Dog Bite Cases

Dog bites to both children and adults are fairly common.  It has been reported that dog bite cases ate the number one claim made under a homeowners insurance policy. In McHenry County, Illinois, there were 393 animal bite investigations done by the McHenry County Animal control Department in 2006.  In 2007 there were 335 bite investigations.  There is no way to determine how many unreported bite incidents occurred in McHenry County.  It may surprise you to learn that the majority of bite victims were female in both 2006 and 2007.

There exists in Illinois the Animal Control Act which is found at 510 ILCS 5/16 . The Animal Control Act eliminated the “one free bite rule” found in the common law. 

The Animal ControlAct  at its relevant part states “id a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks or injures any person who is peaceably conduction themselves in a place where he may be, the owner of such dog or other animal is liable in damages to such person for the full amount of injuries sustained.

The recoverable damages include, but are not limitted to disfigurement, scaring, medical bills future medical bills, loss of a normal life and psychological damages.