Middleburg Heights Dog Bites Lawyer

Dog Bites Attorney in Middleburg Heights, OH

If you have suffered a dog bite in Ohio, you may wonder what your chances are of holding the owner liable and of recovering compensation. Being bitten by a dog is a serious and traumatic experience, especially for young children. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries after being attacked by a dog, an experienced Middleburg Heights dog bites lawyer is here to protect your rights to potential compensation. 

About Our Personal Injury Lawyers

For over 30 years, the team at Phillips & Mille Co., L.P.A. has helped individuals and families alike find legal solutions to complicated questions. One of the most common questions we come up against is, “Am I owed compensation?” after an injury has been suffered through the negligence or recklessness of another party. Let us meet you wherever you are today and uncover the answers you seek. 

Injuries Common After a Dog Attack

Across the United States, around own at least one dog. Most often, these dogs prove to be loyal and loving members of the family. However, whether due to past abuse or negligent care, a dog might show signs of aggression and could cause you or a loved one to suffer potentially severe injuries. In most dog bite cases across Ohio, the following injuries are common:

• Broken bones. Large breed dogs may be able to exert enough power during a bite or attack to knock a victim down or hit them with enough force to break or fracture bones.
  
• Puncture wounds. When a dog bites an individual, the damage could affect muscles, tendons, or ligaments inside the body.
  
• Infections. Many dog bite injuries will eventually heal, but some can lead to secondary infections that are even more serious than the original wound. Common infections resulting from dog bites include rabies, Pasteurella, and tetanus. Around the world, in fact, domestic dogs are responsible for more than 95% of the estimated 70,000 rabies-related human deaths each year.
  
• Psychological damage. Victims of dog bites and dog bite attacks may suffer certain forms of psychological damage alongside physical injury. This is especially true for younger victims, such as young children. Psychological damage typically takes the form of PTSD, anxiety, or depression.
  
• Disfigurement. Due to the serious nature of the wounds often suffered in a dog attack, victims could be left with permanent scars and damage for the rest of their lives. 

Damages You May Be Entitled to Pursue

Being bitten by a dog can be both physically painful and emotionally scarring. The damage wrought can also see you facing financial burdens that you were not expecting. At Phillips & Mille Co., L.P.A., we are here to help our clients recover the following damages in a dog bite claim:

• Medical expenses. This can include any necessary emergency care or transportation, rabies shots, hospital visits, wound treatment, surgeries, scar revision procedures, and long-term care.
  
• Lost wages. If your dog bite injuries keep you from being able to work, you may be entitled to recover lost wages, lost employment benefits, and future lost wages in cases where you suffer lasting limitations or disability.
  
• Pain and suffering. You may be able to recover compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering you have sustained as a result of the dog bite.
  
• Wrongful death. While rare, dog bites can result in death. In fact, according to a recent study, there is an average of43 dog attacks resulting in death in the U.S. each year. In these tragic situations, certain surviving family members may be able to recover the medical expenses suffered by the victim prior to their death, as well as any funeral or burial expenses. 

Liability in Dog Bite Cases

In Ohio, when an individual suffers a dog bite or dog attack, the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog can be held legally liable for the damages sustained. This applies across the board, whether or not the owner was acting negligently at the time of the accident. In these cases, to prove liability, you must show that:

• The individual you are filing your claim against was the owner of the dog or was liable for the dog at the time of your injury.
• You suffered actual damage and injuries as a result of the attack.

However, if you were trespassing, committing or attempting to commit a crime on the property where the dog was kept or against the person, or you were teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog before you were attacked, then the liability law does not apply to your case. You will not be able to recover compensation. 

Get the Local Representation You Deserve From Phillips & Mille Co., L.P.A.

When you are attacked by a dog in Middleburg Heights, you need to hire a personal injury attorney who understands the local legal landscape of Cuyahoga County. At Phillips & Mille Co., L.P.A., we care deeply about our community and the individuals and families who we are proud to call our neighbors. When you walk into our offices, you aren’t just another client: you are a fellow human being who has suffered and deserves a trusted legal advocate.

Let us be that legal advocate today. Our attorneys have served on the Middleburg Heights Junior High PTA, the Middleburg Heights Chamber of Commerce, and have coached soccer and football for various organizations in the area. We have deep roots in this community, and we are here to serve you when the time comes for legal representation you can count on. 

Hire a Dog Bites Lawyer in Middleburg Heights

If you or a loved one has suffered a dog bite in Middleburg Heights, you need to hire a dog bite lawyer as soon as possible. Perhaps you were out for a walk on one of the many trails on Big Creek Reservation, and an off-leash dog attacked you. Or, you were taking a turn about the neighborhood with your family on Chippewa Trail, and one of your children was bitten.

Whatever the nature of your dog bite, there is a good chance you and your family can recover compensation. At Phillips & Mille Co., L.P.A., we can help. We invite you to contact our offices today and set up a consultation to learn more about your legal options.