Columbus Dog Bite Attorney

Dog Owners Are Responsible For The Injuries You Sustain

Dog bites are frightening events that can lead to serious injuries with overarching implications for your health and future. The State of Ohio takes dog bites and dog bite laws very seriously, and so should you.

Dogs are generally wonderful pets that enrich our lives and make going out for walks with them a real joy. If you or someone you are close to has been injured by a dog bite, however, it’s a very different scenario. Dog bites can be exceptionally dangerous and can lead to long-lasting health complications. If someone else’s dog leaves you injured, don’t put off obtaining the professional legal counsel from an experienced Columbus dog bite attorney that you need.

OHIO’S DOG BITE LAW

Dog bites are dangerous, and the State of Ohio is strict when it comes to dog bite law, and all of the following apply:

• Ohio is a strict liability state, which means that if a dog that is owned by someone else bites you, the dog owner is responsible for the injuries you sustain (with some exceptions). 
• The dog in question does not need to have been declared dangerous prior to the incident (as is the case in some states).
• There is no one “free bite” contingency that is used to help determine if the dog is dangerous in the first place (as is the case in some states).

Ohio takes dog bites seriously and doesn’t begin with the assumption that the dog in question is safe unless it proves itself otherwise. When a dog bites someone in Ohio, that dog is deemed dangerous – without taking a “wait and see” hiatus. 

EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE

There are certain exceptions to Ohio’s no-tolerance approach to dog bites, including:

• If the injured party was trespassing on the dog owner’s property at the time he or she was bitten
• If the injured party was committing a crime against someone else at the time he or she was bitten 
• If the injured party was on the dog owner’s property and was teasing, tormenting, or otherwise abusing the dog at the time he or she was bitten

Dog ownership here extends to both the person whose dog it actually is and to anyone else who harbors or keeps the dog, such as a roommate, a dog walker, or a spouse or significant other. 

YOUR INJURIES

A dog bite can be especially vicious and can leave the skin, tendons, muscles, and nerves in the affected area severely damaged. Further, these injuries can lead to serious infections that are slow to heal and can have long-term, overarching health implications. When the bite is on or near the face, it can lead to permanent disfigurement. Children are especially vulnerable to dog attacks. 

DISCUSS YOUR CASE WITH A DEDICATED COLUMBUS DOG BITE ATTORNEY TODAY

Geoff Jones at The Jones Firm in Columbus, Ohio, is a formidable dog bite attorney who has considerable experience helping victims of dog bites like you obtain just case resolutions that include just compensation. Your case is important, so please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at 614-209-5162 for more information today.