Dog Bites And Leash Laws - It's On The Owner
11/16/2011 11:14 AM
It is a fact of life: many people like dogs. Sadly, it is also a fact of life: dogs bite people. Whether or not you are a dog lover, everyone in Illinois needs to be aware that people are required to control their pets. We have repeatedly handled personal injury matters for people bitten by dogs as a result of animal owners who just do not understand that as the owner of a dog, you need to control your animal. Many people are under the incorrect impression that “leash laws” simply require you to have your dog on a leash when you are outside. The fact is that the law in Illinois requires much more. The Illinois “Animal Control Act” sets out:
Animal attacks or injuries. If a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks, attempts to attack, or injuries any person who is peaceably conducting himself or herself in any place where he or she may lawfully be, the owner of such dog or other animal is liable in civil damages to such person for the full amount of the injury proximately caused thereby.
Simply having a leash on a dog, or any other animal, is not enough to insulate the owner from liability - an animal owner must be in control of their animal, otherwise, they are responsible for the animal’s acts. We have represented multiple injury victims in situations where a dog on a leash attacked for no reason. Those victims took no comfort in the fact that the dog that attacked them was on a leash at the time. It is the responsibility of the owner to have a dog under control anytime it is around people.
Thankfully, many homeowner’s insurance policies provide coverage for injuries caused by animals belonging to those insured on the policy, whether it be a dog bite or something else. This protects not only negligent animal owners, but also those injured by dogs and other animals, as without such coverage, these victims would often be forced to shoulder the costs of care and treatment for their injuries (which can often be quite sizeable, even for what may appear to be a simple, minor bite) on their own. If someone else’s animal injures you, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible. You should document any injuries with photographs. You should then seek competent legal counsel, as a personal injury attorney will be able to advise you as to your rights, and what you are entitled to recover for your injuries.
Animal attacks or injuries. If a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks, attempts to attack, or injuries any person who is peaceably conducting himself or herself in any place where he or she may lawfully be, the owner of such dog or other animal is liable in civil damages to such person for the full amount of the injury proximately caused thereby.
Simply having a leash on a dog, or any other animal, is not enough to insulate the owner from liability - an animal owner must be in control of their animal, otherwise, they are responsible for the animal’s acts. We have represented multiple injury victims in situations where a dog on a leash attacked for no reason. Those victims took no comfort in the fact that the dog that attacked them was on a leash at the time. It is the responsibility of the owner to have a dog under control anytime it is around people.
Thankfully, many homeowner’s insurance policies provide coverage for injuries caused by animals belonging to those insured on the policy, whether it be a dog bite or something else. This protects not only negligent animal owners, but also those injured by dogs and other animals, as without such coverage, these victims would often be forced to shoulder the costs of care and treatment for their injuries (which can often be quite sizeable, even for what may appear to be a simple, minor bite) on their own. If someone else’s animal injures you, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible. You should document any injuries with photographs. You should then seek competent legal counsel, as a personal injury attorney will be able to advise you as to your rights, and what you are entitled to recover for your injuries.