The physical and emotional aftermath of a dog bite can be traumatic. Understanding the reasons behind these incidents is crucial for prevention and responsible dog ownership. The following is a brief overview of four of the most common factors often associated with dog bite incidents. For more detailed information if you have been injured, contact an Illinois dog bite lawyer.
Fear and Anxiety
Dogs may resort to biting when they feel threatened or scared. Fear is a powerful motivator for aggression in dogs. Common triggers include unfamiliar people or animals, loud noises, sudden movements, or even an owner’s aggressive
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Serious Infections from Dog Bites
While often seen as minor incidents, dog bites can lead to serious infections that pose a significant health risk. Dogs’ mouths harbor various bacteria, and when their teeth puncture the skin, these bacteria can enter the body, potentially causing infections. The following is a brief overview of the types of infections that can result from dog bites. If you or a loved one has suffered this type of injury, contact an Illinois personal injury lawyer for legal assistance.
Cellulitis
One of the most frequent infections resulting from dog bites is cellulitis. Cellulitis is a skin infection that occurs when…
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Consequences of Scarring and Disfigurement from Dog Attacks
Dog attacks are traumatic incidents that can leave victims lasting physical and emotional scars. In many cases, the injuries sustained from these attacks result in scarring and disfigurement, which can profoundly impact a person’s life. Anyone who has suffered injuries from a dog attack is entitled to pursue legal action against the liable party under Illinois law. An Illinois personal injury lawyer can help.
The Physical Toll
When a dog attacks, the physical injuries inflicted can be severe. Dogs have powerful jaws and sharp teeth that can cause deep wounds and tissue damage. These injuries often result in permanent…
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How Often Are Children Injured by Dog Bites?
Dogs are often seen as lovable and friendly animals, but they still have the potential to cause serious injuries. Unfortunately, children are more likely to be injured in dog attacks due to their small size and their lack of knowledge about how to interact safely with dogs. Each year, more than 800,000 people experience dog bites that are serious enough to require medical attention, and more than half of these victims are children. A personal injury attorney can help families understand how to respond in these situations. Some injuries that children often suffer in dog attacks include:
Bite Wounds…
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When Can Dog Attacks Lead to Fall Injuries?
Dog attacks can be a terrifying experience, causing physical and emotional harm to the victim. While most people associate dog attacks with bites and scratches, these incidents can also involve other types of injuries, including those suffered in falls. When a dog attack causes someone to fall down on a hard surface, such as a sidewalk, they may suffer multiple types of severe injuries, including broken bones, head trauma, and spinal cord damage. Victims of dog bites and attacks will need to understand what steps they can take to ensure they will be compensated for the injuries suffered…
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Know the Signs of an Infected Dog Bite
One of the biggest risks associated with dog bites is that the bite can become infected. Dogs’ mouths are home to many different types of bacteria that can be harmful to humans. While there is a persistent myth that dogs’ mouths are cleaner than humans, it is largely untrue. Dogs have a tendency to pick up items most humans would find revolting in their mouths. When a dog bites a person and breaks the skin, bacteria from the dog’s teeth can be driven deep into a person’s body. This bacteria can then multiply and cause a serious infection. In the…
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Can I Pursue Compensation After an Attack by an Unleashed Dog?
When a dog is off its leash and roaming without supervision, it can pose a serious threat to public safety. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, and around 800,000 dog bites require medical attention. A significant number of these bites occur when dogs are unsupervised. In these situations, dog bite victims may be unsure about their legal options, including who may be held responsible for the injuries they have suffered.
Laws Related to Unleashed and Roaming Dogs in Illinois
In general, the laws in the…
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When Can Dog Bites and Attacks Lead to Broken Bones?
Being attacked or bitten by a dog can be a traumatic experience that can leave a victim with serious injuries. Bone fractures are one type of injury that often occurs as a result of a dog attack. Depending on where a fracture occurred, the severity of the injury, and other factors, broken bones can be very painful and debilitating. By understanding when broken bones can be caused by dog bites and the treatments that may be needed to address these injuries, victims can make sure they will be able to recover, and they can also pursue compensation for their damages.
