Dog Bite Injuries
Dogs are so commonplace that you may not even flinch when you are walking down your street in Mason. But while dogs may be commonplace, responsible dog owners are not quite so. When a dog owner does not take proper care to restrain their animal and you are hurt by a dog bite or dog attack, a Mason dog bite attorney from Norris Persinger Law stands ready to help you recover compensation you are owed.
The injuries and harm you or your loved one sustain in a dog bite go beyond the physical. Not only can dog bites transfer bacteria and disease, the emotional and mental trauma can linger long after physical wounds have healed. You deserve compensation for all of your injuries, both physical and emotional, and Norris Persinger Law’s team of animal attack attorneys know how to help you do this.
Do Dog Bites and Dog Attacks Happen Frequently in Mason?
According to Dogsbite.Org, about 1,000 individuals every day need emergency care at a hospital or treatment center for dog bite injuries. Because many individuals may not report a minor bite or an attack from a known animal, the true number of people hurt by dog bites each day is impossible to know.
Dogsbite.Org also reports that:
- Households with two or more dogs at home are five times as likely to be bit as are adults who do not have any dog in the home
- Pit bulls are associated with 60 percent of injuries inflicted to an unfamiliar stranger
- Dog breeds other than pit bulls are most likely to kill individuals older than 50 years or children younger than two years
- In 2018, nearly 80 percent of all dog bite fatality victims were women between the ages of 28 and 64 years of age
Given the presence of dogs in many households, a dog may bite you or attack a loved one with little warning. Even dogs who are well-behaved and have no history of violence can suddenly and unexpectedly attack both strangers as well as people they know well.
Who Pays for Dog Bite Injuries?
In Ohio, the dog’s owner bears strict liability for injuries their dog causes to others. If you, your child, or your loved one are hurt by a dog, that dog’s owner is responsible for paying damages to you. This is the message of Ohio Revised Code Section 955.28, which only excuses dog owners from liability in limited circumstances such as if they attack someone who is trespassing on their property. An owner may also not be liable if their dog bites someone who is committing more than a minor misdemeanor crime on the owner’s property or against another person, or attacks someone who is abusing, teasing or torturing the dog while the dog is on the owner’s property.
What Other Laws Apply to Dog Bites and Dog Attacks?
Reports of dog bites are to be made to your local health commissioner for Warren County. This allows the commissioner to conduct an investigation into the incident and determine the health risk to the bite victim. Other professionals, like veterinarians, must report bites of which they become aware.
The law excuses you from injuring or killing a dog that is approaching you or a loved one menacingly, or that has attacked you. To take advantage of this protection, the injuring or killing must take place at the moment the dog is attacking or threatening to attack. You may not track down and kill a dog after it has bitten you or a loved one and gone away.
Dogs that have bitten or attacked someone will be held in the custody of the health commissioner so that tests can be performed and the animal quarantined. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure the dog does not have rabies or any other communicable disease. If the dog does, in fact, test positive for a disease like rabies, you or your loved one should be promptly informed.
There is no bright-line rule that a dog that bites someone is automatically euthanized. The health commissioner may decide to do so if the dog has a communicable disease or is overly aggressive or vicious.
The laws surrounding dog bites are many and can be confusing. Norris Persinger law and our dog bite attorneys make it simple to know what to do and what rights you have. Call us after a dog bite, and we will guide you through what you must do next.
How Do I Receive Compensation After a Dog Bite?
Dog owners will commonly have a homeowner’s policy or renter’s policy that provides coverage in the event of a dog attack. Your animal attack attorney will first look to such a policy for compensation, as such policies often provide a quick source of funds to address your most immediate needs.
A dog bite lawsuit could also be filed against the owner, seeking compensation for those losses that are not covered by an insurance policy. You are entitled to pursue compensation for all of your dog bite-related:
- Medical costs and doctor’s visits
- Rehabilitative therapy expenses
- Counseling and mental health services
- Lost wages and diminished earning potential
- Mental pain, anxiety, and suffering
Many dog bite lawsuits will settle by an agreement between you and the dog’s owner. But a trial may be necessary where the dog’s owner claims some defense to liability or disagrees with the extent of your injuries.
With Norris Persinger Law’s team of dog bite attorneys on your side, you will be well-positioned to seek and obtain full and fair compensation as swiftly as possible.
Where Can I Find a Qualified Mason Dog Bite Attorney?
Even though dog owners are strictly liable for injuries their animals cause, you still want to retain experienced counsel. Look for an attorney who has considerable experience representing dog bite victims and who practices in Warren County. Your attorney should also listen to your concerns and respond appropriately to them. Above all, you should be able to trust your lawyer and have your recovery be their priority.
Is Norris Persinger Law the Right Firm for Me?
Numerous dog bite victims throughout Ohio and Kentucky have trusted Norris Persinger Law and our group of animal attack attorneys for help. We commit ourselves to giving each client and their case the attention and resources they deserve so they can experience the best outcome possible.
Learn more about Norris Persinger Law and the services we can provide to you by contacting us today.
