Dog Bite Liability

Imagine you are going for a jog in your neighborhood. You pass by another person walking their dog and their dog lunges and bites your leg, causing severe injuries. Is the dog owner liable for any injury you suffer? What if the dog is in the front yard by itself when it bites you? Is the owner liable then? Under Illinois law, a dog owner is liable for the dog bite victim’s injuries if the dog attacks or injures any person who is peaceably conducting themselves in a place that they have a lawful right to be. Whether the owner is there or not, the owner can still be liable. However, this applies only if the person who suffers the injury is lawfully allowed to be in the place where the bite occurred and was peaceably conducting themselves. If you enter another person’s yard without permission and the dog bites you, the owner may not be liable. Additionally, if you are antagonizing the dog or provoking the dog in some way, the liability to the owner under Illinois law may be more easily challenged. These cases can be argued based on the circumstances surrounding the bite and whether the injured person is somehow also responsible. If you are injured by a dog bite, please call our law firm to discuss the matter.