When Should I Get a Lawyer After I am Bit by a Dog?

The process of an Illinois dog bite case can be lengthy and cumbersome. This is why it is important to speak with a lawyer soon after you are bitten or attacked by a dog. For instance, you need to quickly move to preserve the evidence, details of the attack scene, and a list of the parties present so that you can later use this information. Next, you need to build and file a case under the Illinois Animal Control Act to receive damages for the injuries that the attack caused you. Then, you need to converse with the defendant and fend off any counterpunches that it launches. Under the best of circumstances, it is not an easy task but it is even harder when you wait to speak or meet with counsel.

What can a lawyer do for me? We hear this concern from victims all across Illinois after they have been attacked by dogs and other animals. They don’t immediately connect how an attorney can help them during this troublesome time. They even might not think the entire legal system is useful at all during this point. However, we like to remind them that lawyers can do things for them to lighten the load such as investigation, communications, and legal analysis. Also, the courts themselves can be a bastion of recovery because the dog’s owner should be held accountable for the costs, pain, suffering, and other damages the attack created. Many victims are not able to complete all of the work required to obtain this relief, and this is the gap that experienced counsel can fill when the need arises. You might find it arises faster than you imagined if you are hurt by a dog.