Bitten by a Dog in Ohio? Ohio Law Is Firmly on Your Side
Dog bites are more common — and more serious — than most people realize, and children take the worst of them: facial injuries, permanent scarring, infection risk, and a lasting fear of animals. What many victims don’t know is that Ohio is one of the strongest strict-liability dog bite states in the country. If a dog injured you or your child in Lima, Wapakoneta, eastern Ohio, southeastern Ohio, or elsewhere in the state, I can usually establish liability quickly and focus the case where it belongs: on getting your injuries treated and fairly compensated.
Ohio’s Strict Liability Rule: No “One Free Bite”
Some states let a dog owner off the hook unless they knew the dog was dangerous. Ohio does not. Under Ohio Revised Code 955.28, the owner — along with anyone keeping or harboring the dog — is liable for injuries the dog causes, period. You do not have to prove:
- That the dog had bitten before
- That the owner knew the dog was aggressive
- That the owner was careless in handling the dog
The statute has three main exceptions: the injured person was trespassing, was committing a criminal offense, or was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog on the owner’s property. Insurers sometimes stretch these exceptions — especially the “teasing” argument when the victim is a child — and pushing back on that is exactly the kind of work an attorney handles.
In the right case, I may also bring a common-law claim alongside the statutory one, which can open the door to additional damages when an owner knew the dog was vicious and ignored the danger.
What Compensation Can Cover
- Medical care — emergency treatment, stitches, infection and rabies protocols, and future care
- Scarring and disfigurement — including plastic surgery and scar revision, which for a growing child may be years away
- Counseling — trauma and fear responses are real injuries, especially for young victims
- Lost wages for time away from work, and other out-of-pocket losses
The Insurance Reality (Read This Before You Decide Not to Pursue It)
Most dog bites happen close to home — the dog belongs to a neighbor, a relative, or a friend. Victims often stay quiet because they don’t want to hurt someone they know. Here’s the truth: these claims are almost always paid by homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, which the owner has been paying premiums on for exactly this purpose. A claim is not a personal attack on your neighbor, and handling it through insurance is precisely how the system is designed to work. I handle these situations with the discretion small-town relationships require.
What to Do After a Dog Bite
- Get medical care immediately — bite wounds infect easily, and prompt treatment also documents the injury.
- Identify the dog and its owner — this matters both for the claim and for verifying rabies vaccination.
- Report the bite to the local health department or dog warden. Ohio requires bite reporting, and the report creates an official record.
- Photograph everything — the wounds (and healing progress over time), torn clothing, and the location.
- Don’t give the insurer a recorded statement or accept a quick offer before you understand the full extent of the injury — scarring, in particular, takes time to assess.
Deadlines
Dog bite claims in Ohio are generally subject to a two-year window for injury lawsuits, and claims for minors are treated differently — but the practical deadline is much shorter: witnesses, photographs, and the dog warden’s records are all easiest to secure early. A prompt conversation costs nothing and protects the claim.
Dog bite cases are part of my broader personal injury practice. If you or your child has been bitten or injured by a dog anywhere in Ohio, send a message or call the office — you’ll get a straight answer about what your claim is worth pursuing.