Your Trusted Chicago Dog Bite Lawyer
If you or your child was bitten by a dog in Chicago, you may be dealing with painful wounds, scarring, and fear on top of the medical bills. You do not have to face it alone. Furqan Mohammed helps dog bite victims across Chicago hold negligent owners accountable and pursue the full compensation they deserve.
Understanding Your Right to Compensation After a Dog Bite
Illinois law strongly protects people injured by dogs. Under the Illinois Animal Control Act, a dog’s owner is strictly liable for injuries their dog causes, which means you usually do not have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. As long as you were peaceably conducting yourself somewhere you had a lawful right to be, and you did not provoke the animal, the owner can be liable for the full amount of your injury (510 ILCS 5/16). In most cases you have two years from the date of the bite to file a claim (735 ILCS 5/13-202).
Common Dog Bite Injuries and Situations
Dog bites can happen anywhere, from a neighbor’s yard to a public park, and they often cause serious, lasting harm. Common bite injuries and scenarios include:
Puncture wounds and lacerations
Scarring and disfigurement
Bites to children
Loose or unleashed dogs
Infections and complications
Illinois Holds Dog Owners Strictly Liable
Unlike many injury claims, you generally do not have to prove that a dog owner was careless. Under the Illinois Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/16), the owner is strictly liable when their dog attacks or injures a person who was peaceably conducting himself or herself in a place he or she may lawfully be. The main defenses are provocation and trespassing, so how the incident happened matters.
Compensation usually comes from the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. Documenting the bite, identifying the dog and its owner, and reporting the incident to animal control all help protect your claim.
Types of Compensation
Depending on the severity of the bite, you may be entitled to compensation for a range of losses, including:
Medical expenses
Covers emergency care, hospitalization, therapy, and future medical needs
Lost income
Reimburses wages lost due to injury and diminished earning capacity
Scarring and disfigurement
Pain and suffering
Loss of consortium
Compensation for harm to spousal relationships
How Furqan Mohammed Can Help
A dog bite lawyer like Furqan Mohammed can handle your claim from start to finish, including:
- Identifying the dog owner and their insurance coverage
- Gathering medical records and documenting your injuries and scarring
- Proving the bite under the Illinois Animal Control Act
- Negotiating full compensation or taking your case to court
Insurance companies often downplay dog bite injuries or blame the victim for provoking the animal. Furqan Mohammed stands up to insurers and, if needed, files suit in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The firm serves bite victims across Chicago, with assistance available in Arabic and other languages.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Illinois does not follow a 'one bite' rule. Under the Animal Control Act, a dog owner is strictly liable for injuries their dog causes, even if the dog never bit anyone before (510 ILCS 5/16).
In most cases, two years from the date of the bite (735 ILCS 5/13-202). For a child, the deadline may be extended, but it is best to act quickly.
The main defenses are provocation and being somewhere unlawfully. If you were peaceably present and did not provoke the dog, the owner is generally liable for your full injury.
Compensation usually comes from the dog owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance, not out of the owner's own pocket.
Get medical care, identify the dog and its owner, photograph your injuries, and report the bite to animal control. Then speak with a lawyer before dealing with the insurer.
