Do you Need to Report a Dog Attack?
- Which Dog Breeds are Dangerous?
- What Duties Do Dog Owners Owe the General Public?
- Do You Need an Ohio Dog Bite Lawyer?
Ohio law makes anyone who owns or harbors a dog ,strictly accountable for civil damages for dog bites or injuries unless the dog was teased or tormented. Ohio law is very favorable for dog bite victims. Ohio law requires that a report be made of every incident in which a dog bites someone. The report must be made to the local public health commissioner within 24 hours after the incident occurs. The report may be made by anyone with knowledge of the incident, including a physician, a veterinarian, the bite victim or the owner of the dog. The following information must be provided:
- A description of the dog
- The location of the attack
- How the attack happened
- The name of the victim
- The name of the dog owner
- The status of the dog's rabies vaccination, if known
The purpose of providing this information is to permit public health officials to investigate the risk of exposure to rabies, to quarantine the dog if necessary, and to ensure that the victim obtains proper medical treatment, if necessary. If you or a loved one was the victim of a dog attack, notify the appropriate public health official. To locate the public health official in your county, click on this link to Ohio Public Health Departments.
Which Dog Breeds are Dangerous?
The Centers for Disease Control reports that based upon statistics gathered over a twenty year period the following breeds are the most likely to bite someone:
- Pit Bulls
- Rottweilers
- German Shepherds
- Alaskan Malamutes
- Wolf-Dog Hybrids
- Doberman Pinschers
- Chow Chows
- Great Danes
- Saint Bernards
- Akitas
- Huskies
What Duties Do Dog Owners Owe the General Public?
A dog owner in Ohio has a duty to prevent attacks by the dog on innocent victims. That duty extends beyond the dog owner to any person who has control of a dog or permits the dog to be on his or her property. What this means is that should a dog injure an innocent victim, the owner, the person who is controlling the dog at the time, and the person on who's property where the incident occurs may all be accountable for any damages caused by the dog. The legal duty requires the dog owner to take appropriate precautions, including training the dog, keeping it on a leash, confining it to a house or a fenced area, and taking whatever additional steps are necessary to prevent the dog from injuring anyone.
This duty is particularly applicable to owners who undertake to care for a grown dog. The fact that the owner is not familiar with the history and background of how the dog was raised is not an excuse. The new owner must watch the dog very carefully, and ascertain how much ongoing supervision and restraint will be required to maintain safe conditions.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, particularly if you have sustained an Ohio dog bite contact a dedicated Ohio dog lawyer immediately. An experienced lawyer, such as those at the Brown & Szaller law firm will meet with you, listen to what you have to say, explain your legal options, gather the critical facts the facts, obtain and review medical reports and witness statements, and help you decide upon the best course of action.
The lawyers at Brown & Szaller will meet with you for a free initial consultation. Even if you are unsure whether you have a claim for compensation we will discuss the facts of the case and your options and together determine the viability of your case with no up-front charge. Back to top.
Do You Need an Dog Bite Lawyer in Cleveland, Ohio?
Yes-damages are paramount. Brown and Szaller has handled numerous dog bite cases in Cleveland, Lakewood and the western suburbs in which it enlisted the services of a plastic surgeon who opined on scars, permanency and the estimated surgical repair costs resulting in favorable settlements. Obtaining prompt medical attention is of paramount importance. If the injury you or a loved one has suffered is serious, it may be appropriate to call 911 and be taken to the hospital immediately. If an ambulance is not necessary, it is still very important that you go to the emergency room that same day. At the very least, see your family doctor as soon as possible.
A critical aspect of any case where an injury has occurred is the investigation of the circumstances surrounding the injury and the preservation of evidence. The investigation typically involves an examination of the scene of the injury while the evidence and memories are still fresh. It is sometimes necessary to notify the dog owner of his or her obligation to preserve evidence or even obtain a court order to ensure that relevant evidence is preserved.
Since a public health is likely to be are involved as well, it is important to contact and establish a relationship with the investigators as soon as practical.
Finally, identifying witnesses, securing their cooperation, and obtaining their statements as to what they saw or heard, as well as background information about the dog, the dog's owner, and the conditions under which the dog is kept, should also be done as soon as possible.
Because of the importance of a quick assessment of the surrounding facts, an investigation of the circumstances of the injury, and preservation of relevant evidence, you should consider retaining a qualified attorney experienced in working with Ohio dog bite injuries and knowledgeable about investigations of dog bite injury situations. Through its experience in working with experts in numerous medical specialties as well as accident reconstruction, and a host of other areas, Brown & Szaller can bring tremendous expertise to bear and obtain for you the recompense that you or a loved one deserves. Back to top.