Dog bites can be frightening and lead to serious injuries, like lacerations, broken bones, and bruising. If you or a family member recently experienced a dog bite and suffered mild to serious injuries, you could be entitled to financial recovery for your losses. Our team at Bressman Law is here to help you fight for compensation for your medical bills, income loss, and other related damages. We can help you understand which injuries you should pursue compensation for.
There are several nuances to the protections you can receive under Ohio state dog bite law. A dog bite lawyer serving Dublin, OH, and the surrounding communities can help you navigate these nuances and fight for your compensation. Our legal team offers free initial consultations to prospective clients like you, and we are more than happy to answer any questions you have.
How Could a Dog Bite Lawyer Assist Me?
An experienced dog bite lawyer could offer you several key services to make the process of filing for compensation easier:
Prepare a Strong Case for Damages
During your dog bite injury case, you may encounter defenses from the dog owner or their legal team. Typical defenses from dog owners include:
- The owner might claim that you were teasing or tormenting the dog, which could cause the courts to find the owner not responsible for the incident.
- The owner might claim that you were trespassing or attempting to commit a crime at the time of injury.
- The owner might claim they had no prior knowledge of the dog’s aggressive behavior and no reason to believe the dog would bite anyone.
A dog bite lawyer from our team in Dublin, OH, can help you counter-argue these points if they come up in your case. We can collect evidence that shows that the dog owner was liable for the dog bite. This evidence might include:
- Surveillance video that captured the attack
- Eyewitness statements
- Records of previous dog bites or aggressive behavior the dog exhibited
- Your attorney can review which documentation is necessary for your case
Whether you opt for an out-of-court settlement or a lawsuit, a dog bite lawyer can fight to protect your rights.
Negotiate With Insurers
To receive an out-of-court settlement, you’ll likely have to contact the dog owner’s insurance company. Dealing with insurance companies after a dog bite incident can be difficult.
An experienced dog bite lawyer can provide you with the following services during insurance negotiations:
- Advise you on what you should or shouldn’t say to insurance companies
- Identify and protect you from bad-faith insurance practices
- Work as your representative and contact insurers on your behalf
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite attorney in Dublin, call (614) 538-1116
Why Choose Bressman Law?
At Bressman Law, we’ve been supporting our clients for 30 years now. This expertise means we’ve delivered on countless dog bite cases. Recently, we secured $85,700 for one of our clients, who was the victim of a dog bite.
This commitment to compassionate legal support has prompted many of our clients to leave positive reviews of our firm:
- “David Bressman is an excellent lawyer, and his stuff is wonderful. I would highly recommend David. He is definitely five star specialist.” – Olga M.
- “What can I say except you can trust this firm. You can depend on Mr. Bressman to treat you with dignity, professionalism and most of all great care in what he does! He is thorough and effective. Do your part and he will do his. He was a great representative for me and I recommend him and his team – highly.” – Bari S.
- “David is perfect in a situation where calm and reasoning are needed. His ability to explain details in a clear manner is just what is needed in stressful situations. He also does a wonderful job getting to know you and your situation. It is the combination of these elements that makes Bressman Law the perfect legal firm to deal with.” – Tim B.
Affordable Legal Expertise
You and your family are likely already going through a difficult time. The aftermath of a dog bite can include lost wages and mounting medical costs. Because of this, we structured our payment plan with accessibility in mind.
We offer free case evaluations for clients and work on a contingency-fee basis. This means that our payment will be included in your final compensation. Therefore, you won’t need to make any upfront payments to get the support of Bressman Law.
Dublin Dog Bite Attorney (614) 538-1116
Possible Liable Parties in a Dublin Dog Bite Case
Ohio’s dog bite statute, Ohio Revised Code Section 955.28, establishes criteria for liability in a dog bite incident. Basically, Ohio operates on a strict liability basis—if you’ve been bitten by a dog, regardless of the surrounding context, you could receive compensation.
That said, asserting owner negligence may play a role in your case. These are common points that must be evident to ensure that you weren’t at fault:
- You did not tease, abuse, or torment the dog in any way prior to the bite.
- You were not trespassing or committing a crime at the time of the bite.
- The dog’s actions caused the bite and resulting injury.
While not always necessary, a dog bite lawsuit can be filed by asserting negligence on the part of the dog owner. In negligence cases, it must be proved that the owner’s actions or failure to act caused the incident and injuries. The owner must have failed to show reasonable care by not controlling the dog or preventing the bite from happening.
Even in cases where negligence isn’t initially involved in the suit, the dog owner may still construct a defense that suggests you are at fault.
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You May be Entitled to Receive Compensation From a Liable Dog Owner
On top of preparing arguments against the liable dog owner or handler (e.g., a dog walker or trainer), we will also need to compile a list of the damages you incurred from the dog bite. These damages may be directly related to the dog bite incident, or they may be an effect of being injured.
Our team will assign a financial value to your damages and use this figure when negotiating a potential settlement or pursuing compensation in court. Some examples of compensatory damages include:
- Medical expenses: You may be able to recover compensation related to the medical care you received to treat your injuries. This can apply to costs for emergency room treatment, hospitalization, getting stitches or rabies shots, doctor’s appointments, x-rays, and physical therapy, among other medical services.
- Income loss:If you were forced to miss work because of your dog bite injuries, you might recover the wages you lost during this time. Additionally, if your injuries are long-term or permanent, you may be able to recover future loss of income or the difference in earning potential you now have.
- Pain and suffering: This is a type of non-economic damage that covers the physical pain and emotional distress you might have suffered after the incident. In some cases, this can also apply to psychological trauma from the event.
- Loss of enjoyment in activities or life: Because a dog bite injury can be traumatic for victims, you may be compensated for physical and mental injuries you suffered that prevent you from enjoying activities you did prior to the attack.
You may qualify for other damages not listed here, which our team can inform you about should they apply to your case.
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Our Team Can Keep Track of the State Deadline for Your Dog Bite Injury Case
Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10 establishes the timeframe you have to file a lawsuit against another party for your dog bite injuries in the state. You generally have two years from the date of the bite to file your lawsuit.
Our team of personal injury attorneys handles dog bite cases. So, as soon as you come to us, we can begin preparing your case so that it meets the two-year statutory deadline in Dublin, OH. We can ensure that you do not miss any important filing deadlines so that your case does not get dismissed.
You Could Receive Compensation If You Sustained Any of These Dog Bite Injuries
You may be entitled to pursue compensation if you sustained any of the following physical injuries from the dog bite:
- Facial injuries: Facial injuries can leave significant scarring that may affect your ability to see, speak, or eat.
- Eye injuries: Eye trauma from a dog bite can lead to partial or total vision loss. Deep punctures or severe blows to the eye socket can cause irreversible vision loss.
- Lacerations and punctures: These are common dog bite injuries. A dog can easily pierce the skin with its teeth and claws, which can leave open wounds prone to infection.
- Infections: You could contract one of multiple common diseases through a dog bite, such as rabies, Pasteurella, and tetanus.
Call Now to Work With a Dog Bite Lawyer From Our Team in Dublin, OH
If you’ve been bitten by a dog and sustained injuries as a result, contact Bressman Law for help. Our legal team can manage your dog bite case and explain the law as it applies to your case. Call to receive a free consultation: (877) 538-1116.
Call or text (614) 538-1116 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
