If a person has been bitten by a dog, Ohio law may allow for the pursuit of compensation. However, how a bite victim would go about getting compensation depends on the history of the dog. If the canine has a recorded history of biting, an individual could choose to pursue a negligence case, which may allow for punitive damages. A negligence claim is generally harder to prove, which is why many choose to pursue a strict liability claim.
The strict liability theory says that whoever controls the dog is liable for a bite even if this person didn’t know the dog was potentially vicious. To collect under this theory, a victim must prove that the defendant had control of the dog. Furthermore, it must be shown that the dog bite was the proximate cause of injuries that led to damages. It is worth noting that the person liable for the dog bite doesn’t have to be its owner.
If a dog has injured or killed another person or animal, it could be labeled as dangerous, and it would need to be identified as such on its collar. In Cleveland, pit bulls are labeled as dangerous. In other parts of the state, each animal is judged individually as to whether or not it poses a hazard to others.
Regardless of how severe dog bites may seem, they could cause pain or broken bones. In some cases, they also result in infections that are difficult to treat because of where the bites occur. Bite victims may be entitled to compensation for medical bills incurred and wages lost while out of work during recovery. An attorney may provide insight into how an injured victim could go about getting that compensation from a defendant.
