Chicago Animal & Dog Bite Attorneys

Studies have shown that dogs bite close to five million people every year, including thousands in the Chicago area. Children are the most common dog bite victims, often being bitten in the face. Whether you have recently been bitten by a dog, or your child has been bitten, the Chicago dog bite attorneys at SHEA LAW GROUP have the resources to help you obtain compensation for you or your child's injuries.

In the State of Illinois, a victim can bring a claim against an owner of any animal for their injuries -- regardless of whether they were caused by a bite and without proving negligence on the part of the owner. Additionally, a victim can recover from other potential defendants, such as the company that insured the premises where the dog attack occurred.

A person with injuries due to a dog attack can recover damages against the owner of the dog if it is proved that:

• the injury was caused by the dog,
• the defendant was the owner of the dog,
• the dog was not provoked by the injured person,
• the injured person, at the time of the injury, was acting peacefully, and
• the injured person was legally allowed to be where they were at the time of the injury.

VICIOUS DOGS AND DANGEROUS DOGS

Vicious dogs must be in a fenced enclosure or structure that prevents young children from entering and prevents the animal from escaping. A vicious dog is one that when unprovoked, attacks or bites a person or other domestic animal or is naturally inclined to attack without provocation. A "dangerous dog" is any dog that when unattended by its owner, unmuzzled, or unleashed, approaches a person in a terrorizing or vicious manner with an apparent purpose of attack.

If you or your child has been bitten by a dog, contact the Chicago Animal Attorneys at SHEA LAW GROUP for a consultation at 1-877-365-0040 or contact us online.