There are 4.7 million dog bite victims each year. Dog attacks represent some of the most gruesome personal injuries that are suffered, particularly when a child is involved. DogBiteLaw.com reports that severe dog bite injuries occur almost exclusively in children under the age of 10 and 77% of the injuries are facial.

During 1997 and 1998, at least 27 people died as the result of dog bite attacks. Of those fatalities, nineteen (70%) were children between 1 and 11 months, nine were between 1 and 4 years old, six were between 5 and 11 years old, and eight were adults.

Unfortunately, children are attacked even when they follow all of the dog safety rules their parents and schools have taught them.

Ohio has a strict liability dog bite statute that states that the owner of a dog is liable for damages inflicted by his/her dog if it bites a person who is either in a public place or lawfully on the dog owner's property (invitee or guest). O.R.C. Ann. § 955.28. The dog owner is liable regardless of whether the dog had ever been vicious before and regardless of whether the owner had reason to believe it would behave in a vicious manner. The dog does not get "one free bite". The only defenses to the strict liability statute arise where the injured party provoked the dog O.R.C. Ann. § 955.28. In essence, the dog's owner is an insurer of the dog.

In addition, the old common law approach is also available for injured plaintiffs. Under the traditional approach, if the owner knows or has reason to know of the dog's violent propensities, the owner of the dog is liable for damages caused by the dog. Due to the enactment of the strict liability statute, this type of theory is not normally employed.

Do I have a case?

If you or a loved one has been bitten or attacked by a neighbor’s dog, a friend’s dog or even a stranger’s dog they can be held responsible for the attack and all medical bills, emotional trauma and any physical disfigurement or disabilities that are a direct result of the dog attack.

If a stray bites you, you have little legal recourse because you must file your claim against a dog's owner or keeper. Your municipality is not responsible for the dog, even if you have called the animal warden several times to pick up the stray.

What can I do?

In all dog bite cases it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence, investigate the incident in question, and to enable physicians or other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate any injuries.

If you or a loved one have suffered a dog bite, please contact The Plymale Partnership, LLP at (614) LAW-8000 / (800) 221-6675. Our initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to accept your case, we will work on a contingent fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds on your behalf. You may have a valid claim and be entitled to compensation for your injuries, but a lawsuit must be filed before the statute of limitations expires.

To see if you have a valid claim for Dog Bites and to have a qualified attorney set up a private consultation to review the circumstances of your case, click on the button below.