Are you reeling from a dog attack in Columbus and feeling uncertain about what steps to take next? Dog bite injuries can lead to lasting medical issues, missed time at work, and difficult questions about responsibility. Ohio law provides specific rules for holding dog owners and others accountable for these incidents, but the rules aren’t always easy to apply without legal guidance.
A Columbus dog bite attorney at Ross, Midian & Breitmayer, LLC, can evaluate your situation, answer all of your legal questions, and handle every aspect of your dog bite case while you focus on healing. Our lawyers know how to move these cases efficiently while protecting our clients’ rights. Contact our law firm now to set up your free initial consultation and learn more about how we can help.
Ohio’s strict liability law places responsibility for dog attacks on dogs’ owners, keepers, or harborers, regardless of whether there’s proof that those parties were negligent in minding their dogs. In other words, under Ohio law, you do not have to prove that a dog’s owner made a mistake or failed to control the animal to file a strict liability claim against them. You only need to show that they owned, kept, or harbored the dog, and that the dog caused your injury.
This strict liability rule applies to more than just bite wounds. Cases involving other dog-related injuries, such as injuries that stem from being knocked down or otherwise hurt by a dog’s actions, are subject to the same strict liability rules. Strict liability also extends beyond legal owners and can apply to any person who had control over the dog or the property where the dog lived at the time.
Ohio law also allows you to file a dog bite injury claim based on negligence under the so-called “one-bite” rule. This rule applies when the evidence shows that a dog had dangerous or vicious tendencies and that the dog’s owner, keeper, or harborer knew about those tendencies before the incident occurred.
However, the one-bite rule also gives dog owners a clear way to push back against dog bite injury claims. If an owner can show they had no reason to believe their dog was dangerous or vicious, they can refute the argument that their negligence contributed to the attack. Ohio law does not treat a first-time, unexpected act of aggression as evidence that the owner acted negligently, which is why this doctrine is commonly referred to as the “one-bite” rule.
In other words, after a dog bites someone for the first time, the law expects the owner to be on alert after that one bite. But if a dog has never shown any signs of aggression before, its owner generally can’t be held responsible for negligence for failing to anticipate an attack. However, the owner can still be held responsible under strict liability rules.
The reason you might pursue a negligence-based claim under Ohio’s one-bite rule when you already have grounds for a strict liability claim is that it allows you to seek a wider range of compensation. In a strict liability claim, you can only seek compensatory damages—money that reimburses you for specific losses you incurred due to the incident. In a one-bite claim, you can also seek punitive damages, which are monetary awards that the court can order defendants to pay as punishment for misconduct.
An experienced dog bite attorney can evaluate factors like the dog’s history and the owner’s prior knowledge to help you seek the full range of damages available in your case.
A dog bite incident can affect your health, your finances, and your day-to-day quality of life. Depending on how the incident happened and how it has impacted you, you could seek compensation for any of the following in a Columbus dog bite injury claim:
Ohio law gives you two years from the date of a dog bite injury to file a lawsuit against the responsible party or parties. If you miss that deadline, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, no matter how serious your injuries are or how strong the evidence may be.
In light of this strict filing window, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible after a dog bite or attack. A dog bite attorney can identify the applicable deadlines for your case, gather evidence, identify all responsible parties, and keep your claim on track from day one.
If a dog bite disrupts your life, an attorney can take practical steps on your behalf to move your case forward and protect your rights under Ohio law. The Columbus dog bite lawyers at our law firm can help you with your recovery by:
If you still have questions about your rights or how Ohio law applies to your situation after a dog bite, the attorneys at Ross, Midian & Breitmayer, LLC, have the answers you need. Contact our Columbus dog bite law firm now to discuss the details of your injury and explore your options in a free case review.
After a dog bite incident, many people have practical questions about what to do next and how a claim might affect the people they care about. Below, our lawyers provide straightforward answers to some of the most common questions we hear from injured clients in Columbus.
Seek medical care right away, even if the injury seems minor. Dog bites can lead to infection and other complications if left untreated. If possible, report the incident to local animal control and document what happened by taking photos and gathering contact information for witnesses. Contact a lawyer right away so they can help you preserve records and handle communication with other parties.
This is a common concern in cases involving dogs that belong to friends, neighbors, or family members. Fortunately, most dog bite injury claims go through insurance policies rather than going after the owner’s personal assets. If you’re concerned about the owner’s finances, you should know that their insurer will usually handle the claim and any payment. Don’t let this kind of concern prevent you from seeking the treatment you need.
Dog bites involving children often raise concerns about medical care, scarring, and long-term effects. Ohio law allows parents and guardians to pursue claims on behalf of their children. A lawyer can handle the claims process and protect your child’s interests while your family focuses on recovery.
