Illinois Man Injured in Pit Bull Attack

A 62-year-old man was seriously injured after being attacked by a pit bull in Alton. According to reports, the man sustained injuries to his arms and legs. He was working on his vehicle when the incident occurred. The incident began at about 1:40 p.m. when the victim, who was working on his car, was attacked by a stray pit bull. Alton Police, firefighters, and animal control officers responded to the location. The dog was still on the run. An officer discharged her taser at least twice at the dog who was last seen running away with blood on him. Alton firefighters quickly moved the man out of harm’s way and got him into an ambulance.

The victim’s injuries were not considered life-threatening. He was taken to the hospital for injuries to his arms and legs. Police and animal control officers were still searching for the dog after the incident occurred in the North Alton neighborhood.

Dog bite lawsuits in Illinois 

Illinois’ dog bite laws can be found under our state’s Animal Control Act. Illinois’ Animal Control Act holds owners strictly liable for the conduct of their dogs. That means that a dog bite victim does not need to prove that the owner was negligent. They only need to establish that they were bitten by the dog unprovoked.

Some states operate on what is known as a “one-bite rule”. In these states, the victim must prove that the owner knew or should have known that the dog had aggressive tendencies at the time they caused the injury.

Finding the dog 

The search for the dog yielded inconclusive results. In order to file a dog bite lawsuit against someone, you need to be able to identify the owner. In this case, whoever owned the dog allowed it to escape from their property, wander around, and attack an unsuspecting victim. This victim is entitled to compensation if they ever find the dog and its owner. The victim is entitled to recover damages for their medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced quality of life, including emotional trauma stemming from the incident.

COVID puppies and dog attacks 

The quantity of dog attacks has risen in recent years. Many individuals purchased pets over the COVID pandemic. These pandemic dogs are undersocialized and have a tendency to be aggressive. For this reason, there is a pronounced uptick in the number of dog bites we’ve recorded over the past 4 years.

Regardless of when you purchased your puppy, dog owners are liable for injuries caused by their dogs. There is no “COVID defense” for dog owners in dog bite lawsuits. The only possible defense a dog owner can raise is that the victim somehow provoked the dog or was trespassing at the time they were injured.

Talk to an Illinois Dog Bite Lawyer Today 

The Springfield Dog Bite lawyers at Patel Law, PC represent the interests of those who have been injured by dangerous or aggressive dogs. You can file suit against the dog’s owner and recover damages related to your medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced quality of life. Call today to learn more.

Source:

thetelegraph.com/news/article/alton-pit-bull-attack-illinois-dog-bite-theresa-19706620.php