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Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Attacks

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No, However, you can request the dog be destroyed if the dog is considered to be vicious, as defined by Ohio law. The final decision is up to the dog warden or the local health department.
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If you file it under the strict liability statute, you have six (6) years. If you file it under a negligent claim, you have two (2) years.

It’s important to contact us as soon as possible to discuss your case. We will provide you with the information you need to help you build your claim correctly.

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All claims are driven by circumstances that take place. In some cases, a dog bite situation is relatively minor. Someone gets bitten. They go to the emergency room. They might get a prescription of antibiotics and everything is fine. In other cases, they’re more severe and they have to have continual medical care. There may be a situation where there might need to be corrective surgery.

In the cases where there is relatively little injury, those cases are resolved between 30 and 60 days. In those cases in which they’re something more complex, we normally try to resolve a case within 90 days after the last medical care has been rendered to the person. If there is going to be corrective cosmetic surgery, the norm with that is one year after the attack took place. The doctors do not normally engage in any corrective surgery with respect to a dog bite until a year after the incident occurred. That situation would probably require about 18 months to conclude.

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Landlords are generally not responsible for dog attacks that are caused by a renter. There are exceptions if the attack occurs in a common area like a playground or a community laundry room. If the landlord knows or should have known the dog is vicious, the landlord might be liable.
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Yes, If someone is the keeper of a dog, they are liable. For example, a dog owner takes a vacation and leaves his dog with his mother while he is away. The mother is the keeper of the dog and has the same liability as to the owner. If someone is considered the harborer of a dog, they are liable. A harborer is a person who controls the place where a dog lives. For example, a son or daughter who owns a dog and lives with his or her parents. The parents are considered harborers of the dog.
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No, Most of us have insurance to handle these types of situations. Your dog bite claim will be handled by the insurance company, not your friend or relative. Remember you are injured. You are entitled to be compensated.
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Compensation for all your medical bills, lost wages, damaged clothing, or personal items. These are called economic losses. The larger part of the compensation you are entitled to is pain and suffering, present and future. There is also a substantial award for any disfigurement like scaring.
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Yes. A keeper of a dog may be liable. For example, the dog’s owner leaves a dog with a parent while he or she goes out of town. That parent is the keeper of the dog and has liability if the dog attacks someone. A harborer of a dog may also be liable. A harborer is a person who controls the place where a dog lives. For example, a son or daughter who lives with their parents owns a dog. These parents are harborers.
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There is no one answer to this question. Every case is different. Many dog bite cases can be completed in as little as 90 days after a victim finishes his or her medical treatment. However, if there is scarring involved, it is important to wait to determine how the wounds heal and if further treatments are necessary such as cosmetic surgery.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a dog attack, contact a Slater & Zurz dedicated dog bite lawyer to discuss your case. We bring years of experience to the table when dealing with the complexities of homeowner’s insurance companies and gathering evidence related to animal liability cases. With offices in Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo, we have represented Ohioans across the state in all manner of personal injury cases, achieving over $500 million in settlements for our clients.