Signs of serious dog bites include bleeding uncontrollably or developing signs of an infection. It can be difficult to tell how serious a dog bite may be in the first few minutes after it occurs. For this reason, it is important to treat any bite that breaks the skin as a serious injury.
Any dog bite can become life-threatening if it develops an infection. All open wounds caused by dogs require medical treatment to clean them out and prevent infection. Of course, when there is heavy bleeding, or the wound affects more than just the skin, it is imperative to get emergency medical care immediately.
Dog Bites Vary Greatly in Type and Severity
Dog bites can and do lead to serious injuries. Especially when attacks involve large dogs or multiple dogs, the injuries may be catastrophic. While all dog bites should be taken seriously and medical care is necessary, some injuries constitute a medical emergency. Call for an ambulance and get to the nearest hospital right away if you or a loved one suffers:
- A significant injury to the face or hands,
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Damage to underlying soft tissues
The injuries sustained in dog bite cases vary widely, from small puncture wounds that heal on their own within a few weeks to amputation or life-long scarring. Some injuries associated with dog bites include:
- Puncture wounds, including both shallow and deep wounds
- Torn flesh and other soft tissue damage
- Damage to muscles, tendons, and ligaments
- Broken bones
- Infections, including the possibility of systemic infections
- Amputation, especially of fingers and hands
- Scarring that inhibits range of motion
- Cosmetic scarring
- Emotional injuries
For a free legal consultation, call (614) 538-1116
Take Action to Build a Strong Civil Case from the Beginning
Because even the most minor dog bite can become a serious risk to your health and wellbeing, it is imperative to document the incident from the beginning. Taking steps as soon as possible after an attack can help you recover compensation from the dog’s owner later. This includes:
- Taking pictures
- Collecting contact information
- Reporting the incident as required under Ohio law
- Documenting your injuries
If possible, following a dog bite, we encourage you to document the scene. Take as many pictures as possible, including of the dog. Survey the area where the incident occurred and take pictures that show where you were standing and where the dog approached you. Collect contact information from the dog’s owner and all witnesses.
Under Ohio law, you have 24 hours to report a dog bite. Your doctor will do this for you, or police will notify them when they arrive on the scene. However, we recommend reporting it on your own, as well. Contact numbers include:
- Franklin County Animal Care & Control: 614-525-3400
- Columbus Health Department: 614-645-6134
- Franklin County Public Health: 614-525-3160
By ensuring this report gets filed, you are future documenting the attack and creating another piece of evidence to back up your case when it is time to file a claim.
Talk to a Columbus and Greater Franklin County, OH Dog Bite Attorney
If you suffered injuries in a dog bite incident in Columbus or greater Franklin County, you might be eligible to take legal action against the dog’s owner. At Bressman Law, attorney David Bressman and his team can pursue compensation on your behalf by filing an insurance claim or lawsuit based on the state’s dog bite statute.
Our team understands how the Ohio dog bite law works and how to navigate these cases. We can handle your case while you focus on healing. Recoverable damages in this type of case may include:
- Ambulance transportation
- Medical care
- Ongoing care costs
- Future care costs including plastic surgery for scarring
- Lost wages and benefits
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damages
- Other out-of-pocket costs
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Wrongful death damages
We encourage you to reach out to our team as soon as possible after your bite occurs. We need to get started on our investigation before crucial evidence disappears. We generally have six years to file a lawsuit in a dog bite case under Ohio law, although we may have longer if the victim is a child. Still, we need to get started right away to ensure we can build the strongest possible case.
At Bressman Law, you can count on our team to:
- Investigate the dog bite incident and determine all causative factors
- Collect evidence to prove ownership of the dog and document what happened
- Compile evidence to show your related expenses and losses
- Build a solid argument for recovering a payout
- File an insurance claim or lawsuit on your behalf
Ohio has strict dog bite laws that may allow us to hold the dog’s owner liable even if the dog has never acted in this way before. Once we have a strong case, we will pursue compensation by attempting to negotiate an out-of-court settlement or taking the case to court.
Reach out to attorney David Bressman and the Bressman Law team today by calling (614) 538-1116. We will review your Ohio dog bite case for free.
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