Were you recently bitten by a dog in Defiance, Ohio? Contact the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis Personal Injury Lawyers at (419) 404-4444 for a free case review. The dog’s owner may be liable for your injuries. Our experienced Defiance dog bite lawyers can help you maximize your recovery.
We’re a team of award-winning Ohio trial lawyers with a demonstrated ability to take on tough cases and win life-changing case results for accident victims and their families. Backed by 150+ years of collective experience, we’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars in monetary awards for our clients.
You have a limited time to pursue compensation from the dog’s owner and, in some cases, other liable parties, so it’s important to act quickly. Contact us to discuss the details of your dog bite injury case today.
Why Choose the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis for Help With a Dog Bite Claim in Defiance, OH
Dog bite cases are different from other types of personal injury cases. They’re subject to unique evidentiary and liability issues. You need to hire an attorney with experience handling dog bite cases, knowledge of applicable law and regulations, and an appreciation for which strategies can turn a moderate recovery into a record-setting award. It’s why dog bite victims in Defiance, OH, turn to the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis.
Our Defiance personal injury lawyers are skilled and knowledgeable legal advocates that insurance companies don’t want to see on the other side of a case file. Members of our team have been recognized as:
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
- Members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Best Lawyers
- Super Lawyers
When you hire our firm, we’ll promptly investigate your dog bite case, preserve critical evidence, and work with experts to evaluate your injuries and losses. We’ll build a strong claim and negotiate aggressively with the insurance company. If a fair settlement isn’t offered, we’re prepared to take your case to trial.
We offer a free consultation, so contact our law office to discuss your dog bite case with a Defiance personal injury attorney today.
Understanding Ohio Dog Bite Law
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 955.28, “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.” However, liability generally does not apply if the injured person was trespassing, committing a criminal offense other than a minor misdemeanor, or teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog.
In other words, if you live in Ohio and your dog bites someone, you’re on the hook for the resulting damages. The only exceptions are when the victim was trespassing, committing a crime other than a minor misdemeanor, or provoking the attack.
Dog bite claims can also be pursued on the grounds of negligence. For example, if you were bitten by a dog on someone else’s property, the owner of the premises might be liable if they knew a dangerous dog was on the premises and failed to take steps to protect you from reasonably foreseeable harm.
How Much Could My Dog Bite Case Be Worth?
A lot of factors can impact your claim’s potential value, including:
- The extent of your injuries
- Your projected recovery period
- Changes in your ability to work
- Long-term financial consequences related to permanent impairment or disability
- The dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy limits
- Changes in your quality of life
- Your age and life expectancy
- Claims of shared fault
More serious dog bite injuries tend to generate greater damage and, in turn, have a higher potential for recovery. You can strengthen your claim’s value by seeking medical attention right after you’ve been bitten by a dog. Delaying care, even by a few days, can give the insurance company reason to devalue your claim and limit your recovery.
By getting to the closest emergency room as soon as you can, you not only put your health first, but you also create a clear record of your injuries that can be used to support your fight for compensation in the future.
What Compensation Can Be Awarded to Defiance Dog Bite Victims?
When you’ve suffered dog bite injuries in Defiance, you can bring a legal claim against the dog’s owner to recover two different types of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are intended to help you cope with the objective and verifiable monetary consequences of your dog bite injuries, such as:
- Emergency room care, surgery, diagnostic tests, medication, hospitalizations, specialist consultations, prosthetics, and other medical expenses
- Lost wages and job benefits
- Diminished earning capacity
- Short-term and/or long-term disability
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Nursing care
Getting bitten by a dog is traumatic. Non-economic damages aim to acknowledge this experience and help you cope with things like:
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Reduced quality of life
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of consortium
- Chronic pain
- Embarrassment
Our dog bite attorneys in Defiance will carefully evaluate your losses and struggles, working closely with medical specialists, rehabilitation professionals, and other experts as we identify your damages. The insurance company will try to limit your recovery, but our detailed approach to your case will force the adjuster to make an honest offer.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
More than 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs every year. While many dog bites only cause minor injuries, hundreds of thousands of dog bite victims experience injuries serious enough to warrant emergency treatment and/or hospitalization.
In our experience, dog bite victims in Defiance often struggle with:
- Broken bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Soft tissue injuries
- Puncture wounds
- Infection and disease
- Nerve damage
- Eye injuries
- Head injuries
- Brain injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crush injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
Some dog bite injuries heal with time, while others require extensive medical treatment and have lasting physical and emotional effects.
What Does It Cost To Hire a Dog Bite Attorney?
Medical bills can add up quickly when you’ve suffered a serious dog bite injury. Hiring an attorney to help you steady your financial situation shouldn’t make things harder. That’s why the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis represents dog bite victims and families of dog bite victims on a contingency fee basis.
Our fees are paid after we win your dog bite case. If we’re not successful in securing a settlement or winning a verdict for you at trial, you owe us nothing at all. When we win, our fees are deducted from your financial recovery. Our firm assumes the risk. You reap the benefits when we win. It’s that simple.
Is There a Statute of Limitations on Dog Bite Lawsuits in Ohio?
Ohio imposes a two-year statute of limitations on most civil dog bite lawsuits. There are exceptions. For instance, if a child is bitten by a dog in Defiance, the statute of limitations on a dog bite case can be tolled until the child turns 18.
The statute of limitations is a hard deadline, not the point at which you should begin to consider filing a claim. In fact, the sooner you call an attorney and put a plan into action, the more likely it is that you’ll win your case and recover its full value.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Experienced Defiance Dog Bite Lawyer
You’re not responsible for someone else’s dog in Defiance, Ohio. You’re also not responsible for the consequences of a dog attack. If another party is legally responsible for your injuries, the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Our Defiance dog bite attorneys have over 150 years of combined experience handling complex, high-stakes cases for injury victims and families in Ohio. Our case results, which include tens of millions in damages, are a testament to our dedicated representation.
Call our office today to learn more about working with our top-rated attorneys on your dog bite case. Your first consultation is free.
