Dog Bite Attorney in Parma, OH
Encountering a dog at a place like Chasing Trails can add a moment of brightness to your day. However, dog bites, regardless of where they occur, are painful and can cause serious injury. If you’ve experienced an unexpected bite, contact a Parma dog bite lawyer at The Czack Hobbs Law Firm. They can represent you and provide the guidance you’re looking for.
Liability in a Dog Bite Case
Unlike many states that have first-bite protections for dogs and their owners, Ohio treats every bite quite seriously. Even if it’s the first time a dog has shown aggression or bitten anyone, the owner is likely liable for any injury their dog causes others through a bite. With Ohio recording more than 15,000 dog bites each year, and 15,552 in 2024, that’s a lot of potential cases.
Dog owners typically take on full liability when their dog bites a person in Parma. However, property owners can also be liable if they were aware of the potentially dangerous animal and knowingly harbored it.
For an owner to be accountable for a bite, it doesn’t have to take place on their property. Whether it’s in a friend’s backyard or on the trails of West Creek Reservation, a dog owner is responsible for their dog’s actions. To figure out who may be liable if you’ve been bitten, hire a dog bite lawyer from The Czack Hobbs Law Firm.
Exceptions Where One Cannot Seek Compensation
There are cases where a dog’s owner might not be liable for a bite. If the victim did something to provoke the dog into biting, they might be responsible, rather than the owner.
Additionally, anyone bitten while trespassing or committing a crime likely cannot get compensation for the bite. In those cases, the dog owner is not responsible for the damage caused.
It’s not always simple, though. A dog owner might use trespassing as a defense for a bite claim, but without clearly posted signage, a person might have a reasonable defense for approaching someone’s home. Proving fault and liability is a complicated process, one that can be boosted by the experience of a qualified Parma dog bite attorney.
Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer Today
After a dog bite, you want to get legal representation as soon as possible. First, get medical treatment and make sure you’ll be okay. Then, bring in a lawyer to navigate the next steps.
For example, you might need to give a statement to the police and make sure a report is filed. You’ll have to keep track of medical care, expenses, and potential damages. In some cases, homeowner’s or renter’s insurance can cover dog bites. You never want to talk to or negotiate with the owner’s insurance company until you’ve spoken to a lawyer.
Why Hire The Czack Hobbs Law Firm?
Our team prioritizes the needs of our clients and values itself on providing personal attorney communication. We have extensive knowledge of dog bite laws, which we can use when pursuing compensation in dog bite cases. When you’ve suffered damages after a bite, you need experience and care, and we can provide them.
To learn more about how we can help you, schedule a consultation with us. We can handle your case and pursue all you deserve.
