Dog Bite Disfigurement Claims: Do I Need a Lawyer and How Do I Choose One?

A dog attack can begin and end in moments. However, the scarring, disfigurement, and psychological pain associated with these attacks can last a lifetime. Aside from physical and emotional pain, dog bite victims must also deal with mounting medical bills. If you are facing these challenges, you deserve compensation. 

If you are dealing with the aftermath of a serious dog attack in Illinois, you likely have two pressing questions: Do I need a lawyer for a dog bite, and if so, how do I choose a dog bite lawyer for disfigurement claims?

In this guide, we will break down the legal complexities of dog bites and help guide you through securing the compensation you’re entitled to. 

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Dog Bite?

Whether or not you need a lawyer for a dog bite depends largely on the severity of the injury and the insurance company’s willingness to be fair. While a minor injury that heals quickly might be manageable without a lawyer, professional legal assistance becomes essential when the injuries have long-term consequences.

You almost certainly need professional legal counsel if your dog bite incident involved:

• Permanent Scarring and Disfigurement: 

If a bite required stitches or resulted in a visible scar, you are dealing with a permanent alteration to your appearance that carries significant legal weight.

• Complex Facial Injuries: 

Attacks involving the face, neck, or head often require specialized plastic surgery and multiple revision procedures, making the true cost of the injury difficult to calculate without an expert’s input.

• Nerve Damage or Loss of Mobility: 

When deep tissue damage affects your physical capabilities or leads to chronic pain, a lawyer is needed to ensure your “lost earning capacity” is fully accounted for in your settlement.

• Psychological Trauma: 

Beyond the physical wounds, many dog bite victims suffer from PTSD or a debilitating fear of animals. These emotional damages are real, yet insurance companies frequently try to ignore them unless a lawyer fights to include them.

The reality is that insurance companies often use “scarring charts” to put a flat dollar amount on your injury, treating a permanent facial scar like a simple line item on a spreadsheet. A personal injury lawyer steps in to humanize your claim, ensuring the settlement reflects the actual cost of future surgeries and the profound “non-economic” impact the attack has had on your quality of life.

How to Choose a Dog Bite Lawyer for a Disfigurement Claim

Not all personal injury attorneys have the specific experience required to handle disfigurement claims. These claims are valued differently from typical “slip and falls” and car accidents. 

When vetting a firm, look for the following criteria:

Experience with Medical Experts and Plastic Surgeons

Disfigurement claims aren’t just about what the injury looks like today. They are about what it will look like in five years. A top-tier lawyer will work with medical experts to project the costs of:

• Skin grafting and laser revision therapies.
• Future surgeries to reduce scar tissue.
• Long-term psychological counseling.

Knowledge of the Illinois Animal Control Act

Illinois is a “strict liability” state. This means you don’t necessarily have to prove the dog was “vicious” or had bitten someone before. Your lawyer must be intimately familiar with the Illinois Animal Control Act to prevent the defense from claiming you “provoked” the animal. This is a common tactic used to reduce your compensation.

A Record of Maximum Settlements

Ask the firm about their history with high-value settlements. Because disfigurement is considered a “permanent” injury, these cases often have a much higher ceiling for compensation. You need a firm that isn’t afraid to take a case to trial if the insurance company refuses to acknowledge the severity of the disfigurement.

Learn more about how Shea Law Group handles dog bite claims. 

Contact a Dog Bite Attorney Who Understands Your Situation

At Shea Law Group, we specialize in helping victims of dog attacks navigate the complex legal and medical landscape of disfigurement claims. Consultations are free, and you’ll only pay if and when we win your case. Let us handle the insurance companies while you focus on healing.

Schedule your free dog bite consultation today.