What To Do If Bitten By A Dog In Glenview?

When he was bit by a dog in Glenview, a resident called attorney Barry Zlotowicz for help. If you were bit by a dog, feel free to contact our office for a free consultation at 847-305-4105.

Not only did our office sign up this Glenview resident but we were retained by another family in Kane County, Illinois to represent their child who was also bitten. These 2 cases which were both signed up in the past 45 days, are examples of the types of cases our office handles.

Insurance

The most significant factor when dealing with a dog bite cases is – does the dog owner have insurance? These two cases differ significantly with regard to insurance. One of the incidents took place on a public street when an unleashed dog bit my client in four different spots on his body.

The dog owner owned his home and as such, had homeowner’s insurance. Most homeowner’s policies I have seen start at $250,000. Conversely, in the other case, the dog owner was a renter. Often renters do not have a renter’s policy. If they don’t, in most cases, the case will end there. If there is no insurance, the case is in most situations not viable.

Can you sue the dog owner individually? Yes, you always sue the dog owner individually. But if he or she does not have insurance they likely do not have the assets to adequately compensate you for your damages either.

In this situation however, the dog owner did have a renter’s policy. Renters’ policies however can be very small. Often, they provide coverage of $10,000 or less. As such, in that situation, the recovery will often be limited.

Strict Liability

In the state of Illinois, if a dog or other animal attacks or injures someone, the dog owner is on the hook for the damages. This is determined by statute in the state of Illinois and as stated in another blog article, is different from other states that follow a one-bite rule for animal-related injuries.

Severity of the dog bite

Obviously, if you were bit by a dog in Glenview or anywhere else in Illinois, the value of your case is dependent on the severity of the damages. The dog bite itself is evidence of the injury but the most significant aspect of the case is the scar that results due to the bite.

Permanent deformity such as scarring is highly compensable. However, scarring doesn’t reveal itself for a long time. As such, if you do suffer a dog bite, it is wise not to settle your case for at least 6 to 12 months to see how the scar develops.

It goes without saying that the most significant evidence you can provide the insurance company are photos of the bite and resultant scarring.

What should you do?

If you are bit by a dog in Glenview or anywhere in the state of Illinois, contact Glenview dog bite attorney Barry Zlotowicz at 847-305-4105 for a free consultation. Even if you don’t retain the services of an attorney, it is a good idea to at least talk to a Glenview dog bite injuries lawyer to better understand the process of dealing with an insurance company in a dog bite case.

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