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Frequently Asked Questions about Animal Bites

Q: What types of behaviors can be offered to show an animal has dangerous or vicious propensities?

A: There are several behaviors that may serve as evidence of an animal's dangerous propensities, including whether the animal bit or attacked someone previously, if the owner posted warnings or issued verbal warnings about the animal, if the animal jumped, chased or snipped at others in the past and whether the owner kept the animal confined or muzzled.

Q: What types of damages are available to victims of animal bites?

A: In general, the types of damages that can be expected include medical expenses, both current and future, pain and suffering and lost wages. However, the specific types of damages available in your animal bite case will depend on the laws of your jurisdiction and the facts of your case.

According to State Farm Insurance, dog bite victims suffer over $1 billion in monetary losses every year. If you believe you have suffered economic harm as a result of an animal bite, contact an experienced attorney today.

Animal Bites Information Center

The attorneys of Lane & Lane, LLC help people who have suffered dog bites and other animal attacks. See our main animal bites page for more information about our practice; this page is meant to provide more general information about the laws pertaining to animal bite litigation.

If you would like to discuss your case with an experienced lawyer, free of charge, contact Lane & Lane, LLC.

Animal Bites - An Overview

According to the Centers for Disease Control, millions of people are bitten by animals each year. Animal bites can have serious consequences, including scarring, disfigurement, infection and in the worst cases, even death. If you or a loved one has been injured by an animal bite, contact an attorney in your area to learn more about your legal rights. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Payment of Damages in Animal Bite Cases

Sometimes, an injured person does not want to bring a legal action against an animal owner because the injured person is worried that the animal owner will face economic hardship as a result. In many cases, however, the animal owner does not pay anything. The owner may have an insurance policy that will cover the expenses from any legal claim.

Types of Animal Bite Cases

In some states, your legal rights can vary depending on the type of animal that bit you. If you have suffered a dog bite or other animal bite injury, contact an attorney to determine your rights.

Proving Knowledge of an Animal's Vicious Propensities

In states without dog bite statutes or in cases where the injury was caused by a domestic animal other than a dog, the injured person generally must prove that the owner knew or should have known of the animal's dangerous propensities in order to recover damages.

Animal Bites Resource Links

Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Statistics on dog bite injuries and fatalities in the United States.

American Academy of Family Physicians
Advice on what you should do if you are bitten by cats, dogs, snakes or stung by insects. Also provides information on rabies and tips on preventing animal bites.

Child Safety Around Animals
National Ag Safety Database fact sheet on keeping children safe around domestic, farm and wild animals.

Insurance Information Institute
Web site providing an overview of the issues surrounding dog bites in the insurance industry, including information on the latest legal developments, including cases and legislative action.

Should Wild Animals Be Kept as Pets?
Information provided by The Humane Society of the United States listing the reasons why keeping wild animals as pets is not safe for people or the animals involved.

Our firm has included legal resources on our site to help inform you about the law in particular areas...Click below.

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From our law offices in Chicago, the personal injury attorneys of Lane & Lane, LLC help people across Chicagoland, greater Illinois, and throughout the United States. Many clients come to us from Wheaton, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Romeoville, Rockford, Aurora, Batavia, Evanston, Winnetka, Waukegan, Lake Forest, Barrington Hills, DeKalb, Freeport, Kankakee, Joliet, Elgin, Springfield, Champaign, Peoria, La Salle, Decatur, Lincoln, Urbana, Woodstock, Matteson, Tinley Park, Cook County, DeKalb County, Will County, Lake County, McHenry County, Kendall County, Kane County, DuPage County, IL and more.

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