Dog bites can cause serious injuries and infections, not to mention new fear and anxiety around dogs. No matter the extent of your harm, a dog bite may entitle you to compensation from its owner.
To recover your personal and financial losses after a canine attack, schedule a consultation with a qualified Cleveland dog bite lawyer. Our local personal injury attorneys could help you understand your rights under state law and the potential for recovery in your case.
A dog bite can lead to very minor or incredibly severe injuries. A dog’s teeth are designed to rip into meat and tear it apart. They are long and very sharp, often causing catastrophic physical damage in a biting incident. Permanent disfigurement or even death are possible in a serious canine attack.
Physical injuries which may result from a dog attack include:
Compensation may be available for these damages from the dog’s owner for allowing their animal to cause such harm.
Ohio Revised Code §955.28(B) enforces a strict liability standard for dog owners. This means that when someone’s dog causes compensable harm to another person or pet, they are liable for the ensuing damages without any evidence of negligence required from the injured party. In other words, compensation may be awarded regardless or whether the dog owner knew their pet was dangerous or had past incidents of violence and aggression. A one-time attack or bite is enough to impose liability on a dog’s owner.
Certain limited exceptions apply to this rule, however. For example, if the plaintiff was taunting the dog, trespassing on the property, or in the process of committing a crime at the time of an attack, they are not permitted to recover for a dog bite injury.
After a dog attack, the financial burden can be substantial for the injured person. Potential recovery in dog bite lawsuits may include compensation for the following losses:
Proving damages requires a plaintiff and their legal representation to demonstrate that the dog bite directly resulted in physical harm, mental anguish, and associated costs. A skilled attorney is prepared to help prove an injured person’s recoverable damages during a dog bite claim.
Your dog bite incident was no doubt scary and painful. You may be dealing with long-term consequences, disfigurement, and fear. Your dog bite injuries may be compensable through a successful civil lawsuit.
Let an experienced Cleveland dog bite lawyer analyze the facts of your case to determine the strength of your claim. Contact us today.
