Yes, animal control records can provide crucial evidence to support your Joliet dog bite case. These records often contain documentation of the dog’s aggressive behavior history, previous bite incidents, and violations of local animal control ordinances.
This information can establish that the dog owner knew or should have known about their pet’s dangerous tendencies. If you were bitten by a dog in Joliet, obtaining animal control records should be one of the first steps in building your case.
A Joliet dog bite lawyer from Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., can help you request animal control records to help support your dog bite case in Joliet. However, in Illinois, you do not have to prove that an animal was dangerous to have a case.
What Information Animal Control Records Contain
Animal control records document interactions between local authorities and pet owners regarding animal-related complaints and incidents. These records can contain valuable information that strengthens your dog bite claim.
Typical animal control records include reports of:
- Previous bite incidents
- Complaints from neighbors or other victims about aggressive behavior
- Documentation of the dog running loose or escaping confinement
- Records of whether the dog was properly licensed and vaccinated
- Citations issued to the owner for animal control violations
- Quarantine records following bite incidents
Some records may also include photos of the dog, witness statements from previous incidents, and notes from animal control officers about the dog’s temperament.
When a dog has a documented history of aggression or bites, it becomes much harder for the owner to claim they had no reason to believe their pet was dangerous. This history can establish negligence and strengthen your claim for compensation.
How Previous Bite Reports Strengthen Your Case
If the dog that bit you has bitten someone else before, animal control records documenting those incidents become powerful evidence in your case. Illinois law holds dog owners strictly liable for injuries their dogs cause, but a history of bites supports claims for additional damages.
When an owner knows their dog has bitten before but fails to take adequate precautions, they may be liable not only for your medical expenses but also for pain and suffering damages. In cases involving particularly reckless behavior, prior incidents may even support claims for punitive damages.
Animal control records that document multiple complaints about the same dog show that the owner received warnings about their pet’s dangerous tendencies. The records create a timeline showing the owner had opportunities to prevent your injury by restraining, training, or removing the dangerous animal.
Complaints About Aggressive Behavior Matter
Even if the dog never bit anyone before your incident, animal control records of complaints about aggressive behavior still help your case. Reports of lunging, growling, snapping, or chasing people show the dog had dangerous tendencies that the owner should have addressed.
Neighbors and mail carriers often report aggressive dogs to animal control before a bite occurs. These complaints put the owner on notice that their dog poses a risk to others. When an owner ignores these warnings and fails to secure their pet properly, they demonstrate negligence that supports your claim.
Animal control officers sometimes visit properties in response to complaints and document their observations. Notes about a dog’s behavior during these visits, recommendations made to the owner about containment or training, and warnings issued about keeping the dog secured all become part of the animal control record.
Violations of Leash Laws and Containment Requirements
Joliet and Will County have specific requirements for how dogs must be restrained and contained. Animal control records can help support your Joliet dog bite case by proving violations of these local ordinances.
Common violations that appear in animal control records include:
- Dogs running loose in violation of leash laws
- Inadequate fencing or containment of dogs on the owner’s property
- Failure to secure gates or enclosures, allowing dogs to escape
- Dogs left unsupervised in areas where they can reach passersby
- Violations of dangerous dog designations requiring special containment
- Failure to post warning signs about dangerous dogs as required by local ordinance
When animal control has previously cited an owner for failing to properly restrain their dog, those citations prove the owner was aware of containment problems. If the same inadequate containment led to your bite, the violation history shows a pattern of negligent behavior.
How to Obtain Animal Control Records
Animal control records are public documents, but obtaining them requires following proper procedures. The process varies depending on whether the records are held by city animal control, county animal control, or another agency.
You typically need to submit a written request identifying the dog by address, owner name, or description. Processing times vary, and some agencies charge copying fees. An attorney can help you get through this process and ensure you receive all relevant records, including any that might not be immediately obvious from initial search results.
Other Evidence That Supports Dog Bite Claims
While animal control records provide valuable documentation, they work best when combined with other evidence. Photographs of your injuries taken immediately after the attack and throughout your recovery show the severity of the bite. Medical records document the treatment you required and support your claims for compensation.
Witness statements from people who saw the attack or can testify about the dog’s aggressive history provide additional support. If the attack occurred on the owner’s property, evidence about inadequate fencing or warning signs helps establish negligence. Videos or photos showing the dog’s behavior, the attack location, or inadequate containment all strengthen your case.
The more evidence you gather, the stronger your claim becomes. Animal control records can support your Joliet dog bite case, but it’s just one factor.
Contact Charlie Therman for Help With Your Joliet Dog Bite Case
At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., we know how to use animal control records to build compelling cases for dog bite victims. Our founding partner’s background working for Allstate on the insurance defense side gives us unique insight into how insurance companies will try to minimize your claim.
We go to bat for our clients with thorough investigation and aggressive advocacy. Our family-oriented firm treats every client with personal attention, not as just another case number. With 75 years of combined legal experience, we understand how to prove negligence and fight for maximum compensation.
Choose Charlie and take the first step toward holding negligent dog owners accountable. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss how animal control records can help support your Joliet dog bite case.
