Dog bites can happen to anyone and anywhere. You can suffer an attack at someone’s home, in a public place such as a park, at work, on the way to work, and elsewhere. If you were hurt by someone else’s dog, a Columbus dog bite lawyer from the Fitch Law Firm LLC may be able to help you pursue compensation in a personal injury insurance claim or lawsuit. The potentially recoverable damages in this type of case may include your medical bills, lost wages, and more.
To learn more about our services and your legal options in a free case review with a member of our team, call the Fitch Law Firm LLC today. We represent our clients on a contingency fee basis with no upfront fees or payments required.
How Ohio’s Dog Bite Laws Can Affect Your Columbus Animal Injury Case
Ohio’s laws regarding dog attacks are located in the Ohio Revised Code Section 955.28. This law indicates the ways in which a dog owner may be liable for the injuries their dog causes when it attacks someone else.
Ohio holds dog owners strictly liable for dog bites and other aggressive attacks. The one-bite rule, which does not hold a dog owner liable for a dog with no prior history of aggression for the first bite, isn’t commonly upheld in our state. That means you may not have to prove the owner’s or caretaker’s negligence or prior knowledge of aggressive tendencies to have a case, but it may help your case.
In general, you may be able to recover compensation in a dog bite case if you can prove the following elements:
- That the animal in question attacked you
- That you were not trespassing when you were attacked
- That you were not abusing or teasing the dog or causing its owner harm
- That, you suffered an attack because of the negligence of the dog’s owner or caretaker
- That the attack led to your physical, mental, emotional, financial, or other losses
This law doesn’t just apply to dog owners. Other parties who may be held responsible for a dog attack include:
- Dog sitters and dog walkers
- Landlords
- Kennel employees and companies
- The parents of an adult child who has their own dog living on their property
- Pet owners whose other animals bite or attack another person
The Fitch Law Firm LLC can help you collect evidence of the above elements and liable parties when we represent you. This evidence may include surveillance camera footage, the statements of eyewitnesses, medical bills, photos of your injuries, and more.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Columbus, call 614-545-3930
We Work for You on a No-Win, No-Fee Basis
At the Fitch Law Firm LLC, we can represent you on a contingency fee basis, where you are not obligated to pay us attorney’s fees:
- Starting up
- Hourly
- Up front
- Out of pocket
- Retainment
We won’t charge you a dime unless and until we help you recover compensation via a settlement offer or court award. There is no risk involved, so you have nothing to lose when you choose us to be your legal advocates.
To discuss your case for free with a member of our team, call the Fitch Law Firm LLC.
Columbus Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me 614-545-3930
How Our Columbus Dog Bite Lawyer on Our Team Can Help You Fight to Win
When we work together, a Columbus lawyer from the Fitch Law Firm LLC may be able to manage all the legal work in your dog bite case. In general, our firm may be able to:
- Handle all communications and paperwork in your case
- Identify the parties you may be able to hold responsible for the Columbus animal attack
- Collect evidence of their liability
- Estimate the value of your damages
- Interview bystanders and eyewitnesses who saw the attack unfold
- Submit your personal injury insurance claim and/or lawsuit by the filing deadline
- Negotiate on your behalf with the at-fault party’s insurer and work toward a settlement
- Represent you at trial if a settlement cannot be reached
Throughout this process, the Fitch Law Firm LLC can also answer your questions and keep you updated on your case so that you can focus on your recovery.
Damages That May Be Available in a Columbus Dog Bite Case
Depending on the nature of your accident and your injuries, the potentially recoverable damages in a personal injury case involving a dog attack in Columbus may include, but are not limited to:
- Your current and future costs of medical treatment: They might cover hospitalizations, surgeries, prescribed medications, lab tests, and follow-up appointments.
- Lost wages for the time when your recovery process forced you to miss work: Compensation can make up for your hourly rate, vacation days, and other benefits.
- Property damage: Your belongings might have been damaged when the dog attacked you.
- Pain and suffering: The physical pain you’re experiencing can keep you from going about your daily routine.
