Dog Attack Injuries

The Full Spectrum of Harm Caused by a Dog Attack

Dog attacks can be unpredictable. Although many Illinois dog owners train their pets well, they are still animals that can struggle to maintain impulse control in certain situations. When dogs bite people or knock them over as they attempt to escape, the victims can suffer from significant injuries. Some wounds are physical, but a dog attack can also cause psychological trauma that takes years to overcome.

Whether a dog bites you or causes you to trip on a sidewalk when trying to get away, understanding the full scope of your injuries is essential if you are considering legal action against the owner. In Illinois, owners are generally responsible for the behavior of their dogs, so they may be liable for the injuries you suffered in the attack.

A dog bite injury lawyer can guide you through the legal process to pursue fair compensation for legal damages caused by your dog attack injuries. Let’s discuss some of the most common dog bite injuries that can affect the outcome of your claim.

Immediate and Visible Dog Bite Injuries

When a dog bites a person, they may experience immediate and visible injuries that can pose significant health risks. A cut could become infected, or the dog could pass certain diseases through their saliva. Let’s look at some of the most obvious physical injuries that could increase a potential settlement in a dog bite case.

Puncture Wounds and Lacerations

Victims of dog bites frequently deal with puncture wounds. When the dog’s teeth break through the skin, it can expose the inner layers of the skin, tissue, and even bone. The stronger the bite, the deeper the puncture wound may be. Dog bites also lead to lacerations, which refer to the tearing of the skin. A deep laceration may occur if the dog is able to tear at the victim’s skin after biting them.

Scarring and Permanent Disfigurement

Dog attacks can cause severe injuries that show up immediately, and some may lead to permanent scarring or disfigurement. For example, if a large breed (such as a pit bull) manages to bite and tear away some of the flesh, that part of the body may never heal fully, resulting in a visible scar or disfigurement. The more severe the attack, the more likely the victim is to suffer from permanent alterations to their appearance.

Severe bite wounds that cause facial injuries often cause permanent disfigurement because of the challenges associated with facial reconstructive surgeries.

Severe Physical Injuries from Vicious Dog Attacks

While puncture wounds and lacerations may be treated effectively, some types of serious injuries are more likely to alter your lifestyle or cause a drawn-out recovery process. Such injuries may cause lasting effects that increase the legal damages you suffer after the incident. Let’s examine some of the physical injuries that could alter the course of your life.

Nerve, Muscle, and Tendon Damage

Dog bites can be powerful enough to penetrate the deeper layers of the body, including the nerves, muscles, and tendons. However, if a dog latches onto your arm or ankle during the attack and throws their head violently from side to side, the motion could also cause damage to these body parts. These types of injuries can be extremely painful, which can contribute to greater economic and non-economic damages for your case.

Broken Bones and Crush Injuries

Broken bones are commonly associated with serious dog bites. If the animal is able to clamp their jaw and get a grip on part of your body, fast movements could result in broken bones. Additionally, a dog attack could cause you to flee the scene quickly, potentially leading to a fall that results in broken bones. In either case, a broken bone can have a major impact on your lifestyle, especially if the fracture is serious enough to require months of stabilization and treatment.

Many of these injuries will require medical attention, and this can affect how much compensation you are eligible for in your claim. Document everything related to your injuries when possible, including photos, test results, physical therapy bills, and medical professional testimony.

The High Risk of Infection from Any Bite Wound

One of the major concerns following a dog bite is the risk of infection. At any given time, there is a high volume of bacteria in a dog’s mouth. When they bite a person, they can transmit this bacteria to the victim through their teeth and saliva. These bacteria, such as Pasteurella, can cause dangerous health conditions, including Tetanus and Rabies.

In some cases, dogs that are not up to date with their vaccinations may pose a risk of transmitting Rabies to the bite victim. Infections, if left untreated, can lead to serious health complications, even death. Unlike common injuries like bite wounds and minor fractures, an infection may require a more complex treatment plan.

Lasting Psychological Trauma

Although the physical injuries from a dog bite can be damaging enough, the mental and emotional harm that is inflicted on the victim can also impact their life moving forward. Many victims of dog bite attacks experience emotional challenges, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, depression, and even a lifelong phobia of dogs. This can be especially traumatizing for someone who is already a dog owner themselves.

In the Most Tragic Dog Bite Cases: Fatal Dog Attacks

Though most victims will survive a dog bite attack, these incidents can lead to the death of the victim. Unfortunately, a fatal dog bite attack often affects children. The dog attack may be considered fatal if the victim dies during the attack or after succumbing to injuries sustained in the attack.

