Dog Bite Laws in Illinois

The rule here: strict liability

Illinois is a strict liability state for dog bites. Under the Illinois Animal Control Act, the owner pays the full amount of the injury. This applies when the dog acted without provocation and you were peaceably somewhere you may lawfully be.

The law covers attacks as well as bites. If a dog knocked you down before biting, the fall injuries count too. You do not have to prove the dog bit anyone before.

Owners usually argue that you provoked the dog or were trespassing. A dog can also have more than one owner. In Scifo v. Haeger, a June 2025 appeals decision, the spouse who was not walking the dog stayed in the case.

Your deadline to file

An adult has 2 years from the bite to file in court under 735 ILCS 5/13-202.

A claim against a city or county, such as a police dog bite, often needs a written notice of claim within months. If a public dog bit you, raise it on the first call. If your child was bitten, ask about the deadline on the call too. See our dog bite statute of limitations guide.

What claims pay in Illinois

Illinois had 940 insured dog bite claims in 2024. The average paid was $64,941 per claim, based on Triple-I claims data. That average is not your number.

Your value starts with your bills and lost pay. A scar or a bite to the face raises it. You can run your own numbers or read more on a dog bite settlement.

A homeowners or renters policy usually covers the owner's dog. The insurer pays up to its limit. Learn how homeowners insurance covers dog bites.