Dog Bite Lawyers in Dayton, OH

Serious Legal Assistance for Serious Dog Bites

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a dog attack, it is important to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. The Attkisson Law Firm, LLC is a Dayton, OH law firm that has experience in personal injury cases involving dog bites. We understand the serious nature of these injuries and are prepared to help you hold the responsible party accountable.

Many people may not realize that they can file a lawsuit after being bitten by a dog. In fact, under Ohio law, victims of dog bites are able to recover damages for their injuries, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. It is important to have an experienced lawyer on your side who understands the laws related to dog bite cases and can help you.

The liability laws surrounding dogs and dog bites are more complex and nuanced than many people may expect, especially here in Ohio. Ohio dog bite laws govern the behavior of dogs, placing a certain number of legal requirements on pet owners. If an owner fails to live up to those requirements, they may be found liable if their dog bites another person. Also, the owner of a dog can be held strictly liable for injuries caused, meaning they can be sued by a dog attack victim even if they had no reason to think their dog would attack someone.

You have legal rights after a dog attack. Make sure you’re getting the compensation you need and deserve with help from The Attkisson Law Firm and our Dayton dog bite lawyers. Call us at 937-918-7555 to get started with your free consultation.

How Serious Can Dog Bites Be?

Dog bites are often quite serious and even catastrophic. In many cases, the dog breaks the skin, leaving long cuts that often require stitches. In more vicious attacks, a dog’s teeth can tear muscle and even break bones, resulting in catastrophic injuries that require extensive surgeries to treat the patient. In the end, dog bite injuries often lead to permanent scarring and disfigurement.

Significant medical bills are not uncommon and can place a financial strain on the victim. With the assistance of a lawyer, however, many dog bite victims can recover compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and physical and emotional anguish.

An insurer may not see your injuries in a dog bite claim as serious as we do, which is why you should contact our firm as soon as you can. This is especially important after an insurance company reaches out to you. We can look over a settlement offer to determine if it’s fair or not.

What Do I Do If My Children Are Involved in a Dog Bite Claim?

Although dog bites and animal attacks always have the potential to cause serious injuries, young children are particularly susceptible to injury in a dog attack. As a parent, it is important to know what to do ahead of time in case your child is ever bitten by a dog.

If your child is bitten by a dog, then you should remember these steps:

• Get your child to safety: If a dog is continually attacking your child, then you should attempt to scare away the dog by appearing larger and standing your ground. If a dog bites your child and does not let go, then you should not try to yank the child free of its bite. Doing so could worsen the injury. Call for help from any bystanders.
• Assess your child’s injuries: When the dog is separated from your child, and you are both in a safe location, assess your child’s injuries. Some bites cause minimal harm even though the attack looked vicious. Basic first aid techniques like disinfecting the wound and applying a bandage could be all the care your child needs.
• Seek medical attention for serious injuries: You should take your child to urgent care or call 911 if they are seriously injured by the dog bite. Severe dog bites will cause deep lacerations, bleeding that doesn’t stop within 15 minutes, break bones, and/or damage tendons and nerves. You should also seek medical attention for your child if they were bitten on the head, face, neck, hands, or feet, or if they have not had rabies or tetanus shots.
• Reassure your child: After your child has been treated for their injuries, they will probably require reassurance about what happened and about dogs in general. Psychological trauma can follow an animal attack, so you may wish to reassure your child that it was an isolated, rare incident and that most dogs would never attack someone unprovoked.

If you are bitten by a dog, remember these steps:

• Stop the bleeding: Use a clean cloth to apply pressure to the wound. If the bleeding does not stop after fifteen minutes, seek medical attention.
• Clean the wound: Rinse the wound with warm water and soap.
• Apply an antibiotic ointment: This will help reduce the risk of infection.
• Cover the wound: Place a sterile adhesive bandage over the wound until it can be properly treated by a doctor.
• Seek medical attention for serious injuries: Go to your nearest hospital or urgent care center if you have sustained injuries like broken bones, deep lacerations, extensive bruising, or damage to internal organs.
• Contact a personal injury lawyer: Dog bite injuries can cause significant physical and emotional trauma. If you have been injured in a dog attack, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal options.

After a dog attack, it is important to seek medical attention for your injuries. You may also want to consider contacting a personal injury lawyer. A lawyer can help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and emotional anguish.

How Can I Hold Dog Owners Responsible for Their Negligence?

A dog does not even have to bite to cause injury. If a dog lunges at you and you fall while trying to evade it, the animal’s owner could be found liable for injuries sustained in the fall. The Attkisson Law Firm can carefully investigate all the circumstances of a dog attack to determine which parties were liable in the incident and why.

In some situations, liability is not as straightforward as one might imagine. For example, when a renter owns a pit bull but does not have insurance for it, the building administrator may be partially responsible for any injuries caused by the animal. It is a circumstance related to premises liability, in which the building owner was aware of a potentially hazardous situation and did not do enough to put a stop to it.

It is important to determine under what circumstances the bite took place. Communicating the occurrence accurately and in a detailed manner to your attorney is vital to presenting your case. However, if the dog was not appropriately chained, fenced, or seemingly uncared for, further investigation should take place. Details are very important in putting together cases like this.

Who Is Responsible for My Bills After a Dog Bite?

Under Ohio laws, if a dog bites another individual, the dog’s owner is responsible for the medical bills that follow. Unless you were teasing or tormenting the dog or trespassing on the property, the dog’s owner can be found responsible for the payment of your bills.

Most dog bites happen on or near your home, which can make for an awkward situation when a neighbor alleges an attack. The majority of dog bite victims are children who may suffer physical and emotional consequences when they are attacked. As a parent, it can be difficult and confusing to determine the best course of action, but you need to consult with a Dayton dog bite attorney to learn about your rights.

If someone else is the keeper of the dog that bit you, this person can also be held responsible in court. A keeper of a dog is someone who has some control over the dog or provides care for the dog. The person known as the harborer is the person who controls the place of residence in which the dog lives.

What Types of Compensation Can I Receive After a Dog Bite?

If you have sustained serious injuries because of a dog bite in Dayton, you have rights. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, disfigurement, lost wages, damaged clothing, personal items, and your medical bills.

There are statutes of limitation in dog bite cases in Ohio and you should retain counsel sooner rather than later regardless of whether you file under the strict liability statute or as a negligence claim. Don’t let a dog bite injury shatter your future file a claim to hold the owner, keeper, or harborer responsible for injuries.

How Can a Dog Bite Lawyer Help Me Receive Fair Compensation?

At The Attkisson Law Firm, we don’t believe accident victims should have to bear the financial burden after an animal or dog attack. If a property owner was negligent, then compensation can and should be sought in the name of justice.

If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury because of a vicious dog or any other animal, our attorneys could help you take the steps necessary to recover full and fair compensation. To get in touch today, contact our office in Dayton to schedule a free consultation at our main office or any of our satellite locations. You can also dial 937-918-7555 and speak with us directly if you prefer.