When a person is injured in a dog bite attack, provided the attack met the parameters of the Illinois Dog Bite Statute 510 ILCS 5/16, they deserve to be compensated for their damages from those who may be liable.
Law 510 ILCS 5/16 states:
“If a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks, attempts to attack, or injures any person who is peaceably conducting himself or herself in any place where he or she may lawfully be, the owner of such dog or other animal is liable in civil damages to such person for the full amount of the injury proximately caused thereby.”
This means that to prove that the owner of a dog, or other animal, that has bitten is liable for the bite, the injured party must prove three things:
- The dog or other animal attempted to attack, attacked, or injured the victim.
- The victim had the legal right to be in the place where the attack occurred.
- The dog or other animal was not in any way provoked into attacking.
While most people assume they can be compensated for lost wages, medical bills, and damaged property following a dog bite attack, they don’t realize they can also receive compensation for loss of enjoyment of normal life.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog bite attack, we at America’s Consumer Lawyer are here for you every step of the way to ensure that your rights are protected and you are fully compensated for your injuries and losses, and this includes working on your behalf to ensure a favorable settlement.
What is Loss of Enjoyment of Normal Life?
The loss of enjoyment of normal life, sometimes called hedonic damages, refers to the detrimental alterations of a person’s life or lifestyle or the inability to enjoy life following an accident.
Unlike other types of compensation which can easily be determined, like medical bills, property damages, and lost wages, damages for loss of enjoyment of normal life can be difficult to measure in monetary terms.
Loss of Enjoyment of Normal Life Examples
The severity of the loss of enjoyment of normal life can vary by the severity of the dog bite attack.
Examples of this include:
- Simple Loss of Enjoyment – When a person cannot do even the simplest tasks in everyday life following an attack, such as walking, cooking, cleaning, being social, or engaging in hobbies they once enjoyed.
- Severe Loss of Enjoyment – When a person cannot perform the normal daily functions one needs and the quality of their life decreases. This includes showering, using the bathroom, and feeding themselves, as well as dealing with extreme pain.
- Trauma and Distress – A dog bite attack can leave a victim with psychological or emotional damage that affects them for the rest of their lives. Trauma and distress will vary with the level of trauma sustained, but victims may require months or years of treatment for conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression.
Also included in loss of enjoyment of normal life can be activities you once enjoyed that you no longer can take part in. For example, if you enjoyed quilting prior to your accident but because of an amputation you can no longer sew, you once again have a loss of enjoyment of normal life.
Proving Loss of Enjoyment of Normal Life
To prove the loss of enjoyment of normal life, a plaintiff will often have to provide testimony from themselves and sometimes others who have witnessed them taking part in certain activities. They would testify how life has significantly changed since the attack and how once enjoyable activities are no longer enjoyable.
Legal Help with Loss of Enjoyment of Normal Life
While the compensation for loss of enjoyment of normal life is not typically the largest part of a settlement, a jury can provide a substantial payout if the impact of the attack has been significant. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help determine what you or a loved one may be entitled to follow a dog bite attack.
We at America’s Consumer Lawyer are proud to serve our fellow citizens in personal injury cases, including when you or a loved one has been injured in a dog bite attack, and we are fully committed to protecting your rights and ensuring that the other party is held legally accountable when negligence occurs. We will fight until the very end to ensure that you are fully compensated for all injuries and losses resulting from the accident, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and you won’t owe us a dime for our services.
We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at what we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at America’s Consumer Lawyer, we put People, First.
Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our unique formula has earned us over 900 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 120 five-star reviews on Google. Call 888-572-0176, e-mail us at michael@agrusslawfirm.com or schedule a meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.
