DOG BITES

It is the responsibility of owners, harborers and keepers of dogs to control their pets and ensure they do not needlessly harm other people. Whether it’s a nip, scratch or a severe bite, a dog attack can cause significant injuries and damages, leaving someone with physical and mental scars that last forever. 

If you or a loved one has been attacked by a dog, you will want a lawyer to represent you with significant experience, skills, and resources. Attorney Ethan Vessels offers clients these qualities and handles dog bite cases in both Ohio and West Virginia. Ethan understands what you or a loved one has had to endure because of the dog attack. He realizes how long the wounds take to heal and the long term physical and emotional scars that remain. He makes sure his clients receive the fair and appropriate amount of compensation due under the law for all their injuries and damages. Please contact Ethan for a free, no obligation consultation by calling 740-374-5346 or sending a message here from this website.

Dog Bite Laws in Ohio and West Virginia

When a person gets bitten by a dog in either Ohio or West Virginia, they have legal rights. Dog bite laws in both states give victims the ability to be compensated for their injuries and damages.   

Injuries incurred from a dog bite often include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Cuts and Lacerations
• Muscle Damage
• Nerve Damage
• Ligament and Tendon Damage
• Broken Bones
• Rabies

Damages incurred because of a dog bite may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Medical Expenses
• Physical Therapy
• Psychological Counseling
• Permanent Scarring
• Cosmetic Surgery
• Loss of Income and Wages
• Loss of Future Income Earning Capacity
• Temporary or Permanent Disability
• Loss of Quality of Life
• Pain and Suffering

Compensation for a Dog Bite

A homeowner’s insurance policy issued by an insurance company to the owner of a dog that attacked someone is usually the funding source for providing compensation to the victim of a dog attack. The types of compensation recoverable with a dog bite claim include:

Medical Expenses

Medical expenses include healthcare costs directly related to the dog bite. Medical expenses also include any out-of-pocket payments for insurance co-pays and prescription medications. The value of medical expense reimbursement depends on the amount charged by the healthcare providers. In most cases, dog bite victims are entitled to recover the exact amount charged by their healthcare provider after deducting any type of health insurance payments.

Lost Wages

Victims of dog bites are entitled to recover the wages they lost because of their injuries. A lost wages claim includes time missed from work due to healthcare treatments and inability to perform work duties. The value of a lost wages claim is usually calculated by taking the total number of hours missed from work multiplied by the person’s hourly wage. 

Disability and Disfigurement

Permanent injuries that leave someone disabled or disfigured from the dog attack are compensable. Unlike medical expenses and lost wages, there is no standard method for calculating the value of disability or disfigurement. Ultimately, the value of such a claim will be what can be agreed upon by the parties in a settlement or what a jury says that it is worth in their verdict.  

Pain and Suffering

Dog bite victims are entitled to be compensated for the pain and suffering they endure because of the attack. As with disability and disfigurement, there is no standard for valuating pain and suffering. The value of a pain and suffering claim will be what is agreed upon by the parties in a settlement or what a jury says that it is worth in their verdict.

The insurance company will have their team of experienced professionals protecting the insurer’s interests by either denying a dog bite claim or paying as little as possible. If you or a loved one has become the victim of a dog bite, it is prudent to be represented by an experienced dog bite lawyer who will be protecting you and your best interests too.

Ohio Strict Liability Law for Dog Bites

With dog bites, Ohio is a strict liability state. This means if someone is bitten by a dog, the dog’s Owner, Harborer, or Keeper will be held liable for any injuries and damages without you having to prove negligence. The victim of a dog attack must only prove that they were bitten by a dog and that the dog's bite caused injuries or damages.

While the definition of an owner of a dog is straightforward, the definition of a harborer or keeper of a dog can be more confusing. Here’s what each of those terms mean:

Harborer of a Dog

A “Harborer” is a person who owns or controls the place where a dog lives. For example, if a dog and its owner lived with the owner’s parents, then the parents would be considered harborers of the dog.

Keeper of a Dog 

A “Keeper” is a person who maintains control over the dog, even on a temporary basis. If a friend of the dog’s owner walks the dog, the friend is temporarily the “keeper” of the dog. If the dog runs away from the keeper and attacks someone, that friend may be liable.

Exceptions 

There are exceptions to Ohio’s strict liability. For example, if the victim of a dog bite was trespassing or attempting to trespass, or was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog, the dog’s owner, harborer, or keeper will not be held liable.

Landlord Liability

If a landlord is not the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog, they are generally not liable to the dog bite victim unless the injury or attack occurred in a common area. A common area is an area available for common use by all tenants that is not exclusively leased by one tenant.



West Virginia Strict Liability Law for Dog Bites

The strict liability law in West Virginia is a little different than the one in Ohio. If a dog is running loose anywhere in West Virginia and attacks someone, the state’s strict liability law applies, and you don't have to prove that the owner was negligent. However, if the dog bites someone while it is not running loose, there is a burden of proving that the owner was negligent.



Dog Bite Cases Are Often Referred to Ethan Vessels

The experience, knowledge, skills, and resources Ethan Vessels offers clients are why dog bite cases in Ohio and West Virginia are often referred to him. He has a reputation for delivering results. If you, your spouse, child, or other loved one has been attacked by a dog, contact attorney Ethan Vessels for a free, no obligation, and private consultation. When he accepts dog bite cases in either Ohio or West Virginia, he typically works on a contingent fee basis, which means there is no fee for his legal services until and unless a settlement or verdict is reached.