Animal Bite FAQs For Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers: What are Your Rights?
If you or someone you know has been the victim of an animal bite, you may be wondering what your legal rights are in this circumstance. What do you do when you have been attacked by a dog or animal and want to seek compensation?
The first thing to do, naturally, is seek treatment. Next, you should report the incident by contacting either your local animal control agency or the police. At this point, if you have been injured you may decide to pursue legal action.
In most states, including Illinois, personal injury lawyers will tell you that legally, anyone owning or keeping a dog, or other animal is responsible for damages to a person injured by that animal. The primary defense used by insurance carriers against such a claim against the owner of an animal who has injured an individual is that there was “provocation” of the dog or animal by the person who was bitten.
In addition to state laws that cover animal bites, communities may also have local leash laws and/or laws pertaining to animal bites and violations.There may also be a ban on certain breeds within communities. If a leash law is violated, the owner may be required to pay fines as well as monetary damages. Depending on the community, a Chicago personal injury attorney will be able to advise you on the laws and ordinances that pertain to your case.
Animal bites can be dangerous and debilitating. If you have been injured by an animal, consider contacting an attorney in your area. A Chicago personal injury attorney may be able to recover damages that result from dog or animal bites. These damages may include: wage loss, current and future plastic surgery costs, medical bills, counseling, if necessary and pain and suffering and disability.
Since animal bite laws vary from state to state it’s important that you contact an experienced lawyer in your area to determine whether or not you have a valid claim. Illinois personal injury lawyers who specialize in animal bites will refer to the Illinois Animal Control Act, a comprehensive law that explains liability when animal attacks occur in the state.
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