614.220.9100
Free Injury Case Evaluation
Contact Us
Dog Bites Attorney Serving Sunbury
two dots Group 2343 - Oliver Law Office Group 2343 - Oliver Law Office
Home / Dog Bites Attorney Serving Sunbury

Dog Bites Attorney Serving Sunbury

If a dog bites you in Sunbury, Ohio, you can seek compensation for your injuries through a personal injury lawsuit against the dog’s owner or the person in control of the dog at the time of the attack. Contact Oliver Law Office for a free consultation with one of our experienced dog bite injury lawyers and to learn more about your rights and how to seek the compensation you deserve after an injury caused by a dog.

What to Do After Being Bitten by a Dog in Sunbury

To protect your health and make the most of your injury lawsuit against the dog’s owner, it’s essential that you take the following steps after a dog bites you:
  • Report the Bite – Always report a dog bite to the Sunbury Police Department. The police will write up an incident report, which may be necessary if you plan to file a claim against the owner’s homeowner’s insurance. Additionally, the police place the dog under quarantine to determine if it has rabies.
  • Seek Ongoing Medical Treatment – Beyond seeking immediate medical treatment, follow up with your doctor’s appointments until your doctor says your treatment is over.
  • Keep Medical Bills – Always keep a record of your medical bills related to the incident so you can seek reimbursement through an insurance claim or injury lawsuit.
  • Write Down What You Remember – While the details of the incident are fresh in your mind, write down everything you remember, including what you were doing leading up to the dog attack.
  • Contact an Injury Lawyer – The best way to protect your rights after suffering a dog bite is to consult an experienced injury lawyer about your case.

Ohio’s Strict Liability for Dog Bites

Ohio uses strict liability not only for dog bite injuries but also for other injuries caused by dogs. Strict liability means that if a dog causes your injury, the owner, keeper, or harborer of that dog can be liable for your injuries without you needing to prove that they were negligent. The fact that they owned or controlled the dog and that the dog injured you are all you need to show to seek compensation.
The primary exceptions to this rule are if:
  • The person injured by the dog was trespassing or committing another criminal offense other than a minor misdemeanor on the owner’s property
  • The person injured by the dog was teasing, torturing, or abusing the dog on the owner’s property
While some other states follow a “one-bite” rule, stating that dog owners are only liable for injuries caused by their dog after they knew or should have known their dog was dangerous, Ohio does not. The state recognizes that dogs can cause serious injury even if they have not displayed aggressive or dangerous tendencies before, and strict liability helps victims seek compensation in such cases.

Compensation Available to Dog Bite Victims

Dog bites can result in severe injuries, including:
  • Broken bones that sometimes require surgery and extensive physical therapy
  • Lacerations that require stitches and may result in scarring and disfigurement
  • Infections that require prescription antibiotics and can lead to medical complications
If you suffered a bite or other type of injury caused by someone else’s dog, you can seek compensation for your losses, including:
  • Medical Expenses – Compensation for past and future medical treatments, surgeries, prescription medications, medical devices, and physical therapy
  • Lost Wages – Compensation for income lost during your recovery or income you will lose due to your injury’s impact on your ability to work
  • Disability Accommodations – Compensation for modifying your home or vehicle to accommodate disabilities suffered because of your injury or hiring in-home care
  • Pain and Suffering – Compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering you experience because of your injury

Dangerous Dogs and Punitive Damages

One of the limitations of strict liability claims for dog bites is that victims cannot seek punitive damages through them. Punitive damages are additional monetary penalties applied to the defendant for especially egregious behavior that led to the plaintiff’s injuries.

