Dog Bite Lawyer in Cincinnati
In case you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack or a dog bite, a dog bite lawyer in Cincinnati at Young, Reverman & Bolotin can help. Get in touch with us today at (513) 400-0000 or by filling out our online contact form to arrange a free consultation. Even the most well-trained, friendly dog can bite and cause severe injuries. Dog bites are actually a common source of personal injury claims, and dog bite victims are often children who are unable to defend themselves.
What Should you Do After a Dog Bite?
Act promptly to protect your health and even lay down the groundwork for your injury claim, should you choose to file one in the days ahead. The following are some of the things you can do:
- Seek medical attention immediately
- If you know the owner, keeper, or harborer, get their contact details and names
- Ask any witnesses for their contact information
- If possible, take good photos of your injuries and the dog
- Takedown any other pertinent information, including what the dog looked like, whether it was on a leash, the breed, and anything the dog owner did to try to prevent the attack.
- Report the incident to animal control and the police
- Call Young, Reverman & Bolotin and see if you actually have a personal injury claim based on the negligence of the owner or a claim based on Ohio’s dog bite law.
There are many kinds of bacteria that live on a dog’s mouth. Based on the different vaccinations the dog has received, a bite could leave you vulnerable to diseases like tetanus, rabies, MRSA, and Pasteurella. These are quite serious, and you need to be cautious about it. Even if the wounds appear minor, wash them with warm water and soap. Seek immediate medical attention for deeper wounds or if the wounds are bleeding profusely.
How Much is a Dog Bite Case Worth?
Under Cincinnati, Ohio law and statutes, a dog owner is strictly liable for any harm that their dog causes. This includes anyone who has kept the dog or harbored it because they’re in a position to control the dog. The dog bite victims are eligible to seek compensation in two ways: common law or the state’s dog bite statute.
A dog bite lawyer will tell you under the Ohio dog bite statute, the dog owner is liable for any harm that results from their dog, as long as the victim was not tormenting, taunting, or abusing the dog; attempting to commit a crime on the property, or trespassing on the owner’s property. For this reason, to recover compensation, the victim needs to prove that the dog harmed them. Under the common law, the burden of proof is a lot higher as the victim needs to prove that the owner acted in a negligent manner and knew the dog was vicious.
While this kind of case might be a lot more difficult to pursue in certain situations, it allows the victim to get compensated for punitive damages alongside compensation for their injuries. Punitive damages are mainly put in place to punish the dog owner for acting with malice and to help prevent such kind of behavior from occurring ever again. Our dog bite lawyers near Cincinnati are well versed in Ohio’s dog bite laws, and they can help you pursue compensation for your injuries under the law that would be most beneficial to you. All our attorneys are committed to protecting your rights, seeking justice, and helping you recover the maximum amount of compensation you can obtain.
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What Are Common Injuries Seen in Dog Bite Cases?
All bites from dogs are serious. When the bite tears or punctures skin, a pathway is opened through which the bacteria-ridden saliva from the dog’s mouth enters the body tissue. The bacteria could cause severe infection, sometimes even a life-threatening septic shock. Some of the most common injuries related to dog bites include:
- Large, open wounds
- Puncture wounds
- Scars
- Deep lacerations
- Infection
- Disfigurement
- Sepsis
- Death
If the wounds look serious, seek medical attention immediately. Your doctor will help make sure you get the treatment you need. This will also create an official medical record, which serves as an official history of the dog bite and its impact on your body. These records are essential when filing for an injury claim. Mental, psychological, and emotional wounds are also pretty common, especially when the children are the victims. Trauma could lead to fear and even overall avoidance of dogs. Scary and particularly dramatic attracts could also lead to symptoms of PTSD.
What Does Ohio Law Say About Dog Attacks and Liability?
The owner is liable for the injuries their dog inflicts on the victims, so long as the victim didn’t provoke the dog or wasn’t trespassing. It doesn’t matter if the owner wasn’t aware of their dog’s aggressive nature. This is a type of liability referred to as “strict liability”. Reach out to a dog bite lawyer to see if you have a case. In case the trespass and provocation are not factors in the attack, you might not even need to prove that the owner was negligent. It might just be enough to show that you were injured by the dog. Any size and any breed of dog can bite you. Unfortunately, there are some owners who intentionally train their dogs to be particularly aggressive.
In some other cases, the owners might not take reasonable care to control a dog that they know is prone to acting defensively or biting. At other times, the dog had not previously shown any aggressiveness or bad behavior and just lashed out unexpectedly. Don’t forget to always ask before petting a stranger’s dog, and have your children learn to do the same. Never leave your children unattended with a dog, even if it’s your own family dog. There are a number of possible defenses in dog bite cases. The owner or their insurance could try to argue one of the following:
- You provoked the dog by taunting, teasing, or acting aggressively towards the dog
- You were committing a crime at the time the dog attacked you
- You were trespassing on the owner’s property at the time of the attack
For this reason, you need an experienced personal injury or dog bite lawyer in Cincinnati like those from Young, Reverman & Bolotin on your side. They will show you how you were wrongfully injured by the dog, and won’t rest until they have recovered the maximum compensation for you.
How a Dog Bite Lawyer in Cincinnati Can Help
Most homeowner’s insurance policies do cover dog bites. Nonetheless, the first offer you get from the insurance company probably won’t reflect the full value of your claim. An experienced dog bite lawyer in Cincinnati can help you seek compensation for damages such as:
- Past, current, and future medical bills
- Any lost wages in case you needed time away from work
- Disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
If you or your loved one was injured in a dog attack, our attorneys can help you seek the financial peace of mind you deserve. We provide free consultations to all our clients so that you can fully understand all your legal options. We also work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t have to pay us for our services until we recover compensation on your behalf. Call us today at (513) 400-0000 or contact us online to learn more about how we can help you.
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Do You Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Cincinnati, Florence, or Lawrenceburg?
For your convenience, our law firm has several law offices throughout the tri-state area.
