Ohio Dog Bite Lawyers

Dealing With a Dog bite Injury

Following a dog bite, there are certain steps you should take to protect your health and legal rights.

• Stay calm- Although staying calm is easier said than done, it is important to do so, as showing anger may lead the dog to cause further injuries.
• Photograph your injuries- Take pictures of any injuries that the dog has caused.
• Seek immediate medical attention- After a dog bite attack, you should visit the doctor. If you are losing blood or experiencing any other type of medical emergency, go to the emergency room.
• Adhere to doctor’s orders- It’s essential that you adhere to all of your doctor’s orders. If your doctor tells you apply a scar reduction cream, massage your scars, or receive stitches, you should do so.
• Collect contact information- Ask any witnesses for their names and phone numbers, and gather information on the dog owner’s homeowners insurance policy.
• Reach out to the local authorities- You should report your dog bite attack to the police department and the animal control agency in your county.
• Contact an Ohio dog bite attorney- An attorney can evaluate your case and let you know how to proceed.

Common Dog Bite Injuries

• Broken or punctured skin
• Broken bones
• Eye injuries
• Head and neck injuries
• Face injuries
• Scarring
• Nerve Damagen
• Tissue damage
• Trauma / PTSD

If your injury was minor, a third-party claim with the dog owner’s insurance company may cover all of your damages. However, if your injury was serious, the homeowner’s insurance company may not be able to provide you with fair and full compensation. In this case, it is in your best interest to pursue a lawsuit to recover the compensation you are owed.

Dog Bite Injury Severity

Animal behaviorists offers six levels or dog bite severity when diagnosing aggression:

• Level 1 Bite – Level 1 represents aggressive behavior but no direct contact between the dog’s teeth and the person’s skin.
• Level 2 Bite – There is contact between the dog’s teeth and the person’s skin but the skin is not punctured.
• Level 3 Bite – A level 3 bite will leave 1 to 4 tooth punctures in the skin, with none of the punctures deeper than half the depth of the dog’s canine teeth.
• Level 4 Bite – These bites result in 1 to 4 punctures from a single bite with at least one of the punctures reaching deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. This demonstrates a dog that should not be around people or other animals until evaluated by a professional.
• Level 5 Bite – Dogs at level 5 have left multiple level 4 bites and/or have engaged in more than one attack. Level 5 dogs are not safe to be with people or other animals.
• Level 6 Bite – A level 6 bite results in a fatality of a person or animal.

Why Consult an Ohio Dog Bite Attorney?

Rather than attempting to resolve your dog bite attack case on your own, you should consult a highly skilled Ohio dog bite attorney. That way, you can focus on healing while ensuring your rights are protected.

Since the majority of dog bite claims involve the dog owner’s homeowners insurance policy, a dog bite attorney can handle all communications with the insurance company so that you receive the maximum compensation you may be entitled to.

With legal representation by your side, you can avoid low insurance settlements and ensure that the insurance company does not take advantage of your rights.

We’re Close by After a Dog Attack

Our statewide practice is designed to make going through an dog bite injury claim more convenient and accessible for victims. With 12 Ohio locations, KNR is a call or click away.

• Akron
• Beachwood
• Canton
• Cincinnati
• Cleveland
• Columbus
• Dayton
• Independence
• Toledo
• Westlake
• Youngstown

*KNR also serves Ohio’s rural counties & conducts consultations via Zoom.

Dog Bite Injury Info Center

What Are You Entitled to After a Dog Attack?

If you were invited to someone’s home and bit by a dog, you should know that dog bites are almost always covered by homeowners insurance policies. Through a third-party claim with the dog owner’s homeowner insurance company, you may recover economic and non-economic damages.

Dog bite damages include:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish

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Ohio Dog Bite Insurance Claims

Homeowners’ insurance policies often cover dog bites. If you were bitten by a person’s dog, an experienced Ohio dog bite lawyer from Kisling, Nestico & Redick can help you file a third-party claim with the dog owner’s insurer.

Proving Dog Bite Liability

There are a number of ways to prove that the animal previously bit or tried to bite another person. You and your attorney may find a record of the bite filed with your county or the dog may be registered as dangerous. You may also be able to gather witness testimony from individuals who have been hurt by the dog or witnessed its vicious behavior.

Knowledge of Past Aggression

Proving whether or not the owner had knowledge of the behavior may be difficult. If there was a formal complaint against the animal or it was registered as dangerous, there is a strong possibility the owner knew it tried to bite someone or did bite someone in the past. You may also be able to obtain testimony from witnesses who place the owner at the scene of the dog’s previous attack or aggressive behavior.

You Can Recover from a First Bite

This one-bite rule does not give a dog its first bite free and leaves you unable to recover compensation. It is simply an additional legal theory under which a person may be able to recover if the dog is known to be aggressive or vicious.

If your situation does not apply to this common law doctrine – if you were the first bite – then you can seek compensation under Ohio’s dog bite statute.

Additionally, under the one bite rule, you may be able to gain punitive damages. These damages are not to compensate you for your injury but instead are to punish the defendant for wrongful conduct.

You may be able to gain this additional recovery if you can show the defendant acted maliciously in allowing or ordering the dog to attack you.

You may ask for economic and non-economic damages through an insurance claim. Economic damages include your medical expenses and lost wages if you were out of work for a time. Non-economic damages may include physical and emotional pain, suffering, and scarring from the injury.

A homeowner’s policy may be all you need if you suffered a minor injury. However, if you were seriously injured, the policy limit may prohibit insurance from being able to fully compensate you. In this case, a lawsuit may be in your best interests.

Our Dog Bite Lawyers

We understand the physical, emotional, and financial consequences of a dog bite can stay with you a significant period of time, which is why we make it our mission to help you recover the most compensation possible for your injuries and move forward with your life.