a workers’ compensation claim, notify your supervisor about your injury as soon as possible. Your supervisor should provide the necessary paperwork, including a list of doctors covered by workers’ compensation. See one of these physicians for treatment of your injuries. Your employer will also notify their workers’ compensation insurer to open a claim for you. Save workers’ compensation paperwork along with medical notes and other paperwork related to your injury.

If your employer or their workers’ compensation insurer delays or denies your claim, an experienced attorney can help you fight for your rights. 

Third Party Claims

Workers’ compensation covers medical bills, some lost wages, and similar losses related to your injury. However, it may not cover all your losses. To receive compensation for everything you’ve suffered, you may need to file a third party claim. 

Typically, an employee injured by a dog at Petco files a third-party claim against the owner or person responsible for the dog. For example, a groomer may file a claim against the owner of a dog that caused injuries during a grooming session. A Petco employee tasked with helping customers may file a claim against a customer whose dog caused injuries. 

These claims seek compensation for losses that workers’ compensation insurance doesn’t cover. The claim can also cover losses if workers’ compensation doesn’t apply – for instance, if you are an independent contractor rather than an employee. 

Managing both a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party claim can be challenging. It’s even harder when you’re already trying to recover from a serious injury. An experienced attorney can handle your legal needs, so that you can focus on healing. 

Talk to an Experienced Chicago Dog Bite Attorney Today

When you’re dealing with a serious injury, thinking about filing a lawsuit can be daunting. It’s especially tough if you have little experience with the legal system.

Many attorneys in Chicago and throughout Illinois offer assistance with dog bite claims. When looking for an attorney, keep the following points in mind.

• Do the attorney and law firm have experience handling cases like yours? 
• Does the attorney answer your questions in a way you understand?
• Can the attorney explain any potential difficulties in your case?
• Does the attorney give you a better idea of what to expect in your case – including the points that need more investigating or still aren’t clear yet? 
• Once you’ve hired an attorney, does your lawyer communicate with you consistently about your case? Do you know what’s going on as the case progresses? 

Dog bites that occur at Petco can be complex cases. Workers’ compensation can make an employee’s case more difficult. Determining who is at fault when multiple parties could be involved can make any case more challenging. For this reason, it’s important to seek help from an attorney who has experience handling Petco-related dog bite cases. 

Dog bite injuries can be painful, frightening, or even traumatic. No matter how much you love dogs or have dedicated your life to working with them, one serious dog bite can turn your life upside-down. You may experience significant pain, scarring, loss of mobility, and mental and emotional anguish as a job or hobby you loved now becomes a source of unease. 

You don’t have to fight for compensation alone. Talk to the experienced Illinois Petco dog bite attorneys at Briskman, Briskman & Greenberg today. Our legal team will help you understand your legal rights and fight for the compensation you need. To learn more, contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation.