Rockford Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog owners are responsible for the actions of their pets. If a dog left you with serious injuries, a Rockford dog attack lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.

In 2016, Illinois was only second to California among states with the most dog bite claims, according to State Farm statistics. That’s a lot of animal attacks, and many of them left victims with serious injuries.

We believe that dog owners should be held accountable when their pets hurt innocent victims. That’s why we help dog attack victims pursue compensation by filing a personal injury claim.

To get started with your claim, get in touch with a Rockford dog bite lawyer at Mahoney & Mahoney, LLC today.

When Is the Dog Owner Liable?

Liability in Illinois dog bite cases is simpler to determine than in some other states. That’s because our state applies strict liability to such cases. Put simply, this means dog owners can be held responsible for attacks even if they had no reason to believe the animal was aggressive.

Other states follow what’s commonly called the “one-bite rule,” which holds that dog owners aren’t necessarily responsible for injuries their animals cause until they have reason to suspect they might be capable of such behavior.

Although Illinois follows strict liability, your case will have to meet a few criteria to be considered viable. After your Rockford dog attack attorney has helped you prove that you were, in fact, attacked or otherwise hurt by the animal in question, you then have to prove the following two items:

• You did not provoke the dog that hurt you.
• You were legally entitled to be where you were when you were attacked.

Your attorney can help you determine whether your dog bite qualifies you for personal injury compensation. Then, he or she can help you fight for what you’re owed.

How Animals Can Injure You

Dog bites certainly get the most press when it comes to dog-related injuries. That’s because even small dogs can have incredible strength in their jaws that can cause serious and permanent injuries. However, almost any dog can can injure you in ways that don’t involve teeth.

For example, you might have been walking on a sidewalk when an unrestrained dog jumped on you, knocking you onto the pavement and injuring your back or head. In that scenario, you would likely be eligible for compensation from the dog owner for your medical bills and other damages.

Really, any injury an animal causes might entitle you to compensation. However, proving negligence in Rockford dog bite cases can be tricky, so it’s helpful to have a qualified lawyer backing you up.

Compensation for Dog Bites in Rockford

If a dog has bitten you, you don’t have to be told how serious these kinds of injuries can be. What you may want to be told, however, is how much compensation you could receive.

The answer to that question is going to depend heavily on the extent of your injuries—both physical and psychological. That’s why your Rockford dog bite injury lawyer will work with your doctors and experts to show how serious your injuries are and for how long they will affect your life.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be eligible for economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages will cover your actual monetary expenses related to your Rockford dog attack injuries. Some common economic damages in dog bite cases include the following:

• Medical bills, including hospital care, medications, surgeries, doctor visits, and transportation to and from health facilities
• Lost wages, including income lost during your recovery and future income lost because you’re unable to return to work or cannot work as much as you once did

Being attacked by a dog can have severe effects on your mental health. You can be compensated for these effects through non-economic damages, which should cover the non-monetary effects of your Rockford dog bite incident. Some common non-economic damages include the following:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder
• Scarring and disfigurement

Your attorney will help you assign an appropriate monetary value to your non-economic damages.

Speak with a Rockford Dog Bite Attorney

The qualified attorneys at Mahoney & Mahoney, LLC can help you pursue all the compensation you deserve after you have been hurt by a dog in Rockford. We understand the severe and lasting effects dog attacks can have on your life, and we want to make the process of seeking compensation as easy on you as possible as you recover.

To schedule a free consultation with a Rockford dog bite lawyer, fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page or give us a call at 815-656-4600.