Illinois dog bite law in Chicago
The owner pays the full injury from an unprovoked attack or bite where you had a right to be. That is 510 ILCS 5/16 and it covers a bite anywhere in Chicago.
You have 2 years to file a lawsuit (735 ILCS 5/13-202). A claim can settle with the owner's insurer sooner, but the date still matters.
One more Illinois rule to know. Child's deadline: 2 years after turning 18 (735 ILCS 5/13-211).
Read the full Illinois dog bite laws for the exceptions and the rules on shared fault.
Reporting the bite and filing in Cook County
Report the bite to Chicago Animal Care and Control. Give the date, the place, the dog and the owner's name if you know it. The report also becomes a record for your claim.
Chicago Animal Care and Control takes bite reports and follows up on the dog. The Circuit Court of Cook County is one of the largest unified court systems in the country.
If the claim does not settle, it is filed with the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Chicago dog bite lawyers: what the free call covers
- Whether Illinois's rule fits what happened and what the owner knew about the dog.
- Whose policy pays, usually the owner's home or renters insurance.
- Your own last day to file, which comes sooner against a public body.
Want a rough number first? The settlement calculator asks three questions.
