Chicago Injury Attorney Blog

In Cook County Circuit Court, Lyudmila Toporovskaya has filed a Chicago dog attack lawsuit against Kathy Stanko, the owner of a Shepherd/Border Collie mixed breed dog that she claims bit her on the breast and right forearm. Toporovskaya is seeking more than $100,000 in damages. In her two-count Chicago dog dog bite complaint, Toporovskaya contends that Stanko was negligent and violated the Animal Control Act, which holds the owner liable for damages if his/her animal attacks a person without provocation.

Illinois Dog Bite Law
Illinois has strict laws about holding negligent owners liable for a dog biting, attacking, or mauling a person. In addition to holding the owner liable for dog bite injuries inflicted on another person, the owner can also be held responsible for injuries suffered by a person who gets hurt while trying to get away from an aggressive animal—meaning, the injuries sustained do not have to be actual dog bite injuries. For example, while running from a dangerous dog, a person might become involved in a Chicago slip and fall accident at and break a hip. Because Illinois is a “first bite” state, the dog that inflicted the bite wounds does not need to have previously bitten someone else for a dog bite victim to be able hold its owner liable. Regardless of what the law states, however, it is still important that you are represented by an experienced Chicago injury law firm that knows how to obtain the maximum compensation possible for your dog bite wounds.

Dog bite injuries are often more serious than mere bite marks. They can cause serious internal injuries, permanent disfigurement, emotional trauma, and even death.

Woman claiming dog bit her on arm, breast seeks $100K, Sun-Times, September 24, 2010

Related Web Resources:
How to Stop Your Dog From Biting, Dogs4Life

Animal Control Act, Illinois General Assembly

According to a recent Insurance Information Institute study, dog-bite insurance claims cost $412 million last year—a definite jump from the $387.2 million in homeowners' insurance liability claims that were paid in 2008. The average dog bite claim cost $24,840.

Institute vice president Loreta Worters says that the increase in dog bite claims over the past seven years can be credited to high medical costs, and larger judgments, jury awards, and settlements. While the number of dog bite claims since 2003 has gone down 2% to 16,586, the cost of the claims has gone up 30%. Most standard renters and homeowners’ policies cover dog-bite liability with about $100,000 - $300,000 in coverage.

Chicago Dog Bite Cases
Chicago dog bite injuries can cause serious and permanent physical, psychological, and emotional injuries. Not only can a dog’s bite be incredibly painful, but also an injured person may have to undergo extensive surgery to repair the damage and even this may not be enough to eliminate permanent disfigurement and scarring.

In Illinois, if the dog bite victim does not provoke the animal that attacked, the injured party is entitled to damages. You can also seek Chicago personal injury compensation if you got hurt while running away from an aggressive dog. Even if you are the dog’s first bite victim and the animal does not have a prior history of violence, you can still file a Chicago dog attack claim.

Dog-Bite Claims Exceeded $400 Million in 2009 on Higher Medical Costs, Insurancenews.net, August 23, 2010

Fido puts bite on homeowners claims, Chicago Tribune, August 17, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Dog Bites: When Is an Owner Liable?, Nolo

West's Smith-Hurd Illinois Compiled Statutes Annotated Currentness. Chapter 510. Animals. Act 5. Animal Control Act. 5/13. Dog or other animal bites; observation of animal, Animal Legal and Historical Center

Continue reading "Dog Bite Cases Made Up $412 Million in Homeowners' Insurance Liability Claims Paid in 2009, Says Insurance Information Institute" »

Erica Karbowiak is seeking over $100,000 in Illinois personal injury damages from Allen W. Vogt. Karbowiak claims that her face was mangled Vogt’s St. Bernard on May 2, 2009.

According to her Illinois dog attack lawsuit, the dog, named Bandit, attacked her as she was walking in Belleville, causing her to sustain serious and permanent facial injuries and disfigurement. Karbowiak says that because of her dog mauling injuries, she has experienced pain and suffering, lost her ability to enjoy life, and has had to undergo numerous medical procedures to repair the scars on her face. She also experiences great mental anguish because of her facial scars. The plaintiff is accusing Vogt of negligence for failing to keep his dog properly restrained in a closed area.

Dog bite injuries can be extremely serious and, in addition to causing pain and suffering, can prove traumatic if the victim is she is left disfigured or with scars. Depending on the severity of the dog attack injury, internal injuries can result. If the dog bite victim is very young, he/she may have to wait several years before undergoing certain corrective procedures, which can lead to self-esteem issues and social difficulties that can impact the him/her for life.

Dog Bite Prevention Week
This year, May 16 – 22 marked Dog Bite Prevention Week. The annual public service campaign is designed to provide safety tips and remind pet owners that they have a responsibility to prevent dog attack from happening. Depending on the circumstances of the case, negligent dog owners can be sued for Chicago personal injury.

Steps a pet owner can take to minimize the chances that his/her dog will bite someone:

• Spay or neuter your dog.
• Train your pet.
• Socialize your dog.
• Make sure that your dog is appropriately restrained.
• Make sure that your dog knows how to behave around people and other animals.

St. Bernard mangles woman's face, suit claims, The Record, May 26, 2010

Related Web Resources:
National Dog Bite Prevention Week, CDC

West's Smith-Hurd Illinois Compiled Statutes Annotated Currentness. Chapter 510. Animals. Act 5. Animal Control Act. 5/13. Dog or other animal bites; observation of animal, Animal Legal and Historical Center

Continue reading "Illinois Dog Bite Lawsuit: Woman Sues Pet Owner For Facial Injuries" »

According to a report released by DogsBite.org, there were 373 incidents in the US last year involving citizens and police shooting a pit bull in order to stop or prevent a dog attack. 23 of these shooting incidents occurred in Illinois, with 7 of them taking place in Chicago.

