Unprovoked Dog Attack Causes Serious Injuries, Cash Settlement

A woman victimized in an unprovoked dog attack received a $15,000 settlement thanks to the help of Alton, Illinois attorney Michael P. Glisson.

The lawyer from Williamson, Webster, Falb & Glisson represented a woman whose finger was bitten down to the bone by a dog. The attack required hospitalization for the woman. During emergency treatment, it was discovered that the dog had injured the woman’s right thumb, index finger and third finger. Even after receiving expensive medical treatment, the plaintiff still had a difficult time bending her thumb and had two permanent scars.

The circumstances of the brutal attack were such that the plaintiff’s husband was present. He attempted to dispatch the animal by hitting it on the head, injuring his shoulder in the process. It took several strikes for the dog to let go. As a result, husband also received some medical treatment in the form of shots for inflammation.

The State of Illinois has recognized the danger posed by vicious dogs in the last few years. In 2006, the governor signed a piece of legislation into law that toughens sentences for owners of violent dogs.

According to an Illinois.gov press release, “House Bill 4238 … increases the criminal penalty to a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison if the owner of a vicious dog fails to keep their dog in an enclosure or fails to spay or neuter the animal and it gets loose and kills or seriously injures someone. If the owner knowingly allowed the dog to run loose or failed to take steps to keep the animal in an enclosure, the offense is a Class 2 felony, carrying a potential prison term of three to seven years.”

The amount of money one can recover in damages from a dog bite incident varies depending on a number of factors. Much of the time, it is not possible to determine the exact amount at the beginning of a lawsuit because clients are still seeking treatment from dog bite injuries. Permanent injuries can result in greater recoveries, as can proof of lost wages. When a child falls victim to a malicious dog, the traumatic incident can scar that child — physically and psychologically — for life. In addition to emergency medical care, dog bites can require reconstructive plastic surgery, especially if the victim’s face is the affected area.

Please contact us for a free consultation so that we can determine how best to handle your situation. We can offer you our individualized attention to get to the bottom of your case, and we guarantee that you will not be charged any legal fees unless we make a recovery on your behalf.