Dog Bites
Are you the victim of a dog bite? Let our lawyers help! We are Chicago personal injury lawyers with extensive experience in personal injury cases, including dog bites.
A surprising amount of injuries each year in the United States are caused by dog bites. Two percent of the population of the United States is bitten by dogs every year. Approximately 50,000 dog bite attacks occur each year in Illinois that require medical care. Dogs are very powerful animals, and a dog bite can be devastating. Sadly, children receive more than their share of attacks. Medical bills for treatment of these dog bites can be astoundingly high. Physical, emotional and collateral damage to the victims and the victims' families can be even higher. If a dog bites once, chances are it will bite again. Dangerous dogs can be prevented from biting another innocent victim if dog bite victims pursue their claims.
Do you need to hire a lawyer to handle a dog bite claim?
You may wonder "Won't hiring a lawyer drag out the process? Won't it cost me money? Won't it affect my relationships with people? Won't I get the same amount an attorney could get for me?" Actually, the opposite is true - in a dog bite case as well as any other injury case.
An insurance company may offer a dog bite victim only a fraction of what the claim is worth, and what an attorney would be able to obtain. Insurance companies know that victims will most likely have no idea of the value of a claim. Insurance companies also know that the victim, or the victim's family, is operating largely from emotion - anger, fear, sorrow, or worry about expensive medical bills and lost wages - and are able to play on those emotions. An experienced attorney serves as a buffer between the victim, or victim's family, and the insurance company, and is able to negotiate from a position of strength.
Insurance companies will offer a victim 10% to 20% of what an experienced attorney could get. The insurance company tries to keep the other 80% to 90%. Attorneys work on a contingency basis and take one-third, so a victim with an attorney would receive far more with the attorney, even after subtracting the contingency fee, than he could get for himself.
With a contingency fee, the victim will pay for nothing, and the attorney receives no payment unless he obtains a settlement, or a verdict at trial. If nothing is recovered, the victim owes nothing. He will not have to pay the attorney a fee, and will not have to repay the attorney for his costs.
Oftentimes in a dog bite case, the owner of the dog is a friend or family member - possibly even a parent or legal guardian. The victim may feel uncomfortable or reluctant to pursue a case for damages in these situations. This is where hiring an experienced attorney makes even more sense. A good attorney knows how to deal with an insurance company in a professional manner, and the victim and victim's family is removed from the process. As most cases settle - particularly cases where the insurance company knows it is up against and experienced and formidable attorney - the possibility of unpleasant confrontation in court with the dog's owner is even further reduced. It is important here to know that if you are a victim and the dog owner is a friend or family member who is covered by insurance, your friend or family member will never have to contribute a penny to your award. If there is insurance coverage, the insurance company will pay. If there is no insurance then you can decide not to proceed with your case.
Attorneys also have access to databases where they can compare their case to cases that have been settled or gone to verdict involving similar injuries, and similarly situated victims, in the jurisdiction where the injury occurred. This enables a good attorney to have a very accurate picture of what his case is worth before even beginning negotiations with an insurance company or preparing for trial. As the old saying goes, knowledge is power. An experienced and professional attorney can be a very powerful ally.
Many victims who are disfigured are not even aware that they may have substantial claims for loss of future earnings capacity, pain and suffering, or emotional distress. Their spouse or significant other may also have a substantial claim for loss of consortium, if the facts support such a claim. While victims may not know they can pursue these kinds of claims, an experienced attorney knows. The insurance companies also know the existence and value of these claims, but they are not about to inform the victim. Insurance companies may offer compensation for time missed from work, but they will not voluntarily offer money for future lost earnings capacity - which is a complicated issue, often requiring expert testimony, and invariably completely beyond the ability of an accident victim to prove. Since this can be the largest portion of the loss over the years, it is essential that an experienced attorney handle this for the victim.
If the victim's medical bills, which in a dog bite case can be very substantial, are paid by the victim's own health insurance, the health insurance company will file a lien with the dog owner's insurance company. The dog owner's insurance company will pay the full amount of those claims without hesitation. Lawyers who represent accident victims, however, further benefit their clients by negotiating with the third parties, and reducing their claims - which becomes money in the victim's pocket.
So the answer is yes. You should definitely retain an experienced attorney to represent you if you, or if a family member, has been the victim of a dog bite. Contact our Chicago personal injury lawyers for your free initial consultation.
Free Legal Evaluation
If you, or someone you care about, have been injured by a dog, you can contact our law firm for a free evaluation by:
- Filling out a simple online form to the left so we can evaluate your claim
- Calling toll free 708-691-1155 . Our phones answer 24 hours a day/7 days a week
Our law firm will evaluate your claim free of charge and advise you on your legal rights to collect compensation. There is no obligation to use our services, and there is never a fee unless we get money for you.