Ohio Dog Bite Lawyer Assisting Clients with Child Injury Claims
Individuals and families across Ohio have dogs in their home, and dogs can be great companions for many people. Yet dogs can also be dangerous, especially when young children are around. It is important to remember that any dog can bite, and that a lack of previous vicious behavior certainly does not mean that a dog bite incident will not occur. Indeed, according to DogsBite.org, people living in households with two or more dogs are “five times more likely to be bitten than those living without dogs in the home.” That risk is even higher for kids. If your child was bitten by a dog, it is critical to get started on a dog bite claim with help from an Ohio dog bite lawyer.
Getting the Facts About Kids and Dog Bites
What should you know about kids and dog bites? The following are some facts and figures collated by DogsBite.org andKids-n-K9s:
- Children between the ages of 5 and 9 are most likely to suffer a dog bite injury;
- Dog bites are the second leading cause of emergency room visits for kids;
- Children are more likely than adults to sustain severe or life-threatening dog bite injuries;
- Most child dog bites occur when the child knows the dog;
- About 77% of child dog bite cases involve a dog that belonged to the child’s family or to family friends or relatives; and
- 80% of child dog bite incidents occur at the child’s home.
Strict Liability in Child Dog Bite Cases
Ohio law (Ohio Rev. Code Section 955.28) allows a family to hold the dog owner strictly liable in most child dog bite injury cases. In a strict liability claim, the parents or family members of the injured child do not need to prove that the dog owner had any previous knowledge of the dog’s viciousness or propensity to bite. Instead, the child’s guardian only needs to be able to show that the dog owner actually owned the dog. Simply owning a dog means that the owner is strictly liable—regardless of any negligence—for injuries if the dog attacks.
There are some exceptions. If the dog owner can show that the child antagonized the dog, the dog owner could use that as a defense against liability. Or, for example, if the child broke into the home where the dog bite injury occurred (i.e., if the child was on the property unlawfully), the owner may have a defense.
Contact an Ohio Dog Bite Injury Attorney for Assistance
Dogs can bite anyone of any age, but children are often the victims of serious dog bite injuries. While children might not know how to keep themselves safe from dangerous dogs, owners need to accept responsibility when their dogs bite. Given that children are much smaller and more fragile than adults, nonfatal dog bite injuries often result in disfiguring and debilitating injuries, and many animal attack wounds are fatal. If your child was injured in a dog bite incident, I will do everything I can to help you get the financial compensation you deserve.
As an experienced Ohio dog bite injury lawyer, I know how critical it is to hold the dog owner responsible for these severe injuries. I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office today at 877.944.4373 to learn more about how I can assist you.
