Imagine you’re walking through Nando’s Dog Park, and a dog you’ve not provoked in any way attacks you. What are your rights? Ohio dog bite laws offer the chance to file a personal injury claim to get compensation for your losses. To do so, however, you need to hire a Dublin, OH, dog bite lawyer.
At Oliver Law Office, our team of attorneys has years of experience helping people who’ve gone through traumatic animal attacks. Learn more about how Ohio law protects you and what damages you can claim.
In Ohio, dog owners are strictly liable for the injuries their animals cause — even if the dog hasn’t bitten anyone before. This means the plaintiff doesn’t have to prove the owner was negligent.
All you have to demonstrate is that you didn’t provoke the dog, were on the property legally, and weren’t in the process of committing a crime. However, by Ohio law, if a child was on private property when bitten, their family can still claim damages. This is because a child is not expected to understand what trespassing means.
In a strict liability claim, a few people can be held liable:
Victims of dog bites can also turn to common law negligence claims to get compensation. For these kinds of claims, you do need to prove the dog’s owner or harborer was negligent. This usually means demonstrating that the person knew the dog was dangerous.
If a dog has bitten someone before or otherwise caused harm, it must be registered as dangerous. This registration comes with restrictions, including the dog needing to be on a shorter leash and always wearing a tag designating it as dangerous. An owner who fails to do any of this is negligent.
Although filing a common law negligence claim can be more complex than relying on strict liability claims, it offers the chance to recover additional compensation, including punitive damages. It can be the right choice for claims that leave you with long-term injuries.
You have six years to file a claim after a dog bite. In some cases, the time period may be shorter, so you need to hire an Ohio dog bite attorney as soon as the attack occurs to avoid missing the deadline and being unable to recover damages.
Dog attacks can be serious, leaving you with potentially life-altering injuries. Here are the most common ones.
Abrasions are superficial injuries that include grazes and scrapes. You may not experience a lot of bleeding with these injuries, but you could still end up with scarring.
Lacerations are deep cuts or tears in the skin that can reach down to muscles, ligaments, and other tissues. With lacerations, significant bleeding is common. You’ll usually need medical attention to disinfect the wound and stitches.
Crushing injuries typically occur with larger dogs with powerful jaws. The force of the bite can crush bones while damaging tissues.
An avulsion occurs when a part of your body is ripped away. Dogs can rip fingers, ears, and even lips from your body. These are serious injuries that can lead to scarring and require reconstructive surgery.
Dogs’ mouths are full of bacteria, but an open wound can also allow bacteria on your skin or surroundings to enter your body and create infections. This risk is one reason why getting medical help as soon as the bite occurs is so important.
If a dog knocks you to the ground, you could hit your head and suffer traumatic brain injuries. These can be concussions or more severe injuries that lead to disabilities and the need for long-term care.
Being attacked by a dog can leave you traumatized and dealing with PTSD. This is common in children who are bitten and can lead to the development of phobias, depression, and anxiety.
If you’ve ended up at OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital after a dog bite, you may be overwhelmed and unsure of your next steps. You need to hire an animal bites attorney in Ohio to ensure you have a good chance of winning your claim and getting the compensation you deserve.
At Oliver Law Office, we will guide you through the entire process of filing the claim. If you pursue a negligence-based case, we’ll gather the necessary evidence and speak with professionals who can provide their testimonies.
Negotiating with insurance companies is complex and requires experience you may not have. Relying on our team can make a difference and help put you at ease during the process. We will fight for your rights and take your case to court if we feel it’s the right option for you.
Crucially, a lawyer also offers support through this traumatic time. We can take care of the legalities and offer the guidance you need.
In a dog bite case, you can claim economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages compensate you for the financial losses you sustained from the accident.
Medical expenses comprise a large part of these damages and cover hospital stays, therapy sessions, medication costs, and even the purchase of any devices you may need for mobility. If the injuries are severe enough to require ongoing medical care, you can also claim future medical expenses.
After an attack, you’ll likely need to take some time off from work to heal. This means you’re losing income you’d otherwise have received. Economic damages can help you recover the loss of salaries, bonuses, and commissions. If you cannot return to work, you could get compensation for that, too.
Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that are not financial, including pain and suffering. An attack can leave you in emotional and physical distress, for which you deserve to be compensated. If you lost a loved one in the attack, you may be able to claim loss of consortium for their wrongful death.
In instances when you’ve chosen to file a claim based on negligence, you can also claim punitive damages. These aren’t compensatory but instead work to punish the defendant for their egregious behavior. Keep in mind that punitive damages aren’t consistently awarded.
If you’ve suffered a dog bite, you can file a personal injury claim to get compensation. Our team of lawyers at Oliver Law Office offers the guidance you need to get through this difficult time.
We are a women-led law firm with experience in various personal injury law claims. Contact us to speak with a Columbus dog bite lawyer and file a claim.
