Ohio, like many states, requires anyone with knowledge of a person being bitten by an animal, specifically a “non-human mammal,” to file a bite incident report. The report can be made by a person bitten, their health care provider, or by a veterinarian who has knowledge of the bite.
The specific code requiring bite reporting is Ohio Administrative Code 3701-3-28. Reports should be made within 24 hours of a bite occurring to the local health district where the bite occurred. Local health districts can be located on the Ohio Department of Health website. Reports of dog bites in Columbus should be made to Franklin County Public Health.
What To Do If You Are Bitten By a Dog in Ohio
Getting medical attention as soon as possible is critical following a dog bite. This is important for your physical well-being and preventing infection, as well as documenting your injuries should you decide to pursue a claim. In Ohio, the owner of a dog is strictly liable for injuries caused by their dog.
Unless the person harmed was provoking or teasing a dog, or was trespassing on the owner’s property, the owner of the dog will be liable. Typically, a dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance will pay for damages caused by a dog bite.
Compensation Available for Dog Bite Injuries in Ohio
In an Ohio dog bite personal injury claim, victims may be able to recover damages for medical expenses (including plastic surgery for scarring or disfigurement), lost earnings, and pain and suffering. Many people who are bitten by a dog accept a settlement without fully understanding the full impact of their injuries. This can be an unfortunate mistake, as dog bite injury victims may be able to recover far more compensation if they have an experienced attorney representing them.
Consult with an Ohio Dog Bite Lawyer About Your Potential Case
At GB Law, our Columbus dog bite attorneys understand how far-reaching the effects of a dog bite incident can be, even beyond broken bones, disfigurement, and scarring. Before you accept an insurance company’s offer for a dog bite injury, call us at 614-222-4444 to discuss your legal rights. We offer a free consultation to evaluate your potential claim and answer your questions. If we represent you, under our contingency fee agreement, there are no legal fees unless we recover money for you.