If the victim of a dog bite attack dies, their family members could pursue compensation in a wrongful death claim. This is a type of civil legal action that allows surviving family members, such as spouses or children, to recover damages caused by the loss of their loved one.

Acknowledge that some attacks are so severe that they result in the victim’s death. Briefly explain that in these tragic situations, the victim’s surviving family members have the right to file a wrongful death claim.

Your Right to Compensation for Dog Bite Injuries

According to the Illinois Animal Control Act, dog owners have strict liability if their pets bite or otherwise attack innocent victims. The only exceptions to liability are when the victim was provoking the dog or trespassing on someone else’s property during the attack.

In most other circumstances, the dog’s owner (or caretaker at the time of the attack) can be held liable for the legal damages you suffered in the attack. When dog bites occur, they often cause physical, emotional, and financial consequences for the victims. With a successful lawsuit, you can recover a fair settlement to address your losses from the dog bite attack.

Let’s explore the most common legal damages cited in dog bite attack claims:

Economic Damages

Economic losses are typically associated with specific amounts, making them easier to calculate with the help of an attorney. The following damages may affect the settlement if you win your claim:

• Lost wages – Dog bite injuries, or damage caused by a dog attack, may be serious enough to force you to miss work during your recovery, which will make you eligible for lost income
• Lost earning capacity – If the dog bite attack causes permanent damage that prevents you from finding gainful employment, you could seek additional compensation for diminished earning potential
• Medical expenses – If you had to seek medical attention of any kind due to your injuries, you can claim these costs in the settlement (emergency care, surgery, future medical care, medication, pain management, rehabilitation, and therapy)
• Property damage – Although this legal damage is rare in dog bites, the animal could damage personal possessions, such as a car, which can be included in your claim

Non-Economic Damages

These losses are more open-ended in civil lawsuits. They typically relate to the long-term impact of the dog bite attack, especially as it relates to your emotional state. Here are some common non-economic damages in dog attacks:

• Emotional trauma – The psychological effects of a dog bite can be devastating and last for years, causing PTSD, anxiety, depression, a fear of dogs, and even self-harm
• Pain and suffering – A bite wound or slip and fall accident can cause physical injuries that lead to ongoing pain for the victim, which can be assessed as a non-economic loss.
• Disability and disfigurement – The impact of a dog attack may cause disfigurement or scarring, which can elevate the suffering of the victim due to the effect on their happiness
• Loss of enjoyment of life – Traumatic events and painful injuries can prevent you from experiencing happiness in normal life activities, greatly diminishing the quality of your lif.e

Wrongful Death Damages

In cases where the victim dies during the attack or from their injuries, the surviving family members can pursue the following damages in a lawsuit:

• Funeral and burial costs – The settlement may cover expenses related to laying the deceased to rest
• Loss of companionship – Close family members, such as siblings, spouses, children, and parents, can claim compensation for losing a loved one due to negligence
• Loss of financial support – If the victim of the dog bite attack earned an income, their financial dependents can seek compensation for lost income

Punitive Damages

A judge or jury may award these losses in a case involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct. For example, if the dog owner purposely kept their dog off a leash when out for a walk and the animal attacked you, this could be a case of intentional misconduct.

Contact Our Dog Attack Lawyers for a Free Consultation

Liability for a dog-related injury typically lies with the owner or current caretaker (e.g., kennel, dog walker). However, this doesn’t mean winning compensation is straightforward for a plaintiff. You will need to navigate numerous challenges to secure a settlement, including gathering evidence, understanding state laws, establishing liability, and proving damages.

The smallest misstep in the aftermath can also affect your case. Once an incident occurs, you should follow these steps:

• Seek medical attention quickly
• Alert the pet owners
• Document your injuries (soft tissue damage, nerve damage, bite marks, emotional trauma, etc.)
• Retain all medical records associated with your medical treatment
• Consult our top dog bite attorneys to discuss your legal options

Our law firm has worked with numerous victims of dog bite injuries. We know what it takes to win these cases and secure fair compensation for emotional distress, medical bills, and other damages. Our legal services include:

• Investigating the aggressive behavior of the dog in question
• Gathering evidence from the attack, such as photos of serious injuries, witness statements, and surveillance footage
• Assessing all legal damages
• Collecting medical information, such as tissue damage scans, medical personnel testimony, and plastic surgery documentation
• Negotiating for maximum compensation from insurance companies to cover the costs of the proper care
• Litigating in civil court if necessary.

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe nothing unless we win. Contact the best Chicago dog bite lawyers today to schedule a free consultation, where we can discuss your options. Our attorneys have years of experience handling dog bite cases and fighting for justice on behalf of the victims.