$200,000 Settlement for Veterinary Technician Injured in Pit Bull Attack

Result Secured By Our Team of Six Award-Winning Dog Bite Lawyers

Some dog bite cases raise issues that are more complicated than they first appear. This was one of them. Our client, a veterinary technician, was performing what should have been a routine check-in for a pit bull when the dog suddenly lunged and bit her in the face. The attack left her with permanent scarring and emotional trauma that changed the course of her personal and professional life.

Cases like this demonstrate how quickly an insurer will try to shape the facts in a way that minimizes responsibility. They also show why victims should never speak with an insurance adjuster before getting legal counsel. When the law hinges on small factual distinctions such as who was in control of the dog, the wrong answer at the wrong time can seriously damage a claim.

“Insurance companies will look for any angle to avoid paying a fair claim. Our work begins by making sure the real facts, not the insurer’s spin, drive the case.” John J. Malm, Naperville dog attack attorney

How the Attack Occurred

On the day of the incident, our client bent down to visually assess the pit bull, a standard first step in a veterinary appointment. Importantly, she had not taken the leash and was not restraining the dog in any way. The owner maintained complete physical control when the dog lashed out.

This detail mattered. It was the core legal issue that determined liability. Attorney Jason Schneider immediately understood that everything would turn on establishing who was responsible for controlling the dog at the moment it struck. The insurance company attempted to argue that by approaching the dog, our client had somehow assumed responsibility for handling it. Jason made certain the actual facts remained at the center of the case.

A Note About Pit Bulls in Everyday Life

Pit bulls are common in households and public spaces throughout Illinois. Yet they also account for a disproportionate number of the severe dog bite injuries we see in our practice. Their strength and capacity for sudden aggression mean that when an attack occurs, the injuries are often significant, especially when the victim is caught off guard, as frequently happens in clinics, parks, neighborhoods, and other public settings. Our firm has seen firsthand how devastating these attacks can be, which is why we approach these cases with such care and determination.

The Danger of Speaking with the Insurance Company After a Dog Bite

Many victims believe they must give a statement to the dog owner’s insurance company. They do not. And doing so without legal representation can seriously harm a case.

Insurers rely on those early conversations to steer the facts in ways that minimize the owner’s responsibility. A simple or casual comment can later be mischaracterized as an admission of shared control, provocation, or assumption of risk. In this case, if our client had spoken to the insurer before contacting us, she may have unknowingly agreed with a misleading description of her role. That one mistake could have compromised the entire claim.

“No person should ever sit for an interview or provide a statement alone. Our goal is to ensure that the true facts are documented clearly and accurately before the insurance company tries to rewrite them.” John J. Malm, Naperville injury attorney

Injuries and the Impact of Facial Trauma

The injuries from this attack were severe and included:

• Deep facial lacerations requiring emergency treatment
• Scar management treatment
• Plastic and reconstructive surgery consultations
• Emotional trauma, anxiety, and loss of confidence

Facial injuries from dog bites are particularly devastating. They leave a lasting reminder of the attack and affect a person’s daily interactions and sense of identity. In this case, our team ensured that both the physical and emotional consequences were fully documented and clearly understood during negotiations.

How the Case Was Resolved

With the facts firmly established, Jason Schneider and our litigation team emphasized the owner’s full responsibility under the Illinois Animal Control Act, which imposes strict liability on dog owners whose animals injure someone who is lawfully present and did not provoke the dog. Once the control issue was resolved and the permanence of the injuries was presented, the insurer agreed to settle the case for $200,000 at a pre-trial settlement conference, avoiding the need for prolonged litigation.

Our Team: Six Highly Skilled Dog Bite Litigators Serving Clients Throughout Illinois

While Jason led the negotiations, he did so with the support of our firm’s team of six highly skilled, award-winning litigators, each deeply knowledgeable in dog bite and animal attack law. Together, our attorneys bring more than 95 years of combined experience to the practice, and our firm has recovered millions of dollars for victims of pit bull attacks and other serious dog bites across Chicago and throughout Illinois.

We maintain offices in Naperville and St. Charles, and we routinely pursue complex pit bull attack cases and severe animal bite claims statewide. Families, medical professionals, and community members rely on our team because they know we approach every case with the same persistence, careful preparation, and commitment to ensuring that the true facts prevail.

At John J. Malm & Associates, we are proud to be among the top-rated dog bite attorneys in Illinois and we are the first call families make when a loved one has been injured by a dog or other dangerous animal. Contact our office today for a free, confidential consultation and let us get you the compensation you deserve.