To seek punitive damages in addition to the standard compensatory damages, you must demonstrate that the dog’s owner was negligent. Typically, this is done by showing that they knew or should have known that their dog was a nuisance, dangerous, or vicious dog:

  • Nuisance Dogs – Dogs that act aggressively toward people while not on the owner’s property
  • Dangerous Dogs – Dogs that have injured someone but not to the extent that they are deemed vicious or have killed another dog
  • Vicious Dogs – Dogs that have seriously injured or killed someone

Homeowners Insurance and Dog Bites

Many dog bite injuries involve people being bitten by their friend’s or family member’s dogs. This can sometimes result in victims not seeking compensation for their injuries because they don’t want to sue their friends or family members. However, your friend or family member may not be on the hook for your medical expenses and lost wages.
The dog owner’s homeowners or renters insurance may cover your expenses if the dog bite happened on their property. Going through your friend’s or family member’s insurance means you don’t have to worry about holding them personally liable for your injury with a lawsuit.

Deadline for Filing a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit in Sunbury, Ohio

Under Ohio’s statute of limitations for personal injuries, dog bite victims have two years to file a lawsuit against the liable party. Failure to file your lawsuit within this period may result in the courts barring you from seeking compensation for your injuries. When you work with one of our experienced dog bite injury lawyers serving Sunbury, we’ll make sure your paperwork is filed with the court on time.

Contact Our Dog Bite Injury Lawyers Serving Sunbury

If you were injured by someone else’s dog in Sunbury, Ohio, contact Oliver Law Office for a free consultation with one of our experienced injury lawyers. We’ll review your case, explain your options for seeking the compensation you need and deserve, and answer any questions you have about the legal process.

Driving Directions to Our Dublin, Ohio, Law Office

Use the directions below to reach our law office, located 30 minutes from Sunbury. If you cannot come to us, our lawyers can travel to your home or another location of your choosing or meet with you over video.
From the North:
Take US-33 W toward Dublin. Exit at Post Rd and turn left. Continue on Post Rd and turn right onto Muirfield Dr. Proceed to 7240 Muirfield Dr, Suite 120, which will be on your left.
From the South:
Take I-270 N toward Dublin. Exit at US-33 W toward Marysville. Take the Post Rd exit and turn right. Continue on Post Rd and turn right onto Muirfield Dr. Proceed to 7240 Muirfield Dr, Suite 120, which will be on your left.

From the East:

Take I-270 W toward Dublin. Exit at US-33 W toward Marysville. Take the Post Rd exit and turn right. Continue on Post Rd and turn right onto Muirfield Dr. Proceed to 7240 Muirfield Dr, Suite 120, which will be on your left.
From the West:
Take US-33 E toward Dublin. Exit at Post Rd and turn right. Continue on Post Rd and turn right onto Muirfield Dr. Proceed to 7240 Muirfield Dr, Suite 120, which will be on your left.

practice areas

J oliver image 10 - Oliver Law Office image 10 - Oliver Law Office
lawyer jami oliver image 10 - Oliver Law Office image 10 - Oliver Law Office
J oliver image 10 - Oliver Law Office image 10 - Oliver Law Office
  • meet the founder

JAMI S. OLIVER

When Jami Oliver launched her own firm in 2000, she did so with one simple idea in mind: to seek justice for those who have been hurt, injured, or wronged due to the negligence of others. While she’s won numerous awards and accolades in the years since, her philosophy hasn’t changed. If you need an attorney who can advocate for you after an accident, product recall, or other tragedy, the Oliver Law Office should be your first choice.
MORE ABOUT JAMI
I required Jami's services to negotiate terms in a separation agreement. Jamie provided recommendations based on her experiences and potential outcomes. Personally, this was difficult, and having Jami providing legal
-Vincent Magrini
-Vincent Magrini <img src=" https://jamioliver.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Group-7.png" class="star">
Jami Oliver guided me through the most difficult experience of my life and showed me compassion and professionalism throughout the whole episode. I highly recommend Ms. Oliver as the best
-Aaron Thompson
-Aaron Thompson <img src=" https://jamioliver.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Group-7.png" class="star">
My experience with the Oliver Law Office, from start to finish, was excellent. Ms. Oliver's counsel was invaluable, prompt, and easily explained. She is also gifted in her ability to
-Richard Tovar
-Richard Tovar <img src=" https://jamioliver.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Group-7.png" class="star">