Lorain Dog Bite Lawyers
Need Legal Help After Being Bitten by a Dog?
Dog owners must keep control of their pets to ensure that no one is bitten, attacked, or even knocked over by an overexcited dog. If you were hurt by someone else’s dog, then you could have the opportunity to file a claim against them.
Murray & Murray and our dog bite lawyers in Lorain would be happy to hear from you if you are seeking legal help after being bitten or attacked by a dog. We understand Ohio’s dog bite laws and liability rules thoroughly thanks to our extensive experience with handling difficult cases. In fact, we have nearly a century’s worth of experience focused on personal injury cases like yours. Why not see what we can do for you today by dialing (419) 664-3711 and speaking with our team?
Initial consultations are available at no cost to you!
Ohio Dog Bite Rules
Each state sets its own rules for how to deal with liability after a dog bite. Ohio is a strict liability state, which means that a dog owner can be held strictly liable for any harm their pet causes, even if that pet was never aggressive before or accidentally hurt someone, such as if a big down bowls someone over. The idea behind strict liability rules for dog bite cases is that dog owners are the only people who can reasonably understand and control their pets, and that a dog cannot be held liable for its own actions. Therefore, if something goes wrong, then the only person to blame is the dog owner.
Can You Ever Be to Blame for a Dog Bite?
No law is ever 100% unmovable, though. There are ways that a dog bite victim could actually be liable for the animal attack under Ohio’s laws. As your Lorain dog bite attorneys, we will do whatever we can to make sure you are not pinned with unfair liability. Or if you did do something wrong that would make you partially liable for your damages, then we can discuss how to minimize your liability so that your claim is still valid and worth pursuing.
Three actions that can raise your liability for a dog bite are:
- Committing a crime against the dog’s owner, especially a violent crime.
- Trespassing onto the dog owner’s property when there are signs warning that the dog is present.
- Hurting the dog, taunting the dog, or otherwise provoking the dog to violence.
Should You See a Doctor After a Dog Bite?
Yes, you should also see a medical provider after suffering a dog bite. Even if you know the dog has been vaccinated for rabies, you should head to urgent care immediately. The medical staff there can give you a tetanus shot, check to see if you need a rabies vaccination, and provide other important forms of medical care.
Also, you will help boost the validity of your claim if you see a medical provider the same day as the dog attack. You will create a timestamp in your medical record that shows when your injuries occurred and what type of injuries they are, i.e., the doctor will note that you were bitten by a dog. This simple step can make it nearly impossible for the opposing party to deny that the dog attack happened.
Act Today to Get Your Case Moving
Dog bite cases only have a two-year statute of limitations in Ohio. You should not wait that long to get your case started. The longer that you wait, the fuzzier the details of the attack will be in your mind, making your claim shakier. Some dog owners will even send their dog to the home of a family member or friend so that they can try to deny that they even own a dog.
Take action now by teaming up with our dog bite attorneys in Lorain. We take great pride in being able to approach such a sensitive and traumatic situation professionally. With our help, you could be fully compensated for your damages much sooner than you think!
Call us at (419) 664-3711 now to find out more.