Do I Need an Attorney If My Child Was Bitten by a Dog?

Dogs are a part of many Ohio families, and you may be uncertain about what to do if you or your family are threatened or hurt by someone else’s dog. After a confrontation with an aggressive dog, you may be wondering, “Do I need an attorney if my child was bitten by a dog?”

Dog attacks can cause serious injuries, and in addition to physically recovering, you will want to make sure that an aggressive dog is kept from threatening you or your family again. It’s common for many people to be uncertain about how to proceed legally after a dog bite, but fortunately, Ohio law offers victims many options, and an experienced lawyer can help you seek compensation after a serious dog bite.

For more information on personal injuries, be sure to check out our personal injury FAQ.

It’s important to call your lawyer as soon as possible if your child has been bitten by a dog. Our Ohio personal injury lawyers at Kisling, Nestico & Redick understand your legal options and can help you seek to recover compensation from any negligent party in your case. To speak with a skilled lawyer, call us today at 1-800-HURT-NOW for a free consultation.

Ohio Has Strict Dog Bite Laws

Traditionally, dog owners are responsible for their dogs’ behavior, and therefore they must take reasonable measures to keep their dogs from harming others as part of their duty of due care. In order to reduce dog attacks, Ohio law has in many ways gone beyond other states in specifying the strict ramifications for dogs and their owners after an attack. Among other things, the state requires:

• A minimum of 10 days in quarantine for a dog who bites someone, followed by removal from the county. These 10 days allow for determining if the animal has rabies.
• Owner liability for a bite begins before a dog’s first recorded bite, not after the first bite as is the case in many other jurisdictions.
• A dog that attacks someone must be registered as a “dangerous dog” and then follow many restrictions, such as having a leash no more than six feet in length and wearing a special tag.
• Owners face misdemeanor charges if they fail to register their dangerous dogs. If the owner’s dog repeats an attack, there may be additional fines, and the court may require the dog to be put down.

Parents Should Take Legal Action For Their Children’s Personal Injury Claims

A minor’s parents can file a lawsuit in Ohio courts on behalf of their children who are under the age of 18 years. While you typically cannot take such legal action in the name of anyone else, this exception allows for the rights of children to be protected after they have been injured due to the negligence of another person. If you seek an attorney’s help after your child has been bitten by a dog, both you and your attorney will be able to handle the case in your child’s best interest.

Two specific details to note regarding Ohio’s law for lawsuits on behalf of minors include:

• The statute of limitations, which sets the deadline for a lawsuit to be filed, is postponed until the child turns 18 years old. Ohio law offers a six-year statute of limitations for a dog bite, but if your child is bitten by a dog you can sue at anytime before their 18th birthday, and they can sue anytime within the six years after they become a legal adult.
• A settlement must be approved by a judge. If an adult is suing someone and receives a settlement offer, they can choose to accept or reject it. However, in order to protect the well-being of your child’s finances and injury recovery, a judge must approve any settlement offer that you wish to accept in your child’s case.

Your Child’s Dog Bite Injury Can Have Serious And Long Lasting Consequences

As lawyers who have seen many different injuries sustained by the clients we’ve helped over the years, we can tell you that no two injury cases are the same. Bite injuries are extremely serious since they can damage limbs in an unpredictable manner, and they can transmit deadly diseases to the victim.

If you or your child has been bitten by a dog, you should seek medical attention immediately, even if you don’t believe the bite itself to be serious. Be very clear and upfront with your doctor regarding the cause of the injury, and then call your lawyer as soon as possible.

Your dog bite injury lawyer can make sure that the dangerous dog that caused the bite is properly identified so that responsibility for the incident can be determined. It’s possible that the owner was the negligent party, but a third party can also hold responsibility if they were entrusted to care for the dog when your child was bitten.

Our office has years of experience seeking compensation for our clients, and that often includes negotiating with insurance companies and going to trial, if necessary. You can recover damages to help you with many things in your recovery, such as:

• Medical bills
• Loss of future earnings and earning capacity due to injury
• Psychological counseling
• Pain and suffering
• Future disability
• Damaged property

Kisling, Nestico & Redick Can Help You And Your Child After A Dog Bite

Dog attacks can be violent and result in long-lasting injuries, and you may be uncertain about your legal options going forward. If your child was bitten by a dog, you will need an attorney to seek proper compensation. Ohio law regarding personal injury and animal attacks can be complex, but an experienced attorney can help you through each step of the process.

It’s important to act quickly after a dog attack and calling your attorney as soon as possible will help your child recover damages needed during this difficult time.

To speak with a skilled lawyer from Kisling, Nestico & Redick, call our office today. You can contact us at 1-800-HURT-NOW to schedule a free consultation.