The dog bite injury lawyers at ColanLaw in Westlake, Ohio share certain dog bite facts that may be able to prevent you from becoming a victim of a dog bite. First, it is important to realize that any dog can bite including ones you know, are familiar with, or are family pets. Second, dogs will typically show signs before they bite. If a dog is scared, nervous, or eating they are more likely to bite and they will show signs of being scared or nervous often growling or showing their teeth. Also, if a dog is sick it is more likely to bite. Stay away from dogs that appear scared, nervous, are eating, or appear sick. Third, children are the most frequent victim of a dog bite. Keep children away from unknown dogs or supervise them as much as possible if they are around dogs. Finally, if an unknown dog approaches you stay still and be calm, avoid direct eye contact with the dog, do not panic make loud noises, do not run away, say "go home" to the dog in a firm voice with the side of your body facing the dog.
If you do suffer a dog bite Ohio law typically makes the owner or harborer of the dog strictly liable for your injuries. Ohio law also has specific requirements for the owner of the dog after a dog bite. The requirements are as follows:
(A)(1) No person shall remove a dog that has bitten any person from the county in which the bite occurred until a quarantine period as specified in division (B) of this section has been completed. No person shall transfer a dog that has bitten any person until a quarantine period as specified in division (B) of this section has been completed, except that a person may transfer the dog to the county dog warden or to any other animal control authority.
(2)(a) Subject to division (A)(2)(b) of this section, no person shall kill a dog that has bitten any person until a quarantine period as specified in division (B) of this section has been completed.
(b) Division (A)(2)(a) of this section does not apply to the killing of a dog in order to prevent further injury or death or if the dog is diseased or seriously injured.
(3) No person who has killed a dog that has bitten any person in order to prevent further injury or death or if the dog is diseased or seriously injured shall fail to do both of the following:
(a) Immediately after the killing of the dog, notify the board of health for the district in which the bite occurred of the facts relative to the bite and the killing;
(b) Hold the body of the dog until that board of health claims it to perform tests for rabies.
(B) The quarantine period for a dog that has bitten any person shall be ten days or another period that the board of health for the district in which the bite occurred determines is necessary to observe the dog for rabies.
(C)(1) To enable persons to comply with the quarantine requirements specified in divisions (A) and (B) of this section, boards of health shall make provision for the quarantine of individual dogs under the circumstances described in those divisions.
(2) Upon the receipt of a notification pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section that a dog that has bitten any person has been killed, the board of health for the district in which the bite occurred shall claim the body of the dog from its killer and then perform tests on the body for rabies.
Whether or not the dog had rabies is an obvious and important concern and a concern that Ohio law attempts to address. If you suffered a dog bite and are concerned about rabbis the Center for Disease Control has advises, among other things, to seek medical attention right away. Please follow this link to access the Center for Disease Control website regarding dog bites and rabies: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/.
You are, of course, are likely entitled to compensation for you our injures and ColanLaw is experience at representing dog bite victims and is an experienced dog bite attorney or dog bite lawyer.