Wood River Illinois Minor Resolves Dog Bite Incident

A Wood River, Illinois woman has resolved her claim against the owner of a dog. The woman, a minor, was attacked by a dog and sustained permanent injuries to her legs and hand. She brought a claim pursuant to the Illinois Animal Control Act, which provides a remedy against an owner or harborer of the animal.

Unless provocation is involved, Illinois law holds animal owners strictly liable (ie. liable regardless of the owner’s actions). Owners of animals should understand the risks of harboring an animal. Even animals without a history of violence can change due to hormones, age or other factors. It is advisable to keep your animal on a leash at all times to minimize the risks associated with pet ownership.

If you are injured or attacked by a dog or other animal, contact the local animal control or police immediately. It is best to fill out an incident report to document the incident. Also, it is important to attempt to obtain any ownership information from the animal’s tags.

The law firm of WWF&G handles numerous dog bite and animal cases each year. This particular case was resolved for $200,000 due to the significant injuries. While many cases involve dogs, our firm has handled injury cases with other animals, including a man kicked by a stud horse (man’s lower leg almost severed), a cat, and a scorpion. Please contact us immediately for a free consultation at 618-462-1077.