A dog attack can leave you with both physical and psychological trauma, and recovering from the damage you sustained is often a long and expensive process. Fortunately, an experienced dog bite lawyer in North Baltimore can help you every step of the way to give you the best chance of recovering the money you need and deserve.
At Groth & Associates, our experienced team of North Baltimore personal injury lawyers has been helping dog bite victims in the community secure fair compensation for decades. We will use every resource at our disposal to help ensure a positive outcome for your case. Contact us today to set up a free initial case evaluation with a member of our legal team.
Get to Work on Your Case As Soon as Possible for the Best Outcome
When attempting to recover damages after a dog bite, it is critical that you act early to improve your chances of a positive outcome for your case. Any delays can lead to evidence being corrupted or lost. In addition, any witness testimony supporting your case will be less reliable the longer removed from the date you were bitten.
By hiring a lawyer soon after the bite, you will also help ensure that you meet all applicable deadlines in your case. The personal injury statute of limitations in Ohio generally grants accident victims two years to file a lawsuit against the party liable for their damages. Should you fail to file on time, you could be out of options for pursuing compensation.
However, you need to understand that exceptions could apply to your case that would alter the amount of time you have to take legal action. An experienced North Baltimore dog bite attorney from Groth & Associates will help you determine the exact deadline that applies to your case to help ensure all your paperwork is completed correctly and filed on time.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving North Baltimore, call (419) 930-3030
Ohio Dog Bite Laws
When attempting to recover compensation after a dog bite, it is critical that you understand the laws that apply to your case. There are two main paths to compensation in a dog bite case. The damages you can recover will vary depending on how you go about pursuing compensation.
Strict Liability
Under Section 955.28 of the Ohio Revised Code, dog owners are strictly liable for any damages or injuries caused by their dogs. What this means is that you can recover compensation from the owner of the dog without proving fault. You will not have to prove that the owner of the dog was negligent or that they provoked their dog into attacking you.
The law holds dog owners liable for actions taken by their animals. Dog owners are required to take proactive measures to ensure their dogs will not attack others. While it can be easy to recover money through strict liability, the damages you are eligible to pursue are limited, which means you may not be able to recover all the money you require.
Common Law Negligence
Under Ohio’s common law, victims of dog bites can instead pursue compensation based on negligence or intentional harm on the part of the dog owner. To win a case in this manner, you will need to prove that the owner of the dog behaved in a negligent manner or deliberately provoked their dog into attacking you.
While proving fault can be challenging, the compensation available in these cases is greater as you can pursue a wider range of damages.
Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me (419) 930-3030
Damages an Experienced Dog Bite Attorney Serving North Baltimore Can Help You Recover
After sustaining injuries caused by a dog bite, you can claim a wide variety of damages. An experienced lawyer can help you identify all the damages that apply so you can recover the maximum amount of compensation available. The compensation types most often available in dog bite cases include:
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning ability
- Decreased quality of life
- Mental anguish
- Medical costs
- Future medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
- Property damage
In a small number of cases, punitive damages may also be available. Punitive damages are reserved for extreme cases involving intentional harm or criminal negligence. Unlike the compensatory damages listed above, punitive damages are not used to replace losses incurred by the injured victim. Instead, they serve as a means of punishing the at-fault party.
If a loved one was killed after being attacked by a dog, a North Baltimore wrongful death lawyer will help you file a claim to recover various damages, including funeral and burial expenses.
Get Help From an Experienced Dog Bite Lawyer in North Baltimore Today
After suffering injuries resulting from a dog bite, it is critical that you collect fair compensation from the liable party. Your physical and emotional health can be severely affected by a dog attack, and the associated medical costs can be severe. Hiring an experienced attorney is the best way to improve your odds of collecting the compensation you deserve.
At Groth & Associates, our experienced team of North Baltimore dog bite accident lawyers will pull out all the stops in our attempt to get you the money you need to get your life back on track. Contact us by filling out our online contact form, giving us a call, or using our online chat tool to set up a free, no-obligation case review with a member of our legal staff.
Call or text (419) 930-3030 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form