Skip to content

Medical Bills Dog Bite Attack

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.

 

Medical bills can pile up following a dog bite attack. If you or a loved one was bitten by a dog, the dog’s owner through their homeowner’s insurance policy would be responsible for any medical bills and other damages you may have sustained if it can be proven that the incident fell under the parameters of the Illinois Dog Bite Statute. 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 animals, 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.

If a dog’s owner has homeowner’s insurance, they most likely have “med pay” coverage as well. This coverage will kick in whether or not the insurance company initially accepts liability for the dog bite, however, the policy limits are often low, often under $5,000.

If there is no med pay coverage, or your medical bills are more than the amount covered by the homeowner’s policy, you will often have to fall back onto your health insurance for treatment. Your health insurer will have the right to be reimbursed from any settlement you should receive from the dog’s owner or homeowner’s insurance.

If you do not have medical insurance or there are medical bills that are left unpaid, the insurance company for the dog’s owner can be found liable for those bills, but they are not required to pay any bills until the end of the claim or settlement. This not only places undue stress on you with unpaid bills, but it can also make doctors reluctant to treat you for fear of non-payment or without a prepayment of cash.

If you have medical bills from a dog bite, it is important to contact a personal injury lawyer to ensure that you receive the full compensation you’re entitled to. If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog bite attack, we at Mike Agruss Law 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.

We at Mike Agruss Law 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 Mike Agruss Law, 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 [email protected] or schedule a meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.

 

Submitted Comments

No Comments submitted yet. Sharing your story will help others!

We are listening

We will respond to you at lightning speed. All of your information will be kept confidential.

Form successfully submitted!