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What Types of Compensation Can I Receive for a Dog Bite Injury?
If you or someone you love have been attacked by a dog or suffered an injury due to a dog bite, you may be unsure about the legal options available to you. Dog bites can cause multiple types of injuries, such as lacerations, puncture wounds, infections, nerve damage, and scarring. In the most serious cases, dog bites may even lead to the wrongful death of a victim. Fortunately, Illinois law states that a dog’s owner or a person who was in control of a dog at the time of a dog bite is “strictly liable” for a…
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When Can Dog Bites Lead to Nerve Damage?
Dog bites can be incredibly painful and traumatic experiences. Even when a person receives immediate medical attention following a dog bite, they may experience injuries that can significantly affect their health, their ability to perform tasks or participate in activities they had done in the past, and their overall well-being. In some serious cases, dog bites may result in nerve damage, which can lead to permanent disabilities.
Types of Nerve Damage From Dog Bites
Depending on where the bite occurred on the body, as well as the size and strength of the animal involved, a person could experience several…
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Can a Dog Attack Lead to a Traumatic Brain Injury?
When we think about serious injuries caused by dogs, we usually think about bite-related injuries. Dog bites can cause severe tissue damage, nerve damage, infection, and lasting disfigurement. However, even something as seemingly simple as being pushed to the ground by a dog can also lead to serious injuries. Someone who is knocked down by a dog and hits their head on the ground may even suffer a traumatic brain injury.
If you or a loved one suffered any injury because of a dog attack, you may be able to recover financial compensation for your losses. This can include…
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Dog Bites Threaten Postal Workers Making Holiday Deliveries
During the pandemic and the “new normal” that has followed, home deliveries have skyrocketed, and, unfortunately, so have dog bites. Last year, more than 5,400 postal employees in the country were attacked by dogs with Illinois ranking among the top ten states with the most number of dog bites. Now that we are in the thick of the holiday rush, it is probably a good idea to keep your pooch indoors or behind a secured fence if you want to avoid legal trouble.
Dog Bite Law in Illinois
Aggressive dog behaviors pose a serious threat to postal employees. Last…
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Are Pit Bulls Really as Dangerous as They Seem?
Even as it seems pit bulls make national headlines almost every week for a serious or fatal dog attack, a cottage industry of pit bull apologists has taken up the cause of defending the rights and reputations of these dogs. According to pit bull advocates, pit bulls are the same as any other dog, with the same potential for positive traits like love and gentleness, as well as negative traits like aggression and defensiveness.
Regardless of what pit bull advocates say, however, the statistics tell a very different story. Not only are pit bulls more likely to seriously maim and…
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Dangerous and Deadly Dog Attacks Make Recent Headlines
Just a few days ago, an elderly woman, her husband, and a responding police officer were attacked by a neighbor’s pit bull in North Carolina. The woman was so badly attacked that her foot had to be amputated, and her husband also suffered serious injuries to his hands, arms, and body. The responding police officer shot the dog after it bit her in the leg, too. The dog was later euthanized. Just a day later, two children were killed by their family’s pit bull in Tennessee, and their mother was hospitalized for injuries she sustained as she tried to protect…
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What Kind of Behavior Is Considered Provoking a Dog?
An aggressive dog can terrorize a neighborhood, especially one with children. When a dog owner does not properly restrain their dog – and even sometimes when they do – a dog’s lunging, barking, and other aggressive acts towards passersby can be frightening and dangerous. Illinois law requires dogs on private property to be enclosed by a fence at least six feet high, but many, if not most, dog owners do not abide by this law.
After a dog attack occurs and someone is injured, the injured party and their family may be outraged to hear the dog’s owner accusing them…
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Dog Bite Facts and Laws You Should Know
A dog bite can be very dangerous. Even if a bite does not seem serious at first, the potential for a serious infection remains. Of course, other bites are clearly very serious right away. Children are at particular risk for serious dog attacks, as they are more likely than an adult to unintentionally provoke a dog. Dog bites can lead to all sorts of complications. Disfigurement is a very common complaint in dog bite cases, particularly when a person’s face or arms have been bitten. Many will be left with scars around the bite area that will never go away.
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