Ohio Dog Bites & Animal Attacks

If you were bitten by someone else's dog in Ohio, you may be entitled to compensation from the dog owner or his or her insurance company to reimburse you for costs related to your dog bite injury.

Strict Liability Laws

Ohio has what are known as strict liability laws when it comes to dog bites.

Strict liability means that the dog owner is responsible for any injury caused by the dog, regardless of whether the dog had a history of biting. In addition, Ohio also makes the dog's "keeper" liable for any injuries. A keeper might be someone who's taking the dog for a walk, for example, which means that you would not be able to recover money for your injuries if you could also be considered the dog's keeper.

In addition to Ohio, California and Illinois are among the states that have strict liability laws when it comes to dog bites.

If You Are a Victim

If you are the victim of a dog bite, you may be able to recover money from the dog's owner (or his or her insurance company) to compensate you for:

• Medical bills, including medication and future treatment for scar reduction
• Mental health counseling
• Lost wages
• Torn clothing
• Pain and suffering

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim?

Ohio law gives you two years from the date of the dog bite to file a claim against the dog's owner. (This is known as the statute of limitations.) If you and your Ohio personal injury lawyer are unable to negotiate a settlement with the other party (or their insurance company), you should consider filing a lawsuit before the statute of limitations runs out.

Civil cases involving claims of $15,000 or less are heard in Ohio's municipal and county courts. Civil cases involving claims of more than $15,000 are heard in the general division of the Court of Common Pleas in your jurisdiction.

Additional Ohio Dog Bite Resources

Personal Injury in Ohio information

Ohio court links for more information about Ohio courts

Ohio laws regarding the confinement of biting animals