Engaging the Best Lawyer for Your Claim Will Make A Difference
Suffering a dog bite injury or injuries from a dog attack can cause a dog bite victim’s life to become unraveled. Not only does the dog bite victim face a potentially long road to physical recovery, but the victim also can encounter an uncertain financial future if the victim lost time out of work as a result of recovering from the injury. The emotional burden thrust upon the dog bite victim who not only must be concerned with his or her physical well-being, but financial stability is unfair. Therefore, the owner of the dog that caused the injuries and any other parties who bear some responsibility for the victim’s injuries must be held legally accountable.
The Chicago dog bite lawyers with Stein Shulman LLC are highly skilled and experienced dog bite attorneys who have successfully won settlements and judgments from dog owners for the harm inflicted upon innocent dog attack victims. With a combined 45 years of legal expertise to draw upon, the dog bite attorneys with Stein Shulman LLC understand the complexities and nuances of Chicago dog bite cases. Stein Shulman LLC’s dog attack lawyers have earned the well-deserved reputation as aggressive advocates for their clients who were victimized by dogs in Chicago.
How to File a Legal Claim
Any potential litigant must conduct an extensive and thorough investigation of all of the facts and circumstances that came before and after the dog bite incident. Extensively investigating the dog bite event can prevent insurance adjusters and insurance defense attorneys from poking holes in the case in an effort to reduce the insurance company’s financial exposure or avoid liability altogether. Having all of the information about the incident, both good and bad, affords the claimant the opportunity to prepare the most persuasive claim possible.
The following is a list of evidence which, if it exists, can help make the most persuasive claim for compensation for losses caused by a Chicago dog bite or attack:
- the dog owner’s information, including name, correct address, and home owner’s insurance information,
- the landlord’s information, including insurance, if the dog lived in a rented home,
- Police reports documenting the attack and any other incidents involving the attacking dog in particular, or dog attacks launched from the same residence,
- All reports from Chicago’s Animal Care and Control Department,
- Witness identification, including witness statements as well as the correct names and addresses of the witnesses,
- Photographs of the area in which the attack occurred, photographs of the dog, if possible, and photos of the yard or property from which the dog attacked as close to the time of the attack as possible,
- Social media research to learn what, if anything, the dog owner may have said about the dog or the attack,
- Medical records, surgeon’s records, and medical bills,
- Expert opinion about the attacking dog so that the true breed of the dog is known, physiology of the dog, and the character of the breed of dog, and
- Evidence of lost wages and future loss of income.
Once all of the relevant information is acquired, then a claim can be filed.
Time, as always, is of the essence. The claim may not be settled within two years, which is the statute of limitations in Illinois. Therefore, the claimant must file a civil action against the owner and all other responsible parties in the Law Division of the Cook County Circuit Court to protect his or her rights, provided that the claim for a Chicago resident is $30,000.00 or greater or $100,000.00 or higher for a suburban resident in Cook County. Otherwise, the claim must be filed in the appropriate municipal division.
Contact Stein Shulman LLC Today
The Chicago dog attack lawyers with Stein Shulman LLC are available 24/7 to give your expert legal advice about your dog bite claim. Call Stein Shulman LLC today at 312-422-0500 today to make an appointment to initiate your Chicago dog bite claim.