Dogs can be truly man’s best friend. Unfortunately, in Ohio alone, there were nearly 30,000 such victims in 2019 and 2020. Most of the time these attacks are unprovoked, and many lead to serious injuries such as puncture wounds, infections, and scarring. When a serious dog bite occurs, the attorneys at The Scanlon Group are ready to get results.
Ohio laws are very favorable to victims of dog bites. Unlike some states, Ohio does not allow a dog one “free bite” before liability will attach to its owner. In fact, in many instances, the owner of a dog who attacks or bites another without provocation will be held strictly liable for the dog’s actions. This can be true even if the attack took place in the home or on the property of the dog owner. Often, homeowners or renters’ insurance policies will cover dog bite injuries.
For over 40 years, the Scanlon Group attorneys have handled dog bites on behalf of people all over the state of Ohio. If you have been attacked or bitten by a dog, contact the attorneys at the Scanlon Group at (330) 376-4558 or use our online contact form.
It goes without saying that a serious bite should be treated immediately by a local hospital emergency room. However, even where a bite is relatively minor, dog or animal bites pose a serious risk of infection, making it imperative that the victim seek immediate medical attention. Identify the dog owner. To rule out serious disorders such as rabies, it is crucial that the dog and its owner be identified so that health authorities can investigate vaccination records or can test the dog to determine if it carries the disease.
Do not speak to insurance company representatives. Insurance companies are in the business of making money. An insurance adjuster’s job is to resolve injury claims for the smallest possible amount. For this reason, adjusters will never tell a dog bite victim that Ohio law makes an owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog that bites a person without provocation strictly liable to that person. An insurance company will not tell a victim that they may be entitled to compensation even if the bite occurred on the property of the dog owner. An insurance company will not tell a victim that they may be entitled to be compensated for medical bills, lost wages, scarring, and for the physical and emotional pain and suffering that a dog bite can cause.