Illinois Dog Bite Injury Attorneys
Illinois is a strict liability state, so the owner of a dog that attacks can be responsible for your injuries even if the animal has never bitten anyone before. Salvi & Maher fight for dog attack victims and their families in Waukegan, Lake County, and across Northern Illinois.
Why Dog Bite Injuries Are Worse Than They Look
Why Dog Bite Injuries Are Worse Than They Look
A dog attack takes seconds, and the damage lasts far longer. Whether it happened in a neighbor's yard, on a public sidewalk, or at a park in Waukegan, Gurnee, or Libertyville, puncture wounds close over bacteria, and the infection risk is often worse than the visible wound.
Attorney Kelli Ford and the personal injury team at Salvi & Maher have fought for dog bite victims and their families in Lake County since 1985. Deep bites can cause severe scarring, nerve damage, and in serious cases, permanent disability. Reconstructive care runs long, and the costs arrive well after the insurance company has made its first offer.
Our Waukegan office at 325 Washington St. sits minutes from the Lake County courthouse where these cases are litigated, and we also serve bite victims from our Libertyville, Richmond, and Chicago offices.
A dog attack takes seconds, and the damage lasts far longer. Whether it happened in a neighbor's yard, on a public sidewalk, or at a park in Waukegan, Gurnee, or Libertyville, puncture wounds close over bacteria, and the infection risk is often worse than the visible wound.
Attorney Kelli Ford and the personal injury team at Salvi & Maher have fought for dog bite victims and their families in Lake County since 1985. Deep bites can cause severe scarring, nerve damage, and in serious cases, permanent disability. Reconstructive care runs long, and the costs arrive well after the insurance company has made its first offer.
Our Waukegan office at 325 Washington St. sits minutes from the Lake County courthouse where these cases are litigated, and we also serve bite victims from our Libertyville, Richmond, and Chicago offices.
There Is No One Free Bite Rule in Illinois
There Is No One Free Bite Rule in Illinois
Section 16 of the Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/16) makes an owner liable when an animal injures someone who was lawfully present, behaving peaceably, and did not provoke it. Whether the dog had ever bitten before does not matter.
The statute covers more than bites. It reaches an animal that attacks, attempts to attack, or injures, so a dog that knocks someone down or runs into a cyclist can create the same liability. Owner is broad too, covering anyone keeping or harboring the animal, and sometimes a landlord who knew it was dangerous. Claims carry a two-year deadline.
Section 16 of the Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/16) makes an owner liable when an animal injures someone who was lawfully present, behaving peaceably, and did not provoke it. Whether the dog had ever bitten before does not matter.
The statute covers more than bites. It reaches an animal that attacks, attempts to attack, or injures, so a dog that knocks someone down or runs into a cyclist can create the same liability. Owner is broad too, covering anyone keeping or harboring the animal, and sometimes a landlord who knew it was dangerous. Claims carry a two-year deadline.
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
A successful dog bite claim can recover compensation for medical expenses, including emergency treatment, reconstructive surgery, and ongoing care. Lost income during recovery, permanent scarring or disfigurement, pain and suffering, and emotional distress are also compensable. When a child is the victim, courts take the long-term impact on their development and quality of life into account.
Homeowner's and renter's insurance policies frequently cover dog bite claims, which means there is often a viable path to compensation even when the owner has limited personal assets. Our attorneys know how to identify applicable coverage and pursue it fully on your behalf. You can see examples of what we have recovered for clients on our case results page.
A successful dog bite claim can recover compensation for medical expenses, including emergency treatment, reconstructive surgery, and ongoing care. Lost income during recovery, permanent scarring or disfigurement, pain and suffering, and emotional distress are also compensable. When a child is the victim, courts take the long-term impact on their development and quality of life into account.
Homeowner's and renter's insurance policies frequently cover dog bite claims, which means there is often a viable path to compensation even when the owner has limited personal assets. Our attorneys know how to identify applicable coverage and pursue it fully on your behalf. You can see examples of what we have recovered for clients on our case results page.
What Affects the Value of a Dog Bite Case
Dog bite injuries vary enormously in severity, and that variation drives most of the difference in case value. A puncture wound that heals without complication is valued very differently than a bite requiring reconstructive surgery, skin grafting, or ongoing scar revision, particularly on the face, hands, or other visible areas. Nerve damage and loss of function in a bitten limb also significantly increase a claim's value beyond the cost of initial treatment.
Children present a distinct consideration. Beyond the physical injury, a child bitten by a dog can develop a lasting fear of dogs that affects daily life for years, and Illinois courts recognize this as compensable harm, not just the medical bills.
Insurance coverage limits often set the practical ceiling on what's recoverable. Most homeowner's and renter's policies cover dog bite liability, but some insurers exclude certain breeds entirely or cap dog bite payouts below the policy's general liability limit. Identifying what coverage actually applies, and whether a homeowner's policy has a breed exclusion that the insurer will try to invoke, is often the first thing our attorneys check when we take a case.
We Make it Easy to Start.
The Consultation is Free.
Start with a free case evaluation to learn how Salvi & Maher can support you from day one.
We Assess Your Case
Our attorneys will carefully review your situation to determine if we’re the right fit to pursue legal action.
We Fight for You
If we take your case, we’ll advocate relentlessly to help you secure the results you deserve.
No Fee Unless We Win Your Case
Call 847-662-3303 or reach out online to speak with a member of our team. Salvi & Maher handles dog bite cases throughout Waukegan, Gurnee, Libertyville, and all of Lake County from our Waukegan and Libertyville offices, as well as clients in McHenry County, Cook County, and DuPage County.
Frequently Asked Questions.
No. Illinois follows strict liability under the Animal Control Act, which means the owner can be held responsible even if the dog has never shown aggression before and the owner had no reason to think it was dangerous.