If you or a loved one was injured in a Lima, OH dog attack, you could be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
An experienced dog bite lawyer at the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact our Lima personal injury office at (419) 404-4444 to schedule a free consultation with a Lima dog bite lawyer.
How the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis Can Help After a Lima Dog Bite?
When dog owners don’t act responsibly, dogs can be dangerous to members of the community. This is particularly true for children. If you or your child were injured by someone else’s dog, you should be compensated for all of your losses.
The Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis is the trusted partner for Lima accident victims. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients. Our Lima personal injury attorneys have over 150 years of combined experience and know how to get results for our clients. We fight hard to get every accident victim the compensation they deserve.
When you hire our firm, we’ll:
- Investigate your attack to identify all causes
- Gather evidence to strengthen your case
- Communicate with the liable party’s insurance company
- Negotiate to get the best settlement possible
- If necessary, file a lawsuit and represent you in court
- Provide you with ongoing legal guidance and advice
- Keep you updated on the status of the case
- Handle all administrative tasks and comply with all deadlines
Let our team handle your dog bite case in Lima, Ohio so you can focus on getting your life back to normal after a traumatic event. Our team will take care of all the details and fight to get the most compensation possible so you can focus on recovering and healing.
Call us today so one of our Lima dog bite attorneys can get to work fighting for you.
How Common Are Dog Bites in Ohio?
Dog bites are more common than most people realize. Ohio is one of the most dangerous states when it comes to dog attacks. In 2023, Ohio had the fifth-highest number of dog bites, and there were 885 claims with damages of around $34.6 million.
The Ohio Department of Health reports that around 38% of Ohio households own dogs, and dogs account for about 75% of all animal bites.
If you have been injured from a dog bite, you deserve fair compensation.
How Much Is My Lima Dog Bite Case Worth?
The value of dog bite cases varies significantly from case to case. To estimate the value of your case, our team needs to learn more about your attack, injuries, and losses.
Some of the factors that have the biggest impact on how much a dog bite case is worth are:
- The type and severity of your injuries
- The amount of your current and future medical expenses
- The impact your injuries have on your ability to work
- The impact your injuries have on your personal life
- The amount of pain and suffering you experienced
- Whether or not you were partly at fault
- The amount of insurance coverage available
To determine the fair value of your claim, we’ll gather evidence, review medical records, and consult with expert witnesses. You only have one opportunity to get compensation for all of your current and future losses after a dog bite. Our team will accurately value your claim to ensure you get the compensation you need and deserve.
What Damages Are Available After a Lima Dog Bite?
After an Ohio dog bite, accident victims can demand compensatory damages from the liable party. Compensatory damages are a way to compensate victims for their losses. The objective is to make victims whole, or as close to whole as possible, after their injuries.
There are two categories of compensatory damages: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are used to reimburse victims for financial losses, including:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
Non-economic damages compensate victims for personal or non-financial losses including:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Decreased quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Anxiety and depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of consortium
In some cases, victims are also entitled to punitive damages, although these are rarely awarded in injury cases. Punitive damages are used to punish wrongdoers and deter bad behavior. In Ohio, punitive damages are only awarded if there’s clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with malice, intentionally, or with aggravated or egregious fraud.
Our team will evaluate your case and discuss all damages you’re entitled to. Then we’ll gather evidence and build a strong claim to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Being Blamed for My Dog Bite in Ohio?
In many dog bite cases, victims can recover damages regardless of whether the dog owner acted negligently. However, sometimes a victim’s compensation can be reduced if the victim was partly responsible for the bite.
It’s common for dog owners and their insurance companies to blame victims for a dog bite. Our team is used to this strategy and will defend you against claims that you were responsible for your attack.
The good news is that under Ohio’s comparative negligence laws, you can recover damages even if you’re partly at fault for an accident. As long as you are not 51% or more responsible, you can still recover damages. However, your damages will be reduced by the percentage of your fault.
For example, if you’re 30% at fault for an attack, you can recover 70% of your damages. But, if you’re found to be 60% at fault, you’re not entitled to recover anything.
Don’t panic if you’re being blamed for your dog bite. Contact our firm as soon as possible so we can ensure your rights are protected. We’ll defend you against claims that you were responsible and fight to get the money you deserve.
Common Injuries After a Dog Attack
Dog bites and dog attacks can cause a wide range of injuries. Depending on the type and size of the dog and the facts of the incident, victims can have injuries from minor cuts and scrapes to catastrophic injuries.
While the liable party will work to minimize your injuries, our team will fight to get compensation for all of your injuries.
Some of the most common injuries sustained after a dog bite are:
- Puncture wounds
- Broken bones
- Infection
- Soft tissue damage
- Concussions
- Eye injuries
- Facial injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Head and neck injuries
In some cases, dog attacks are fatal. If you lost a loved one because of a dog attack, our team can bring a wrongful death claim. These are difficult cases, but they ensure the responsible party is held accountable and that your family gets compensation for things like medical expenses, funeral expenses, and other losses.
Do I Have to Prove Negligence to Recover Damages After a Dog Attack?
Under Ohio law, dog bite victims are strictly liable for injuries caused by their dogs. Victims do not have to prove that the dog owner was negligent. Nor do they have to prove that the dog has bitten people in the past or showed aggressive behavior in the past.
To recover damages after a dog attack, you need to show:
- The responsible party owned the dog
- You were lawfully on the property at the time of the attack
- Your bite or injury was caused by the dog
Despite this legal framework, it’s common for responsible parties to try to avoid liability after a dog bite. Common defenses are that the victim provoked the dog or the victim was trespassing. We’ll defend you against any such claims and ensure the dog owner is held accountable.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Dog Bite?
Generally, the Ohio statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years. Victims have two years from the date of the attack to file a lawsuit against the responsible party. After the limitations period has expired, you may forfeit your right to seek compensation for your losses.
There are some exceptions to this rule, so it’s helpful to talk with a Lima personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your accident to ensure your rights are protected.
Contact a Lima Dog Bite Lawyer for Help Today
If you or a loved one was attacked by a dog in Lima, Ohio, the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis can help. Our team of Lima dog bite attorneys will investigate your case, discuss your rights, and fight to get the compensation you deserve.
Our firm has a track record of success and has recovered tens of millions of dollars for clients. We know how to get results and would love to help you get the compensation you need after a dog bite.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation with a Lima dog bite lawyer.
