We want to be able to trust dogs and their owners. Unfortunately, some owners neglect their dogs and open the people around them to a greater risk of serious injuries. If you find yourself contending with the aftermath of a dog attack, know you’re not the first. Our Xenia dog bite lawyers have helped dozens of survivors like you get justice for animal attack losses.
The Xenia personal injury lawyers with Kruger & Hodges want to make it as easy as possible for our clients to get the legal advice they need after an accident. With our help, you can hold a dog’s owner responsible for the cost of your recovery.
Every town needs a hometown lawyer. We’re ready to file your case for compensation today.
Who Can You Hold Responsible for a Dog Bite?
In Ohio, bite victims have the right to hold a dog’s owner legally liable for their medical bills, lost wages, and other losses. It doesn’t matter whether or not the dog has a history of violence. The first time a dog bites another person, its owner becomes responsible for its behavior.
However, there are exceptions to Ohio’s bite policies. For example, if you’re attacked by a dog under the control of a minor, responsibility for your accident defaults to the minor’s parents or guardians. In other words, you may sue a child’s parents if you get bitten by a dog while a child takes it on a walk.
Likewise, victims have to take steps to behave reasonably around dogs if they want to retain their right to legal action after an attack. Victims who antagonize dogs on an owner’s property, invade private property inhabited by a dog, or commit a crime in the vicinity of a dog may not have the right to sue for damages after an attack.
For a free legal consultation, call 513-894-3333
Do You Need to Involve a Lawyer in Your Case?
If you’ve been attacked by a dog, you will likely have to go to the hospital to make sure the bite won’t do permanent damage. Untreated dog bites can make it more difficult for you to move or regain your strength.
Some accidents may even see you break bones or, in rare cases, receive traumatic brain injuries, especially if you have to flee from a dog to get to safety.
It can be difficult to explore your right to legal action while recovering from these conditions. However, pursuing a personal injury claim can allow you to recover damages based on the cost of your recovery.
How can you strike a balance between researching legal remedies and recovering from your losses? You can work with a dog bite lawyer in Xenia, OH.
Our attorneys offer dog bite case consultations free of charge so everyone can benefit from our tried-and-tested legal experience. You do not have to commit to a case after meeting with our team.
We instead invite you to ask questions about the civil process, your right to compensation, and what supportive services you can expect from our staff.
Breaking Down Ohio’s Dog Bite Laws
As mentioned, Ohio allows you to take immediate legal action against a dog’s owner after a dog bites you. You do not have to prove that a dog has a history of violent or aggressive behavior to make your case. However, you do have an obligation to meet the state’s burden of proof if you want to bring a personal injury case forward.
Meeting Ohio’s burden of proof requires you to submit data indicating that:
- A dog’s owner owed you a duty of care
- The dog’s owner violated that duty, leading to your accident
- You suffered losses due to a dog owner’s intentional or accidental negligence
- You, as a victim, did not antagonize a dog or engage in illegal activity on a dog owner’s property
We can return to the scene of your accident to gather the data necessary to make these points. We’ll pull from a broad spectrum of evidence, including witness statements, video footage, and environmental damage, to argue that you have the right to move your dog bite accident case forward.
Xenia Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me 513-894-3333
What to Do if You’re Bitten by a Dog
If you’re not sure how to kickstart your accident recovery, our team can help you figure out what to do after a dog bite. We recommend that you:
Get Essential Medical Care
Do not wait to get emergency medical care after you’re bitten by a dog. Dog bites are often worse than they initially seem and can expose you to bacteria and diseases, especially if the dog in question hasn’t been recently vaccinated.
Visiting the ER does more than help you physically recover from a dog bite. ER nurses can assess your wounds and make a record elaborating on the severity of your condition. You can later use that record to argue that you deserve dog bite damages from a negligent owner.
Discuss the Severity of Your Losses
Once you’re physically safe, you can discuss how a dog bite may impact your immediate future. Some severe bites may make it difficult or even impossible for you to go back to work for a considerable amount of time, meaning your income may be in question. Likewise, your bite wound will likely generate medical bills that you may not have the means to pay.
These expenses count as “economic losses” in the eyes of Ohio’s civil courts. You have the right to request compensation based on the value of these losses if you move a personal injury claim forward.
You can also ask for damages, or compensation, based on the value of non-economic losses like pain and suffering, stress, or emotional distress.
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Don’t Wait to Build Your Dog Bite Case
Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A) only gives you two years to file a dog bite claim with Ohio’s civil courts. If you can’t file your claim before your statute of limitations expires, you may lose the right to request support for your losses through the legal system.
We encourage you to meet with a dog bite attorney in Xenia, OH, as soon as you can after an accident. The faster you get in touch with our team, the more time we’ll have to build your case.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
You don’t Have to Recover from a Dog Bite Alone
Dog bites can leave you feeling unmoored from your everyday normal. How are you supposed to get back into the swing of life when you’re dealing with serious injuries and the possibility of anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder? First and foremost, know that you don’t have to recover on your own.
Kruger & Hodges offers hometown support to dog bite survivors. We can break down the negligence that led to your injuries, outline your right to compensation, and represent you throughout your recovery. You can count on us to stand by your side throughout conversations with insurance claims adjusters and civil representatives.
Don’t let your right to demand dog bite compensation pass you by. You can schedule your free dog bite case consultation right now.
Call or text 513-894-3333 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form