Nationally, 319 pit bulls died from the 626 bullets that were fired. 148 people sustained dog bite injuries. 3 of the dog bite injuries were serious enough to require amputations. 6 of the dog bite victims died.

In Lake County, Will County, DuPage County, and Cook County, our Chicago dog bite lawyers are committed to making sure that our clients that are injured in Illinois dog attacks receive the compensation that they are owed. Even if this is the first time a dog has attacked someone, an Illinois dog owner can still be held liable.

Why dogs might attack a person:
• To “protect” itself
• To "protect" its territory or the dog owner’s home
• The animal is in pain
• As an act of self-defense
• To assert dominance
• To retaliate against abusive behavior

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, factors that are linked to dog bites include:
• Poor socialization
• The dog breed and the characteristics of the dog’s parents
• The victim’s behavior toward the dog prior to the attack
• Lack of training
• The dog’s health

Unfortunately, a Chicago dog mauling incident can result in catastrophic injuries for the victim. These injuries may require multiple surgeries and the victim may suffer from emotional trauma for life. An experienced Chicago dog bite law firm can help you explore your legal options.

Dogsbite.org releases report: US police and citizens shootings of pit bulls 2008, PR-USA.net

Read the Report, Dogsbite.Org, June 1, 2009 (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
Dog Bite Prevention, CDC

Top Ten (10) Most Dangerous Dog Breeds, PetsDo.com

DogsBite.org

In Chicago’s Highland Park, officials have agreed to hold off on making a decision about a proposal to ban pit bulls from the city until they do further research. The proposal had met with resistance from pit bull advocates.

Highland Park Mayor Michael Belsky put forth the prohibition proposal after a teenage girl had to have hundreds of stitches sewn into her face and shoulder after a pit bull attacked her.

The dog bite victim, 14, was petting Bam Bam, a 9-year-old male pit bull earlier this month when the pet attacked the girl. Following the Chicago dog bite incident, Bam Bam was euthanized. The pit bull's owner was cited for failing to vaccinate the dog for rabies and not having a dog license. Bam Bam was on a leash when the Highland Park dog attack happened.

Legislation targeting specific breeds has met with resistance from orgaizations such as the American Kennel Club and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Opponents of such legislation say that the dog owners, not a specific breed, should be punished.

Dog Bite Prevention Week
Throughout the United States, May 17 - 23, 2009 is dog bite prevention week, which is designed to promote awareness among dog owners and people that are around dogs so that dog attacks don't happen.

Dog Bite Facts:
• Approximately 4.5 million dog bite injurires occur annually.
• 885,000 of these dog bite victims will need to see a doctor for their injuries.
• 31,000 dog bite victims had to undergo reconstructive surgery in 2006 to heal their dog bite injuries.
• The age group at highest risk of becoming a dog bite victim is children, ages 5 to 9.

Some Steps Illinois Dog Owners Can Take to Prevent Dog Attacks or Dog Maulings:
• Leash your dog.
• Socialize your pet.
• Train your dog.
• Teach your dog how to play in a non-aggressive manner.
• Teach your dog how to obey you.
• Don’t leave your dog unsupervised when children are around.
• If your dog is an aggressive or dangerous dog, keep him or her away from others or properly restrain your pet so no one gets hurt.

You or your child may be entitled to Illinois personal recovery for a Chicago dog attack incident.

Highland Park waits on pit bull ban, Chicago Tribune, May 15, 2009

Dog Bite Prevention, CDC

Related Web Resources:
Tips to Prevent Dog Bites, American Kennel Club

City of Highland Park, Illinois

Continue reading "Chicago Dog Bites and Dog Maulings: Highland Park Waits to Decide on Proposal to Ban Pit Bulls" »

In Southwest Chicago, 4-year-old Alex Angulo died on Sunday after a Rottweiler in his foster family’s backyard attacked him. His dog mauling death is raising concerns over whether child welfare officials did enough to make sure that he would be safe at a home that also housed a poodle and two Rottweilers.

According to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Alex was supposed to be supervised anytime he was with the dogs. Cook County Public Guardian Robert Harris, however, says this precaution was obviously not enough and that the boy shouldn’t have been allowed to stay at the home.

Chicago police are trying to determine what foster family members were doing when the dog attack happened. One of his caregivers, who had been using a snowblower in a back alley, didn’t find Alex until after he was mauled. The three dogs were put to sleep.

Alex has been a foster child since he was an infant. He has lived in numerous homes over the years. In December, a judge found that his latest home wasn’t the best fit for him because of the foster mother’s advanced age.

This isn’t the only Illinois dog attack to occur this year. In Joliet, two sisters, 5 and 10, were injured on January 6 when a Rottweiler mauled them after the animal got out of its cage.

Dog Attacks
According to Animal People, 63 people died from Rottweiler attacks between 1982 and 2007. Illinois law holds dog owners liable for dog attacks even if there was no way of knowing that a pet would injure others. Dog bites can lead to puncture wounds, facial disfigurements, muscle damage, internal injuries, mental anguish, and emotional trauma.

New life awaited boy killed by dog, Chicago Tribune, January 11, 2009

2 sisters remain hospitalized after dog mauling in Joliet, Chicago Tribune, January 8, 2009

Related Web Resource:
Dog Bites, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

You or your may be entitled to Illinois personal injury compensation from a negligent dog owner.

Continue reading "4-Year-Old Killed in Chicago Dog Mauling Accident" »