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Trusted Dog Bite Attorneys
Columbus Dog Bite Lawyer
If you or your loved one suffered injuries in a dog bite incident, Ohio law allows you to hold the dog’s owner liable for your damages. At Bressman Law, our dog bite attorneys in Columbus understand that dog bites are strict liability cases under Ohio law—meaning the owner is responsible regardless of whether they knew their dog was dangerous. With over 30 years of experience handling dog bite cases throughout Ohio, we fight to secure compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, scarring, and emotional trauma caused by these often devastating attacks.
Why Choose Bressman Law as Your Columbus Dog Bite Attorney
- Over three decades of experience handling dog bite cases in Ohio
- Understanding of Ohio’s strict liability dog bite laws under ORC §955.28
- Experience with serious injury cases including facial scarring and permanent disfigurement
- Proven ability to negotiate with homeowners’ insurance companies
- Compassionate representation for children and families affected by dog attacks
- Personalized attention from a family firm that understands the physical and emotional trauma dog attacks cause
Our Fee Structure
We handle all dog bite cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you owe us no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. You won’t pay any upfront costs—our payment comes only from your settlement or court award.
If We Don’t Win, You Don’t Pay
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bites
Under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) §955.28, Ohio follows strict liability for dog bites. This means the dog owner is automatically liable if their dog attacks you and causes injuries—you don’t have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous or that they were negligent. Your Columbus dog bite lawyer can try to hold the dog owner liable for your accident-related expenses and losses. If the insurance company doesn’t offer fair compensation, we can file a personal injury lawsuit against the dog’s owner.
Yes, but they’re very limited. A dog owner may not be liable if you provoked the dog, you were trespassing or committing a criminal act on their property at the time of the attack, or the dog was working as a police or military dog. Our team will evaluate whether any of these exceptions apply to your situation. In most cases, the owner is liable regardless of the circumstances.
Dog bite wounds carry a high risk of infection, and even minor bite injuries require medical treatment. Common injuries we handle include puncture wounds, torn skin, ripped muscles, tendons, or ligaments, broken bones, infections requiring antibiotics or hospitalization, amputations, scarring (especially on the hands or face), lasting impairment, and emotional and mental anguish, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and fear of dogs. Children are particularly vulnerable to facial injuries and emotional trauma from dog attacks.
Depending on your specific case, we may be able to pursue compensation for current and future medical expenses, surgical costs for reconstructive procedures, lost wages from time away from work, pain and suffering, permanent scarring and disfigurement, psychological counseling and therapy, reduced quality of life, and emotional distress. Dog bite cases involving facial scarring, especially for children, or attacks causing permanent disabilities often result in substantial compensation.
In Ohio, you generally have six years after a dog bite incident to file a personal injury lawsuit—significantly longer than the two-year deadline for most other personal injury cases. However, if you were under 18 years old at the time of the attack, you have up to six years after you turn 18 to file suit. Despite this extended timeline, it’s important to act quickly to preserve evidence, document your injuries, and begin the claims process, so don’t wait to contact an experienced attorney about your case.
No. Unlike most personal injury cases, Ohio’s strict liability law means you don’t need to prove negligence. However, we still document the four elements to build the strongest case possible: the dog owner owed you a duty of care by properly controlling their dog, they breached that duty by failing to control their dog or allowing it near the public, their dog attacked you causing injuries, and you are now suffering damages due to those injuries.
Dog owners and their insurance companies often try to shift blame by claiming the victim provoked the attack. We thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the attack, gather witness statements, obtain medical records documenting your injuries, and collect any available video footage or photos. In cases involving children, provocation defenses are particularly weak—children often don’t understand how to interact safely with dogs, and owners have a responsibility to keep dangerous dogs away from children.
Most homeowners and renters insurance policies include liability coverage for dog bites. As your dog bite attorney in Columbus, we will identify the applicable insurance policy and file a claim with the owner’s insurer. If the insurance company doesn’t award you a fair settlement, we can file a personal injury lawsuit to go after the compensation you need to cover your damages.
Seek medical attention immediately, even for seemingly minor bites—infections can develop quickly and become serious. Document the attack by taking photos of your injuries, the dog (if safe to do so), and the location where it occurred. Get contact information for the dog owner and any witnesses, report the attack to local animal control authorities, keep all medical records and bills, and contact an experienced dog bite lawyer in Columbus before speaking with the dog owner’s insurance company. Do not accept any settlement offers without legal advice.
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Get Help From a Dog Bite Lawyer with our Firm Today
We have been serving personal injury clients in Ohio for more than 30 years, so you can count on us to take on your case and pursue the compensation you deserve. If you want to learn more about how we can help you with your dog bite case in Columbus, OH, a team member at Bressman Law is standing by to assist you.
We handle all dog bite cases on a contingency-fee-basis, so you owe us no attorney’s fees unless we recover a payout for you. Call us today to get started. Our case reviews and initial consultations are always free.