Call Us Now: 773.881.9000

Chicago and Homewood

Personal Injury Law Firm

REQUEST A FREE CONSULTATION

10258 S. Western Ave.
Suite 210

Chicago, IL 60643

REQUEST A FREE CONSULTATION
Bizzieri-Law-Chicago-Logo
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • PRACTICE AREAS
    • PERSONAL INJURY
      • CONSTRUCTION NEGLIGENCE
      • NURSING HOME NEGLIGENCE
      • MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
      • TRUCK ACCIDENTS
      • BUS ACCIDENTS
      • TRAIN ACCIDENTS
    • PREMISES LIABILITY
      • DOG BITES
    • MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
      • FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE CANCER
    • DENTAL MALPRACTICE
    • WORKERS COMPENSATION
    • EMPLOYMENT LAW
    • LEGAL MALPRACTICE
  • RECENT VERDICTS/SETTLEMENTS
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT

Visiting a Friend with a Dog: Am I Responsible if I’m Bitten?

by jamesbizzieri | Sep 5, 2024 | Animal Attack, Dog Bite

When visiting a friend with a dog, you might assume that you’re taking on some level of risk by entering their home. But what happens if their dog bites you? Are you responsible for your own injuries, or can you hold your friend liable? Understanding the laws and factors surrounding dog bites can help you navigate this situation.

In Illinois, dog owners are generally liable for injuries caused by their pets, regardless of whether you were a willing visitor or not. The Illinois Animal Control Act holds owners responsible for exercising ordinary care to prevent their dogs from biting people. This means that if your friend’s dog bites you, they may be held liable for your injuries.

However, there are some exceptions and considerations to keep in mind:

  • Assumption of risk: If you knew the dog had a history of aggression or had previously bitten someone, you might be considered to have assumed the risk of visiting. This means that you understood the potential danger and chose to enter the home anyway.
  • Comparative negligence: If you contributed to the dog bite in some way (e.g., teasing the dog, ignoring warning signs, or entering the home despite knowing the dog’s aggressive history), your damages might be reduced. This means that your own actions may have partially caused the injury.
  • Warning signs: If your friend had posted warning signs or explicitly warned you about their dog’s behavior, you might be considered responsible for ignoring those warnings. This means that you were aware of the potential danger but chose to disregard it.

To succeed in a personal injury claim, you’ll need to prove that your friend was negligent in some way, such as:

  • Failing to warn you about their dog’s aggressive behavior: If your friend knew their dog had a history of biting or was prone to aggression, they should have warned you before inviting you into their home.
  • Not supervising their dog properly: If your friend left their dog unattended or failed to keep it under control, they may be liable for the resulting bite.
  • Knowing their dog had a history of biting but failing to take steps to prevent it: If your friend knew their dog had bitten before and didn’t take steps to prevent future incidents (e.g., training, medication, or confinement), they may be liable for your injuries.

For example, let’s say you visited your friend’s home, despite knowing their dog had a history of biting. If your friend didn’t properly supervise their dog or failed to warn you about its behavior, you might still have a valid claim.

Additional considerations:

  • Insurance coverage: Check if your friend has homeowners or renters insurance that covers dog bites. This may impact their ability to compensate you for your injuries.
  • Medical expenses: Keep track of any medical expenses related to the dog bite, including emergency care, antibiotics, or plastic surgery.
  • Lost wages: If the dog bite prevented you from working, you may be able to claim lost wages as part of your damages.

If you’re looking for an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer to help navigate your personal injury claim, we will work hard to protect your right to the compensation you deserve. Call Bizzieri Law Offices at 773.881.9000. The case evaluation is free, and we never charge a fee unless we recover damages for you.

QUICKLINKS

Motor Vehicle Accidents
Trucking Accidents
Dog Bites
Premises Liability
Medical Malpractice
Dental Malpractice
Legal Malpractice
Employment Law
Workers’ Compensation

PERSONAL INJURY F.A.Q.s

Dog Bite F.A.Q.
Trucking Accident F.A.Q.
Elder Abuse F.A.Q.
Accidents Involving Recalled Vehicles F.A.Q.
Medical Malpractice F.A.Q.
Defective Products F.A.Q.

Auto Accidents with Shared Responsibility F.A.Q.
Workers Compensation F.A.Q. 

LOCATION

Bizzieri Law Offices

10258 S. Western Ave.
Suite 210

Chicago, IL 60643

Bizzieri Law Google Business Profile

View Sitemap

DISCLAIMER:

The information contained in this website is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. No recipient of content from this site, client, or otherwise, should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in the site without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from an attorney licensed in the recipient’s state.
The content of this website contains general information and may not reflect current legal developments, verdicts, or settlements. Bizzieri Law expressly disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based solely on any or all the contents of this website.
The transmission of the website, in part or in whole, and/or communication with Bizzieri Law via Internet e-mail through this site does not constitute or create an attorney-client relationship between Bizzieri Law and any recipients.
The jurisdiction for any claims arising out of or related to the content of this website shall be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois.

Copyright 2025 Bizzieri Law Offices | All Rights Reserved | Disclaimer | Designed by Proctor Digital, Inc.