Dog bite law does not always make sense. It would seem obvious that if you suffered a dog bite injury that you could recover for your damages. It doesn't always work that way. Watch this video for the answers.

Barry Zlotowicz here with the LawFull channel. I'm a Chicago dog bite lawyer. This video will talk about dog bites in general however. If you get bitten by a dog or any other animal for that matter, the first thing you should do is speak with someone about what type of dog bite law your state follows.

The laws vary but generally speaking, there are two types of states:

1. Strict liability states: which means if the dog bites, the owner is on the hook.
2. One-bite law states: in these states, you may not be able to recover against a dog owner unless the owner knows about the dangerous propensities of the animal. Otherwise, the dog is allowed one bite, before the owner is on the hook.

The second thing you need to have is an injury. Goes without stating right. Dog attacks can result in serious injuries, but not always.

The most common injury is a flesh wound which may or may not require stitches. The wound will often result in a scar and you can recover for permanent disfigurements like scarring. However, you may have to wait to settle your case for a long time as you won't know if the scar is permanent for 6, 9 or even 12 months.

Finally, you need to find out if the dog owner has insurance - usually homeowner's insurance. If there is no insurance, it will be very difficult to recover against the dog owner unless she or he has a lot of money or assets.

People always ask, can't I sue the dog owner individually. Yes you can. But if there is no insurance, it will be very challenging in most situations to recover for your injuries.

If you are in need of a dog bite attorney, please feel free to contact us at info@legalvlogger.com.

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