What To Know About Illinois Dog Bite Laws (2026)

Understanding Illinois Dog Bite Laws and the Animal Control Act

Illinois dog bite laws, as part of the Animal Control Act, impose strict liability on the owner of the dog that causes injuries.

Who Is Liable When a Dog Bites in Illinois?

Strict liability means that the owner is responsible for the losses even if the animal had never been aggressive before. As the victim, you would not have to demonstrate that negligence on the part of the owner occurred.

Dangerous and Vicious Dog Classifications in Illinois

Illinois dog bite laws often refer to dangerous and vicious dogs. These are two unique categories that are not interchangeable.

A dog is dangerous if, when off its owner’s property, it bites a person without justification or behaves in such a way that a reasonable person would find it an imminent threat. A vicious dog, on the other hand, is one that causes serious injuries or the death of a person without justification. The animal can also earn this label if it has been categorized as a dangerous dog on three separate occasions.

What to Do Immediately After a Dog Bite Incident

After being bitten by a dog in Illinois, you need to get immediate medical help. This step not only ensures that you address your injuries promptly, but it also establishes a record of what you suffered from the start. It can also be helpful to summon police to the scene, which will allow you to have an official report of what occurred.

If you’re able, gather evidence from the site of the attack. Take pictures of the dog, the location, any property signs and your injuries. Speak with witnesses, too, to get their statements. If you need to go to the hospital, have someone else do these things for you.

As soon as possible, contact an attorney. They will be able to guide you through the rest of the process so that you have the best possible chance of obtaining fair compensation.

Legal Grounds for Dog Bite Claims Beyond Strict Liability

Although dog bite claims usually fall under the state’s strict liability laws, there are other legal grounds you can turn to if some elements of strict liability are not perfectly met.

One of these legal grounds is negligence. To meet negligence standards, you will need to demonstrate that the owner did not use reasonable care in ensuring their dog would not harm someone and that their conduct resulted in your losses.

An example of this would be an owner not leashing a dangerous dog. You would need to show that the owner knew the animal had a tendency toward aggression.

Premises liability laws could come into play as well if a property owner did not warn you of an aggressive dog on the premises. Additionally, if the dog’s owner gives the animal to someone who can’t control it while knowing that the dog was dangerous, you can claim negligent entrustment or harboring.

Defenses Against Dog Bite Claims in Illinois

Dog owners do have some defenses under Illinois dog bite laws. They can claim that you provoked the animal or that you were trespassing when the bite occurred. They may also state that you knew the animal was dangerous and still decided to engage with it.

It can also be possible for the dog’s owner to state that you were partly responsible for the bite. Illinois has comparative negligence laws, so if you were 50% or more to blame for the bite, you typically won’t be able to recover losses.

Compensation and Damages for Dog Bite Victims

You can obtain economic and non-economic damages in a dog bite case. Economic damages cover your medical expenses and your lost wages if you had to miss work. If you can’t return to work at all, then they can also address your loss of earning potential.

Non-economic damages cover the loss of enjoyment of life you may have experienced, as well as your pain and suffering.

Criminal Penalties and Fines for Dog Owners

Criminal charges are rare in these cases unless they involve dangerous or vicious dogs and serious injuries. For a dog that is considered to be dangerous, the owner may need to pay a fine of $50, while the fine for a vicious dog is $100.

How a Dog Bite Attorney Can Help You Get Compensation

After experiencing a dog bite, you may be able to recover your losses by filing a personal injury claim. These are complex legal processes that are best navigated with the assistance of an experienced attorney.

At ConsumerShield, we connect people with trusted attorneys nearby. Getting started is easy; contact our knowledgeable team for a free case review today.