A Columbus Dog Bite Lawyer Explains Everything Victims and Their Families Need to Know

Dog bites often leave victims with severe physical and emotional trauma. They often leave victims and their families facing substantial financial costs as well. These are all losses that victims and their families can seek to recover with the help of an experienced Columbus dog bite lawyer.

If you have a dog bite claim in Ohio, you must be very careful to protect your legal rights. This Guide to Dog Bite Cases in Ohio provides an introduction to what you need to know. Once you learn about the steps you need to take, the mistakes you need to avoid, and how a lawyer can help you, we strongly encourage you to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Columbus dog bite lawyer at Malek & Malek Law Firm.

What To Do if You or Your Child Has Been Bitten by a Dog

If you or your child has been bitten by a dog, there are some important steps you should take as soon as possible. Taking these steps will not only help minimize the risk of long-term physical and emotional trauma, but it will help protect your legal rights as well. Some of the most important steps you need to take include:

• Seek Medical Treatment Right Away – Making sure you or your child receives all necessary medical treatment should be your first priority. Prompt treatment can be critical for both mitigating the risk of infection and preventing permanent effects from soft tissue damage, nerve damage and other injuries.
• Follow Your (or Your Child’s) Doctor’s Medical Advice – As you work to move on from the attack, you should try to do everything your (or your child’s) doctor recommends. Prioritize proper wound care, rest and recovery—and avoid doing (or allowing your child to do) anything that could prolong the recovery process.
• Write Down Everything You (or Your Child) Can Remember – While it can be difficult, it is important to write down everything you can remember about the attack. If your child was bitten, talk to your child to try to understand what happened. The more details you can provide to your Columbus dog bite lawyer, the better.
• Start Documenting the Costs of the Attack – From medical bills to lost earnings, you will want to start documenting the costs of the attack. It will be helpful if you can take notes detailing the day-to-day impacts of your (or your child’s) injuries as well.
• Schedule a Free Consultation with a Columbus Dog Bite Lawyer – Recovering just compensation for all of the financial and non-financial costs of a vicious dog attack requires experienced legal representation. With this in mind, you should schedule a free consultation with a Columbus dog bite lawyer right away.

What a Columbus Dog Bite Lawyer Can Do to Help

When you schedule a free consultation with a Columbus dog bite lawyer, your lawyer will be able to begin helping you right away, and after your free consultation, there are several additional steps your lawyer will take on your behalf. Here are just some of the ways an experienced Columbus dog bite lawyer will be able to help:

• Explain Your Legal Rights in Ohio – Your lawyer will be able to clearly explain your legal rights under Ohio’s dog bite laws. Understanding your legal rights will help you make informed decisions about your next steps.
• Explain the Process of Filing a Dog Bite Claim – Your lawyer will be able to clearly explain the process of filing a dog bite claim as well. Knowing what to expect can help you feel confident as you move forward.
• File a Claim with the Dog Owner’s (or Other Liable Party’s) Insurer – In most cases, filing a dog bite claim involves dealing with the dog owner’s (or other liable party’s) insurer. Several types of insurance policies cover dog bite claims, and most successful claims end with insurance settlements.
• Explain the Damages You Are Entitled to Recover – In Ohio, dog bite victims and their families are entitled to just compensation for their financial and non-financial losses. An experienced Columbus dog bite lawyer will be able to explain all of the various types of damages you are entitled to recover.
• Seek the Damages You and Your Family Deserve – Most importantly, your lawyer will seek the damages you and your family deserve. If these efforts lead to a settlement offer, your lawyer will help you decide whether you should accept or keep pursuing additional compensation.

Steps to Take (and Mistakes to Avoid) During Your Ohio Dog Bite Claim

Once you file a claim with your lawyer’s help, there will be additional steps that you need to take with your lawyer by your side. There will also be several potentially costly mistakes you need to avoid. For example:

Step #1: Work with Your Lawyer to Calculate Your Financial Costs

The financial costs of a serious dog attack can begin adding up quickly, and they can continue to add up for years to come. With this in mind, it will be important for you to work closely with your lawyer to calculate the present and future costs of your (or your child’s) injuries. This includes not only medical bills but other out-of-pocket costs and lost income (and benefits) as well.

Mistake #1: Ignoring Costs You Are Entitled to Recover

When calculating the financial costs of the attack, it is critical not to ignore any costs you are entitled to recover. Again, your costs can continue to add up for years. Once you resolve your claim, you won’t be able to go back and ask for more.

Step #2: Work with Your Lawyer to Calculate Your Non-Financial Damages

You will also want to work closely with your lawyer to calculate the non-financial damages you are entitled to recover. Under Ohio law, dog bite victims and their families can recover just compensation for pain and suffering, emotional trauma, permanent scarring and disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and various other non-financial consequences.

Mistake #2: Ignoring the Life-Altering Effects of Dog Bite Trauma

Dog bites can have a variety of life-altering effects for adults and children alike. As you work with your lawyer to calculate the value of your claim, you will want to be sure to address all of the harmful effects of the attack.

Step #3: Let Your Lawyer Handle Your Insurance Claim

Once your Columbus dog bite lawyer has the evidence he or she needs to file your claim, you should let your lawyer deal with the insurance company on your behalf. Let your lawyer do what he or she does best while you focus on taking care of yourself or your child. Your lawyer will keep you informed throughout the process and solicit your involvement when necessary.

Mistake #3: Letting the Insurance Company Blame You (or Your Child)

The insurance companies always put their interests first, and they fight dog bite claims by all means available. This includes blaming victims for their own injuries in many cases. Do not let this happen to you.

Step #4: Make an Informed Decision About Settlement

If the insurance company makes a settlement offer, you should sit down with your lawyer and make an informed decision about whether to accept. This decision is extremely important, and you should make your decision based on your family’s long-term needs.

Mistake #4: Settling Too Soon So that You Can But Your Claim Behind You

You should not make your decision based on a desire to move on. While it may be tempting to resolve your claim quickly, accepting less than you deserve could prove to be a very costly mistake.

Step #5: Rely on Your Lawyer’s Advice to Protect Yourself and Your Family

From deciding what damages you should seek to deciding when (and if) to settle your dog bite claim, you should rely on your lawyer’s advice to make informed decisions throughout the process. You should feel free to get in touch whenever you have questions, and you should not make any decisions unless you are confident that they are the right decisions for you and your family.

Mistake #5: Making Assumptions that Prevent You from Collecting the Compensation You Deserve

Making assumptions about your legal rights can prove to be a very costly mistake as well. In fact, you should not be making any assumptions at this stage. If you make the wrong assumptions, you might not get a second chance to seek the financial compensation you and your family deserve.

Discuss Your Legal Rights with a Columbus Dog Bite Lawyer for Free

Again, this Guide to Dog Bite Cases in Ohio just provides an introduction to what you need to know after a serious dog attack. To ensure that you are making informed decisions based on sound legal advice, you should speak with an experienced Columbus dog bite lawyer as soon as possible. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a lawyer at Malek & Malek Law Firm, call 888-444-7440 or tell us how we can get in touch online now.