Each day, approximately 1,000 US citizens require emergency care as a result of serious dog bites. If you are one of the many people who have been attacked by a dog, you have rights as victims to pursue compensation for your losses.
Dog bite attacks often leave victims facing disfiguring scars, painful emotional trauma, and many other lasting complications. Fortunately, there are several methods under Ohio law to pursue compensation for dog bites with the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Dog attacks often occur suddenly and unexpectedly. When the attack is over, victims often struggle with substantial injuries, such as:
While many of these injuries do not result in death, they still have the potential to be life-changing and often necessitate costly and ongoing treatment.
In Ohio, dog bites are often covered by homeowner’s insurance policies. Insurance claims permit victims to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are costs that can easily be assigned a monetary value like lost wages or medical expenses. Non-economic damages include things like physical and emotional pain and suffering.
Many people who only receive minor injuries due to a dog bite discover that homeowner’s policies cover all necessary costs. If you were seriously injured, however, a policy limit may prohibit an insurance carrier from fully compensating you.
Ohio’s common law doctrine is referred to as the “one bite rule.” This regulation states that dog attack victims can recover compensation from the dog’s owner or keeper if the dog previously attacked another person or acted as if the animal intended to do so and the owner was aware of this behavior.
To receive compensation under this regulation, the evidence must be established in a court of law that:
Ohio statute 955.28 categorizes dog bites in a slightly different manner than the common law. A person who owns or controls a dog is responsible for the animal’s actions. It does not matter if the owner or person in control knew the dog was outside when it should have been contained. To prevail under this theory, there must be no evidence that the victim was in any way responsible for the accident.
As a result, to prevail under Ohio statutory law, a dog bite victim must show that:
If you or a loved one is attacked by a dog in Fairfield or any other part of Ohio, a dog bite attorney can help you pursue compensation. Contact Kruger & Hodges today to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our dog bite lawyers serving Fairfield, Ohio.