- Scarring and disfigurement: The dog bite might have altered your appearance or compromised your overall mobility.
Tragically, some dog attacks are fatal. If you lost a loved one in a dog attack, you may have the right to seek compensation. A different set of damages may be available to surviving family members in a wrongful death claim, such as funeral expenses, burial fees, and your loss of consortium.
If the attack was the result of the carelessness, recklessness, or negligence of a dog owner or caretaker, the Fitch Law Firm LLC may be able to help you pursue compensation in a wrongful death case.
How Much Compensation Am I Entitled to After a Columbus Dog Bite?
We can’t give you a clear estimate of how much compensation you can recover until we review your case’s facts. Many factors can impact how much compensation you’re entitled to, including:
- Your age at the time of the incident
- The severity of your injuries
- Your prognosis for future treatment and recovery
- The cost of current and future medical bills
- How your injury has affected and will continue to affect your life
Ohio has caps on non-economic damages for personal injury cases, like dog bites, for victims who have not suffered a catastrophic injury. This type of injury results in severe scarring or disability that prevents victims from caring for themselves. Under the Ohio Revised Code Section 2315.18, they may be limited to $250,000 or three times their economic damages with a maximum of $350,000, whichever is greater. Someone who has suffered a catastrophic injury will not have their non-economic damages capped.
Your dog bite lawyer from the Fitch Law Firm LLC can help you understand whether these caps apply to your case and explain how we can maximize your claim regardless of caps.
Who Pays for My Columbus Dog Bite?
Many factors can influence which parties are liable. For example, where the attack occurred can determine how many parties can be held responsible. If your attack happens at the park, we may hold the dog owner and/or dog walker responsible. If you’re bitten at your apartment complex by a neighbor’s dog, the dog owner and your landlord may be held responsible.
In general, we may seek compensation through the dog owner’s homeowners or renters’ insurance policy. We may also file a claim through a liability insurance policy held by a landlord, property management company, or kennel company. Some dog owners have pet liability insurance policies, and we can seek compensation through those avenues as necessary.
Your dog bite lawyer at the Fitch Law Firm LLC will exhaust all your options for seeking compensation and maximizing your claim. We’re dedicated to getting you the best possible settlement that takes care of your and your families new needs.
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Your Time Is Limited to Sue for a Dog Bite Injury in Ohio
Per the Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10, you generally have two years to bring forth a personal injury lawsuit in Ohio. There is also a general two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits, per the Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02.
A failure to take action by the deadline that applies to your lawsuit could mean that your case gets dismissed. However, if your child was under 18 years old and was a victim of such an incident, the statute of limitations might be tolled and start up on their 18th birthday.
The Fitch Law Firm LLC encourages you to call us as soon as possible after your accident. We can help you understand how the statute of limitations applies to your dog bite attack. The sooner you call us, the sooner we may be able to start working on your case and file a lawsuit before time runs out.
Dog Bite Injuries You Can Include in Your Columbus Claim
A dog attack can lead to injuries such as:
- Abrasions, lacerations, bruises, and puncture wounds
- Broken and fractured bones
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Facial disfigurement and scarring
- Rabies, tetanus, and other viral illnesses
- Mental and emotional trauma
These injuries can be expensive to treat, and you may have to undergo multiple treatments or even surgery after an attack, depending on the severity of your injuries. That is why it is best to seek medical attention as soon as you can after a dog bite—even if you don’t think it’s that serious.
You could develop an infection, such as rabies, and the longer you go without seeing a doctor, the more your condition can worsen, the longer it can take to recover, and the more you will need to pay for treatment.
Call the Columbus Dog Bite Attorneys at the Fitch Law Firm LLC Today for a Free Consultation
The Fitch Law Firm LLC believes that negligent dog owners should be held responsible when their animals attack. If you were hurt by someone else’s dog, a Columbus dog bite lawyer from our firm may be able to fight for compensation on your behalf.
To discuss your case for free with a member of our team, call the Fitch Law Firm LLC.
Call or text 614-545-3930 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
