Every year, thousands of pets find much needed homes in Illinois. However, some of these animals may not be suitable as pets and can pose safety threats to children and local communities.

Under the Illinois Animal Control Act, if you are injured or attacked by a dog or other animal, you may have a claim against the owner for your injuries. These types of injuries can require costly medical attention, surgery, pain medication, and cause scarring and disfigurement. Illinois law holds animal owners strictly liable if their pet attacks another person, unless the attack was provoked. An injured person does not need to show that an animal's owner was aware of the animal's dangerous behavior.

If you or a family member is injured or attacked by a dog or other animal, contact the police and local animal control immediately. Also, seek appropriate medical attention, as some animals carry diseases such as rabies. Also, try to write down any ownership information from the animal's tags, but only if you can do so safely.

After our office starts to work on your claim, one of the first obsticles in a dog bite case is determining whether the animal owner has insurance for their pet. Unfortunately, often the answer is no.

If seriously injured in an animal attack, my office will suggest that you be evaluated by a plastic surgeon. This is to determine if the scars are permanant, if surgery would be necessary or helpful, and also determine the approximate cost of surgery.

If you or a family member has been attacked and injured by a dog or other animal, please contact a lawyer from our office directly at 312-399-8988 - 24 hours.