Were you or someone close to you bitten by a dog in Danville or the surrounding area? If so, Spiros Law, P.C. has the experience, skill, and resources you need on your side to get the compensation you deserve after a vicious and unexpected attack. You don’t have to suffer alone. We’re here to help.
From neighborhood parks to restaurants and outdoor patios we all encounter dogs every day. And while the majority of these animals are sweet, friendly, and excellent companions, in certain circumstances and with little warning, someone’s pet may act aggressively and might bite.
Dog attacks and dog bites are responsible for numerous deaths and severe injuries every year across the United States. Unfortunately, a large number of these injuries and deaths are children who are defenseless when facing an aggressive animal. If you or someone you love has been bitten by a dog, even if a friend or family member owned the dog, you may be able to recover financial compensation for your injuries to pay for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages.
When dog owners know their animals are prone to lashing out, biting, or escaping their yards roaming free around the neighborhood and don’t take the proper precautions or actions you may be able to hold them liable for your injuries.
Dogs may be referred to as a “man’s best friend,” but they are still animals, and in certain instances, can resort to aggression and biting. No matter the size of the animal, dog bites can result in painful, deep lacerations resulting in infection or permanent disfigurement. Dog bites leave much more than a physical mark or injury. They can also affect one’s psyche and feeling of safety, making routine encounters with dogs in homes, neighborhoods, and public places a living nightmare.
Along with physical and emotional damages, dog bites can also result in financial damages leaving you unable to return to work and a stack of medical bills you’re expected to pay.
Fortunately, dog bite victims have legal rights and options and may be able to recover financial compensation. At Spiros Law, P.C., we have decades of experience handling dog bite cases and are prepared to fight for you every step of the way. It’s time to hold irresponsible owners who don’t properly train or keep an eye on their pets at home or in public responsible.
Take the first step by contacting the Danville dog bite injury attorneys of Spiros Law, P.C. today by calling (217) 443-4343 to schedule a free consultation.
Why Do I Need a Lawyer?
Apart from its complexity regarding state laws and proving a dog owner indeed acted negligently, dog bite cases can also involve members of the victim’s family, close friends, or neighbors making the lawsuit even more emotional and challenging to pursue.
Because of this, many victims don’t take legal action in fear of having to face the person again in the future. Taking legal action on your own can be incredibly difficult, not to mention emotionally and physically draining.
By hiring an experienced dog bite attorney to handle your case you can be sure your interests are represented without having to face neighbors, friends, or family members face to face where emotions can come into play and impact the outcome. And because experienced dog bite attorneys have unlimited resources and detailed knowledge of the legal system they can thoroughly investigate every aspect of the incident, collect witness statements, research any past violent behaviors from the animal, and ultimately determine who was responsible for the accident.
Additionally, you need a lawyer to evaluate the extent of your injuries and determine the exact amount of compensation you need to pay for any expenses including medical treatment, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs.
Why Choose Us?
To have success in an animal attack case, you need much more than just a personal injury attorney. As a leading personal injury law firm in central Illinois, Spiros Law, P.C. understand what you’re currently going through and no the path forward. Recovering the financial compensation you deserve requires much more than just working and negotiating with insurance companies or handling all court actions or hearings. Insurance companies will do everything they can to avoid paying you the money you need.
Our Danville dog bite injury attorneys are familiar with these tactics and will work tirelessly to craft your case and not settle for anything less than every dollar you deserve. At Spiros Law, P.C., we pride ourselves in winning cases, but also treating our clients with respect and care, making sure they are informed of what’s happening every step of the way. Contact us today and take the first step in protecting your financial future.
Who Is Responsible?
If you or a loved one are attacked and bitten by a dog, you obviously cannot take legal action against the animal itself. However, you can hold the dog’s owner or caretaker at the time liable for injuries and damages. In the state of Illinois, the dog’s owner or keeper is solely responsible for keeping the public safe, including taking reasonable actions to prevent aggressive behavior and biting. Even if the dog has never acted aggressively or presented any violent reactions in the past, dog owners are expected to do the following:
- Keep their dogs on a leash at all times in public
- Keep the dog away from small, defenseless children
- Treat dogs with care and respect and train them as not to encourage violent or aggressive behaviors
- Keep dogs enclosed in a sturdy, protective fence or barrier when not at home or even while having guests over
Whether they are frightened or acting to protect property or their owners, even the kindest dog has the chance of acting out and potentially biting an unsuspecting individual resulting in painful and severe injuries.
Types of Dog Bite Injuries
Depending on the breed, a dog can have a bite force of almost 400 pounds per square inch, resulting in severe injuries and long-term physical damage. For young children, the impact can be much more severe, often resulting in death. Some of the most common types of injuries caused by an animal or dog bite include the following:
- Serious, life-threatening infections caused by harmful bacteria or viruses entering your bloodstream.
- Damage to nerves resulting in numbness or loss of feeling and sensation
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement if the dog savagely attacks and bites you in the face region. Often these bites require multiple surgeries to repair.
- Emotional scarring and trauma resulting in PTSD like symptoms and a continual fear of dogs in the future.
- Additional emotional injuries and suffering including depression, insomnia, and anxiety
If you or a loved one has suffered any of these injuries as the result of a dog bite you may be eligible for financial compensation. Contact a qualified legal representative as soon as possible to take the first step moving forward.
Commonly-Recognized Aggressive Breeds
It’s unfair to classify certain breeds and dog types as inherently dangerous and therefore a threat to human, and more specifically child, safety. While larger and more powerful dogs can exhibit a more considerable amount of bite force and subsequent damage, a dog’s behavior and proclivity for violence are most directly linked to owner abuse. When dogs are neglected, abused, or encourage to act aggressively, they pose a more significant threat. That being said, some larger breeds that cause the most damage when they attack include:
- German shepherds
- Rottweilers
- Pitbull terriers (pit bulls
- Doberman pinschers
- American bulldogs
- Wolf hybrids
Along with breed, a dog’s gender and whether or not they’re neutered plays a crucial role in whether or not they are dangerous to the general public. Studies have shown that male dogs are six times as likely to bite than female dogs and neutered dogs are less likely to attack and bite than non-neutered canines of the same breed.
There are some instances where dog owners are protected in the event of an attack or bite. In many lawsuits, the defense will try to use these to prove the victim was at fault or that they didn’t act negligently and therefore shouldn’t be required to pay damages.
A skilled attorney will be able to handle these arguments and make the case against. Owners may try to argue that the dog was provoked and that the victim was trying to hurt the dog before the attack.
Another argument is that the plaintiff was trespassing on the dog owner’s property. And while this does apply to someone on the person’s property which was trespassing or uninvited, it doesn’t apply to victims on the public street or people with implied permission to be on the property like mail carriers or meter readers.
Contact Us Today
No one should suffer the physical, emotional, and financial trauma of a dog attack and bite. Dogs are incredibly loyal and loving animals, but when dog owners act recklessly and knowingly endanger others, they need to be held accountable.
To learn more about your case and take the first step in recovering financial compensation to help pay for medical bills and other expenses, contact the Danville dog bite attorneys at Spiros Law, P.C. today by calling (217) 443-4343 or filling out an online form. Your consultation is always free and always confidential so don’t wait.
