773-365-0040 If you or your child has just been bitten by a dog, you are likely dealing with physical pain, mounting emergency room bills, and a lot of anxiety about what to do next. You might be wondering: “Do I need a lawyer for a dog bite?” Or can I just work things out with the dog owner and their insurance company directly?
The short answer is this: If the bite required medical attention, resulted in missed work, or will leave a permanent scar, you absolutely do need a lawyer for a dog bite. If you are still not sure, the expert dog bite lawyers from Shea Law Group have compiled 4 surefire signs you need a lawyer for a dog bite.
4 Signs You Need a Lawyer for a Dog Bite
If any of the following apply to your situation, you should contact a personal injury attorney immediately.
1. Your Injuries Required Medical Treatment
Dog mouths carry dangerous bacteria. Even seemingly minor puncture wounds can lead to severe infections, nerve damage, or require painful rabies protocols. If you went to the ER, received stitches, or required surgery after being bitten by a dog, you need a lawyer. They will ensure your current and future medical bills are fully covered.
2. The Dog Bite Permanently Disfigured You
Facial bites, torn tissue, and deep lacerations can often be considered permanent disfigurement. A quick settlement check from an insurance company will rarely cover the cost of future plastic surgery or compensate you for the lasting emotional trauma of this type of disfigurement. At Shea Law Group, our experienced attorneys know how to accurately calculate and demand maximum compensation for disfigurement.
3. The Dog Belongs to a Neighbor or Friend
This is the most common reason victims hesitate to call a lawyer. They think, “I don’t want to sue my neighbor and ruin their life.”
It is vital to understand that a dog bite claim is rarely filed against the individual dog owner. Typically, the claim is filed against the dog owner’s homeowners or renters insurance policy. You are not taking money out of your neighbor’s bank account. You are simply utilizing the insurance policy they already pay for to cover exactly this type of accident. By working with an experienced lawyer to file a dog bite claim, you’re gaining a professional buffer that will allow you to get the money you need without ruining a relationship.
4. The Insurance Company is Blaming You
If an insurance adjuster calls you and asks for a “recorded statement,” after you’ve been bitten by a dog, hang up and call a lawyer. They are looking for ways to blame you for the attack so they can deny your claim.
How Illinois Law Impacts Your Case
Illinois is a “strict liability” state when it comes to dog bites. This means there is no “one free bite” rule. A dog owner is legally responsible for your injuries even if their dog has never shown aggressive behavior before.
To win a case in Illinois, you only need to prove two main things:
- You were legally allowed to be where you were (you weren’t trespassing).
- You did not provoke the dog.
Because the law is so strict against dog owners, insurance companies only have one real defense: Provocation. The insurance adjuster will likely try to twist your words to make it sound like you startled, teased, or provoked the dog into biting you. If they succeed, your claim could be entirely denied. A dog bite lawyer will handle all communication with the insurance company to ensure you don’t accidentally say something that ruins your case.
What Will a Dog Bite Attorney from Shea Law Group Do for Me?
When you ask yourself, “Do I need a lawyer for a dog bite?“ consider what a legal team actually does behind the scenes. At Shea Law Group, our attorneys will:
- Investigate the dog’s history and find the applicable homeowners’ insurance policies.
- Work with medical and psychological experts to calculate the true, long-term cost of your physical and emotional injuries.
- Shield you from aggressive insurance adjusters trying to trick you into recorded statements.
- Negotiate fiercely to secure a maximum settlement, and take the insurance company to trial if they refuse to pay what is fair.
Learn more about how we handle dog bite cases at Shea Law Group.
Get a Free Consultation With Shea Law Group
You shouldn’t have to carry the financial burden of someone else’s failure to control their animal. If you or a loved one has been attacked, you need to act quickly before evidence disappears.
Contact the experienced Chicago personal injury attorneys at Shea Law Group today by calling us or filling out our online contact form. We offer completely free, no-obligation consultations, and we never charge a fee unless we win your case.
