Dog Bite Lawsuit Settles for $1.5 Million
A woman suffered multiple surgeries, permanent scarring, and lasting limitations after an unleashed Rottweiler allegedly attacked her while she was walking her dog in Evanston.
A recent Illinois dog bite lawsuit reportedly settled for $1.5 million after a woman suffered devastating injuries when an unleashed Rottweiler attacked her while she was walking her own dog in Evanston. According to the lawsuit and reporting by Evanston RoundTable, the attack occurred in 2021 and resulted in multiple surgeries, permanent disfigurement, and lasting limitations involving the woman’s right arm.
The reported settlement illustrates how serious the consequences of a dog attack can become. Illinois law generally does not require an injured person to prove that a dog had previously bitten or attacked someone. Under the Illinois Animal Control Act, an owner may be liable when a dog, without provocation, attacks or injures a person who is peaceably conducting themselves in a place where they may lawfully be.
Reported Settlement
The defendant reportedly agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle the woman’s lawsuit arising from the dog attack.
Quick Answer
According to the reported settlement, the woman was attacked by an unleashed 85-pound Rottweiler while walking her Labrador retriever. The attack allegedly broke both bones in her right forearm and caused extensive tissue damage. She underwent multiple surgeries, including skin grafting and tendon repair, and continued to experience limitations and permanent disfigurement years later. The case reportedly settled for $1.5 million.
How the Dog Attack Happened
According to the plaintiff’s account, she was walking her female Labrador retriever at approximately 6:30 a.m. when three unleashed dogs approached her. The dogs allegedly escaped from a nearby yard through an open fence door.
One of the dogs, an approximately 85-pound Rottweiler, allegedly became aggressive and attempted to mount the woman’s Labrador. The woman picked up her dog and began walking away. According to the lawsuit, the Rottweiler then grabbed the woman’s right forearm and locked onto her arm.
The force of the attack allegedly fractured both the radius and ulna in her right forearm. The lawsuit further alleges that the dog dragged the woman approximately half a block while maintaining its grip on her arm.
Three Dogs Approached
The woman was reportedly walking her Labrador when three unleashed dogs approached from a nearby property.
Rottweiler Attacked
The plaintiff alleges that an 85-pound Rottweiler bit and clamped down on her right forearm.
The Dog Was Eventually Removed
After neighbors attempted to help, the dog’s owner reportedly arrived and eventually pried the dog’s jaws open.
Neighbors and First Responders Helped at the Scene
The woman’s screams reportedly alerted nearby residents. Several people attempted to assist but were concerned about approaching the dog and putting themselves in danger.
According to the police report described in the source article, an off-duty firefighter had already contacted paramedics and wrapped the woman’s arm in an effort to control the bleeding. The woman’s injuries ultimately required transportation to a hospital for emergency treatment.
The reported circumstances surrounding the response may also have created important evidence concerning the severity of the attack. Witnesses, police records, emergency medical records, photographs, and statements made at the scene can all become relevant in a serious dog-injury case.
Why Early Evidence Matters
Witness accounts can be especially important in a dog attack because they may help establish how the animal behaved, whether it was restrained, whether the victim provoked the animal, how long the attack lasted, and how the owner responded.
Illinois Dog Bite Law Can Create Liability Without a Prior Attack
Illinois uses a statutory liability rule for dog attacks. Under 510 ILCS 5/16, if a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks, attempts to attack, or injures a person who is peaceably conducting themselves in a place where they may lawfully be, the animal’s owner is liable for the full amount of the injury proximately caused by the attack.
This means an injured person generally does not need to prove that the dog had previously bitten someone or that the owner already knew the animal was dangerous in order to pursue a claim under the statute. Instead, the circumstances of the attack become central to the analysis.
Attack or Injury
The dog must have attacked, attempted to attack, or injured the person.
Lawful Presence
The person must have been peaceably present in a place where they were legally entitled to be.
No Provocation
The statutory rule applies when the attack or injury occurs without provocation.
The Injuries Required Multiple Surgeries
According to the plaintiff’s attorney, the woman’s injuries were severe and required extensive medical treatment. Her right arm was stabilized using surgical hardware, and doctors performed significant irrigation and debridement to reduce the risk of infection.
A few days later, doctors performed another debridement procedure and closed the wound using a wound vacuum system. Approximately three weeks after the attack, the woman underwent a third operation in which doctors grafted skin from her thigh onto her forearm in an effort to improve the appearance of the injury.
