Dog bites can be serious matters, especially when children are the victim. Because children are smaller and less able to protect themselves against an attacking dog, their injuries can be severe and even life-threatening. Millions of people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, and many victims of dog bites require medical treatment.

In this article, we will look at some of the consequences of dog bites and what legal remedies may be available to victims. If your child has been attacked or bitten by a neighbor’s dog in Illinois, contact a personal injury attorney right away to find out more about your options under Illinois law.

Who is Responsible for a Dog Bite in Illinois?

Illinois law has a statute specifically to address the responsibility of pets that attack, try to attack, or injure people. The statute provides that a victim of a dog bite can bring a claim for civil damages against the owner or caregiver of the dog for the full amount of the injury, as long as the dog was not provoked and the victim was in a place where he or she was legally allowed to be.

Last month, Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill requiring the Department of Public Health, the State Board of Education, and the Department of Children and Family Services to work together to establish an anaphylactic training policy at daycare facilities and schools in order to prevent personal injury due to allergies.

This means Illinois daycare centers must train their employees how to recognize and treat anaphylactic shock, a dangerous and sometimes life-threatening allergic reaction. This new law is known as an “Elijah’s Law,” named after a tragic incident in which a daycare fed a child named Elija Silvera dairy in his lunch despite knowing Silvera had a severe dairy allergy. Silvera, just three years old, passed away from an allergic reaction.

Are Illinois Daycares Responsible for Preventing Food Allergen Exposures?

In 2008, Congress passed an amendment to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This amendment codified specific protections for children with allergies, mandating that public and private schools and daycares provide accommodations and take safety precautions to protect children with food allergies.

Illinoians today dine out more than they ever have, saving themselves the time and effort of preparing meals after a long day of work. Unfortunately, people dining out more often also means an increase in mild and serious injuries that occur on Illinois restaurant premises. Restaurant owners have a duty of reasonable care to their customers, and nobody wants their evening out spoiled by a disaster because of negligence on the part of a restaurant owner. But because injuries do sometimes occur at restaurants, the injured party should always consider learning about their legal options with an experienced Illinois personal injury attorney.

What Is a Duty of Reasonable Care?

No matter the type of business, Illinois law requires property owners and businesses to provide a safe environment for visitors, guests, and customers. This is called a duty of reasonable care and business owners can exercise their duty of reasonable care by posting warnings about the danger (such as wet floor pylons) and ensuring proper maintenance.

Three conditions must be met in order for a business to be held liable (or responsible) for the injury of a patron on the premises:

A fatal crash involving two semi-trucks on I-294 Tri-State Tollway occurred at the beginning of July when one truck stopped due to construction and was rear-ended by another semi that failed to stop. The first driver went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, but the driver of the second truck was pronounced dead at the scene.

Although this particular accident involved two semi-trucks, passenger vehicles driving on I-294 are also at significant risk from truck accidents. The disparity in size between a truck and a car is substantial and is a major factor in the high rates of serious injury and death resulting from these kinds of accidents.

What Are Common Causes of Semi-truck Accidents?

Investigations of semi-truck accidents with other trucks and passenger vehicles show they are caused by several common factors. Unfortunately, most of these factors are predictable and avoidable, and include:

Elderly people with dementia require more help with their daily activities than those without the condition. If you have a loved one with dementia, you may have decided to place him or her in a nursing home to be properly looked after. Unfortunately, nursing home residents who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease have a higher risk of suffering abuse. It is important to recognize the signs of nursing home abuse and take legal action if necessary.

Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse

When family members place their loved ones in nursing homes, they expect that nursing home staff will treat the resident with the respect and dignity they deserve. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse occurs, especially among residents with dementia. Common types of nursing home abuse include physical abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse.

Common Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home residents with dementia are more vulnerable to nursing home abuse because they often forget about the incidents or cannot communicate what happened. Be on the lookout for the following warning signs which may indicate your loved one is being abused: