If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, the owner and any additional responsible party may potentially be held accountable. You may be compensated for various damages including, but not necessarily limited to, the following:
- pain and suffering
- loss of enjoyment of life
- disfigurement and scarring
- fractures and broken bones
- cuts, scratches, lacerations and puncture wounds
- diseases such as rabies
- infections
- emotional trauma and mental health issues
- medical bills
- bills for mental-health treatment
- lost wages
- punitive damages
- liquidated damages; and/or
- potentially other damages
It is important to know what steps to take to protect your rights following a dog bite or attack.
While West Virginia is a common law negligence state when it comes to dog bites, Ohio has both common law negligence and statutory strict liability. See Ohio Revised Code 955.28(B) (2008), which reads:
The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog is liable in damages for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by the dog, unless the injury, death, or loss was caused to the person or property of an individual who, at the time, was committing or attempting to commit criminal trespass or another criminal offense other than a minor misdemeanor on the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer, or was committing or attempting to commit a criminal offense other than a minor misdemeanor against any person, or was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog on the owner’s, keeper’s, or harborer’s property. Additionally, the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog is liable in damages for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by the dog if the injury, death, or loss was caused to the person or property of an individual who, at the time of the injury, death, or loss, was on the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer solely for the purpose of engaging in door-to-door sales or other solicitations regardless of whether the individual was in compliance with any requirement to obtain a permit or license to engage in door-to-door sales or other solicitations established by the political subdivision in which the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer is located, provided that the person was not committing a criminal offense other than a minor misdemeanor or was not teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog.
Working with an experienced and dependable lawyer for your case is important. Do not settle and/or sign anything, particularly a release form, without talking to a lawyer first. Call John M Jurco, Attorney at Law today. He has experience in representing dog bite victims in West Virginia and in Ohio.
Attorney Jurco is available for in-person and virtual appointments. Call to schedule your free consultation today.