A fourth surgery was later performed to repair lacerated tendons in the injured arm.
Initial Stabilization
Hardware was used to stabilize the fractured right arm, followed by significant cleaning and debridement of the wound.
Wound Treatment
Additional debridement and a wound vacuum were required to manage the injury and reduce infection concerns.
Skin Graft
Skin was taken from the woman’s thigh and grafted onto her forearm in an effort to improve the appearance of the injury.
Tendon Repair
A later procedure was required to repair lacerated tendons in the arm.
The Injuries Had Lasting Consequences
The woman was reportedly right-handed before the attack. Because of the damage to her right arm, she had to relearn how to perform everyday tasks using her left hand while she recovered.
According to the reported case details, even two years after the attack she continued to experience limitations involving her right hand. Although she had regained much of the strength in her arm, she continued to experience restricted movement involving her ring finger.
The physical consequences were also permanent. The attack left significant scarring and disfigurement on the woman’s arm, as well as a scar on her thigh from the skin-graft procedure. She reportedly described feeling self-conscious about the appearance of the injury and said that people sometimes stared at the affected areas or asked questions about them.
Permanent Injuries Can Affect More Than Physical Function
A serious dog attack can affect mobility, employment, independence, appearance, and emotional well-being. Permanent scarring and disfigurement can be especially significant when the injury affects a highly visible part of the body.
What Damages Can Be Important in a Serious Dog Bite Case?
A serious dog attack can result in far more than an emergency-room bill. Depending on the evidence and applicable law, damages may include medical expenses, future medical care, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, and other legally recoverable losses.
Medical Expenses
Emergency treatment, surgeries, hospitalization, rehabilitation, medication, and future medical care may all become part of the claim.
Lost Income
Serious injuries can keep a person from working during recovery and may affect future earning capacity.
Disfigurement
Permanent scars or changes in appearance can become a significant part of the damages associated with a severe attack.
Loss of Normal Life
A lasting injury may affect hobbies, daily activities, independence, and a person’s ability to live as they did before the attack.
The Owner Also Received a City Citation
According to the source article, the defendant received a citation from the City of Evanston for violating local leash laws. The defendant reportedly paid a $150 fine to resolve that citation and later agreed to the $1.5 million civil settlement.
A municipal citation and a civil injury claim are separate matters. The local ordinance enforcement addressed the alleged leash-law violation, while the civil lawsuit sought compensation for the injuries and losses caused by the attack.
Reported City Fine
The owner reportedly paid a municipal fine concerning the leash-law violation.
Reported Civil Settlement
The civil lawsuit reportedly resolved through a $1.5 million settlement.
What This Dog Bite Settlement Shows
A prior history of attacks is not required for an Illinois statutory dog-injury claim. Instead, the circumstances of the attack, the victim’s conduct, the owner’s relationship to the animal, and the resulting injuries can become central issues.
The reported $1.5 million settlement also demonstrates why the long-term consequences of a dog attack can matter. Multiple surgeries, permanent scarring, limitations on hand function, lost income, and changes to everyday life can substantially increase the potential damages associated with a serious injury.
Evidence that may matter after a serious dog attack
- Photographs of the injuries and scarring.
- Emergency room and hospital records.
- Operative reports and surgical records.
- Physical or occupational therapy records.
- Documentation of lost wages or work restrictions.
- Animal-control and police reports.
- Witness statements and photographs or video from the scene.
- Evidence concerning ownership, custody, or control of the dog.
Talk to a Dog Bite Attorney Today
A severe dog attack can leave victims facing emergency treatment, multiple surgeries, permanent scarring, lost income, and lasting emotional and physical consequences. Illinois law may allow an injured person to seek compensation for the full amount of injuries proximately caused by an unprovoked animal attack when the statutory requirements are met.
The Urbana personal injury attorneys at Patel Law, PC represent people who have been seriously injured in dog bite and animal attack cases. We can help investigate what happened, identify the responsible parties, evaluate the available evidence, and pursue compensation for the injuries and losses supported by the claim.
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Illinois Dog Bite Law
510 ILCS 5/16 — Animal Attacks or Injuries
Illinois’ Animal Control Act generally provides civil liability for qualifying unprovoked animal attacks or injuries. The specific facts of each incident determine whether the statutory requirements are satisfied.
Source
Evanston RoundTable: Record Settlement in 2021 Dog Bite Case
