Columbus Dog Bite Lawyer
Injured after being attacked by a dog? If so, reach out to a qualified dog bite lawyer in Columbus to discuss your legal options for financial recovery.
Being attacked by a dog is a terrifying experience. Dogs can become unexpectedly vicious, leaving survivors with debilitating injuries and emotional trauma that can last a lifetime. Thankfully, victims of dog attacks have legal recourse and may be able to file a personal injury claim against the dog’s owner.
When you’re still struggling to cope, the last thing you’re probably thinking about is filing a lawsuit. But when you have an experienced Columbus dog bite lawyer at Rafidi, Pallante & Melewski LLC by your side, you can focus on recovering while we handle the legal details of your case.
Liability for Columbus Dog Bites
States in the U.S. follow one of two dog bite laws: the one-bite rule or strict liability. In states that follow the one-bite rule, the dog’s owner can only be held accountable for the actions of their dog if the dog has previously been aggressive, violent, or attacked someone.
But in states like Ohio, a strict liability state, it doesn’t matter whether the dog has previously displayed a propensity towards aggressive behavior or violence. All that matters is that the dog owner has a responsibility to keep their dog under their control at all times.
If at any point the dog escapes their owner and attacks someone, causing serious injury, the dog owner will nearly always be responsible for covering the losses of the injury victim. This might include:
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship and love
- Medical expenses
Exceptions to Dog Owner Blame for Columbus Dog Bites
There are a couple of exceptions to dog owner culpability when a dog bites or attacks that you should know. First, if someone is trespassing on the dog owner’s property, whether they are simply cutting through the yard or committing a crime, the Columbus dog’s owner can not be held accountable for injuries to uninvited guests or criminals. This does not apply to government officials like law enforcement or mail carriers.
If the attack occurred at a residence and an invited guest was attacked by the dog, strict liability would apply, as the injury victim was invited to the property.
Another exception to dog owner liability is provocation. If someone was provoking the dog by taunting, kicking, hitting, punching, throwing things at them, or otherwise attempting to incite aggression, the dog owner can not be expected to cover the injury victim’s losses.
Meet with a Dog Bite Lawyer in Columbus
Are you interested in moving forward with your claim? Discuss the individual details of your case with a reputable Columbus dog bite lawyer at Rafidi, Pallante & Melewski LLC. You can schedule a free claim review by completing the online contact form included at the bottom of this page or calling 1-866-494-5387.