Uber Eats Dog Bite Lawyers

Uber Eats and other food delivery apps have grown in popularity in recent years. Uber Eats operates in major U.S. cities, including Chicago. The company had a 29 percent share of Chicago’s food delivery market in 2021. With more and more food delivery drivers on the road to meet customer demand, there are also greater chances of dog attacks.

If you are an Uber Eats driver who suffered a dog bite while delivering food to a customer, you have the right to pursue compensation. Filing a dog bite claim allows you to recover medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other costs linked to the incident. The Chicago dog bite lawyers at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg can help you navigate the legal process of obtaining damages.

Why are Uber Eats Drivers at Risk of Dog Bites?

U.S. Postal Service (USPS) workers are trained to deal with dog interactions along their delivery routes, including how to avoid startling pets. Despite that, the USPS consistently reports high rates of dog attacks. According to USPS, Illinois had the seventh-highest number of dog attacks nationwide in 2021, with 226 incidents. Because Uber Eats drivers are independent contractors rather than employees of the company, they do not receive any training on what to do when encountering dogs.

Uber Eats drivers are required to travel to different homes to make deliveries. They bring deliveries directly to the customer, which means getting out of their vehicle to drop off food. As a result, Uber Eats drivers may come across loose pets when entering a customer’s property. Such interactions, no matter how brief, expose workers to the risk of dog bites.

Dog attacks can happen suddenly, especially when strangers are involved. While the common assumption is that aggressive dogs are more likely to bite, even friendly or docile pets can attack without any provocation.

Recovering Compensation for Dog Bites

Uber Eats drivers have a legal right to be on various properties to deliver food. If a dog bites without any provocation, the victim has the right to file a dog bite claim against the pet owner and obtain compensation.

Illinois does not have any caps for personal injury damages. An experienced Chicago Uber Eats dog bite attorney can help you get maximum compensation in your dog bite case.

The compensation covers medical expenses, lost earnings and more. The victim can also pursue non-economic damages for emotional distress, disfigurement and other losses that are harder to quantify. While dog attacks can cause painful injuries, the emotional effects can be just as devastating. The victim may develop long-term conditions like anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Under Illinois law, dog owners are directly responsible when their pet injures someone. The state does not have a “one bite” rule that allows pet owners exemption from legal responsibility when their dog injures someone for the first time. The dog’s breed and past behavior also do not matter. Additionally, the victim is not required to prove that the dog owner’s negligence caused their injuries.

Types of Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bite injuries can range from minor to severe. If wounds are not cleaned properly, the victim can suffer a dangerous infection such as rabies or Pasteurella. Anyone who has been bitten by a dog should see a doctor right away and watch for signs of infection such as swelling, redness, fever and pain in the aftermath of a dog attack.

Dog bites can result in:

• Facial injuries
• Lacerations
• Broken bones and fractures
• Nerve damage
• Scarring
• Disfigurement
• Crushing injuries
• Emotional trauma

Depending on the type of injury, medical treatment can cost thousands of dollars. You may also need to take time off work to recover. Filing a dog bite claim allows you to receive compensation to cover all your dog bite-related expenses, including medical bills and lost wages.

Statute of Limitations for Filing a Dog Bite Claim

Illinois has a time limit for bringing personal injury lawsuits, known as a statute of limitations. The statute of limitations for most dog bite claims is two years from when the incident took place.

Waiting too long to act could mean you lose your right to obtain compensation. Reach out to an experienced Chicago Uber Eats dog bite lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected.

Are You an Uber Eats Driver Who Was Attacked by a Dog?

If you are an Uber Eats driver who was injured due to a dog attack while delivering food, contact Briskman Briskman & Greenberg immediately for a free consultation. Our Chicago dog bite lawyers will help you understand your legal options for recovering the compensation you deserve.