Dog Attack Guide Ohio

Ohio animal attack laws hold pet owners responsible if their dogs attack. If you were attacked and seriously injured by a pet dog in Ohio, you may be entitled to payment for your medical bills, loss of wages, and/or pain and suffering. You can also make a public record of the attack so that steps can be taken to prevent the dog from attacking others.

Who can request compensation for a dog attack in Ohio?

The Ohio Revised Code holds owners or keepers of pet animals responsible for the actions of their pets. If you were attacked by a pet dog, you are protected under this code and may request payment from the owners for injury caused by the attack.  However, there are exceptions. If you were trespassing on the owners' property, committing a crime, or abusing the dog at the time of the attack, you are not protected by the Ohio Revised Code and may not request compensation for your injury.

Requesting compensation for a dog attack in Ohio

If your injury is not serious:

A responsible pet owner should have insurance to cover the compensation of minor injury caused by the attack.  Talk to the dog's owners to find out if their insurance policy includes compensation for animal attacks. If it does, work with them to file a claim with the insurance provider. If your injury is relatively minor, some companies will want to settle the case out of court by coming to an agreement with you regarding how much you should be paid to cover expenses resulting from the attack. Also, report the attack so that steps can be taken to prevent the animal from attacking others.

If your injury is serious:

If your injury is serious, you can expect the owners and/or their insurance company to be reluctant to offer all the compensation you may be entitled to.  In that case, you should consider contacting an attorney to help with your claim. The insurance company may also hire lawyers, in which case your actions at the time of the attack may be examined to determine if you committed one of the exceptions to the law at the time of the attack (e.g. trespassing).

What to do if your injury is serious:

• Get medical treatment for your injury and follow the doctor's advice.
• Comply with all requests from the police and other law-enforcement officials.
• Get the names and phone numbers of everyone who saw the attack or people who know anything about the dog's history of attacking.
• Take photos of your injury and, if possible, get photos of the dog and the scene of the attack.
• Get legal advice from an Ohio attorney as soon as possible. A personal injury attorney can help collect evidence, such as 9-1-1 dispatch tapes. 
  
• Do not give statements to the animal owners' insurance adjuster or other investigators until you have talked to an attorney.

What an Ohio dog-attack case may cost

Most attorneys give free consultations for personal injury cases; if you decide to hire an attorney, he or she probably will work on a contingency fee.  This means that the attorney only gets paid when and if you are awarded money once the case is closed.  The attorney is also motivated to do everything possible to get you the maximum possible amount.  

Additional resources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Dog Bite-Related Fatalities

Animal Legal & Historical Center: Quick Overview of Dog Bite Laws

Ohio Department of Health: Rabies

Related Legal Guides:

Medical Lawsuit

Determining the Value of Your Personal Injury Case