Summer Dog Bites in Cleveland: What to Do and When You May Have a Legal Claim

Summer in Ohio brings outdoor fun, but it is also peak season for dog bites. As temperatures rise, so do animal attacks that could lead to serious injuries and costly medical care.

At Friedman, Domiano & Smith, our knowledgeable dog bite attorneys in Cleveland can help you understand the legal steps to take after an attack. Several factors affect the severity of dog bite incidents. Therefore, you must act right away to secure the compensation you need to recover.

What Should I Do Immediately After a Dog Bite in Cleveland?

If you get attacked by a dog, your immediate actions can determine both your physical recovery and your ability to pursue legal compensation. Taking the proper steps after being bitten protects your health and preserves key evidence before it is lost or destroyed.

Ensure Immediate Safety

Your priority is getting to safety and away from the aggressive dog. If the animal is still nearby, back away slowly without making direct eye contact or sudden movements. Do not run, as this can trigger the dog’s chase instinct and lead to additional attacks.

Call 911 right away if you or someone else has serious injuries like deep cuts, heavy bleeding, injuries to the face or hands, or if a child was attacked. Emergency responders can provide immediate medical care and create an official incident report that strengthens your legal case.

Assess Medical Needs

Even seemingly minor dog bites require an immediate medical assessment. Look for puncture wounds that may be deeper than they appear, as dog teeth can cause internal damage without obvious external signs. Any bite that breaks the skin requires immediate medical attention. Even small puncture wounds are at risk of infection due to the bacteria in dogs’ mouths.

If there is significant bleeding from the wound, apply direct pressure with a clean cloth while waiting for emergency services. Do not attempt to clean deep wounds at the scene. Allow a paramedic or a health professional to clean wounds to reduce the risk of infection or further tissue damage.

Report the Incident

Cleveland requires dog bite incidents to be reported to the Division of Animal Care and Control within 24 hours of the attack. When you file an official report, it creates a permanent record of the incident and triggers an investigation into the dog’s history and vaccination status.

File a police report with the Cleveland Division of Police, especially for serious attacks or incidents involving children. Police reports provide official documentation that are considered credible by both insurance companies and courts. The report provides a detailed account of what happened, includes witness statements, and notes any tickets given for leash or dangerous dog law violations.

If you are concerned about the possibility of rabies exposure, or the dog’s vaccination status is unknown, report the incident to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. Involving the health department ensures proper medical protocols are followed and creates additional documentation of the attack.

Follow Up on Medical Documentation

When seeking immediate medical treatment in a nearby emergency room, be sure to let the ER staff and treating physician know that you were attacked by a dog. These details are important as they further inform the doctor about specific treatments you may need while also ensuring your medical records are properly documented. Ensure details about the dog’s size, breed, and bite pattern are included. This medical documentation becomes vital evidence linking your injuries directly to the specific dog attack.

Request copies of all medical records, treatment plans, and recommendations for follow-up care immediately after treatment. Cleveland area hospitals and clinics can provide these records quickly when requested at the time of treatment.

Schedule follow-up appointments with your primary care physician even if emergency room treatment seems adequate. Some dog bite complications, including infections and nerve damage, may not manifest immediately and require ongoing medical observation.

Are Ohio Dog Owners Automatically Liable if Their Pet Attacks or Bites Someone?

Yes, Ohio dog owners are automatically liable for their pets’ attacks or bites under Ohio Revised Code Section 955.28. The law covers all dog-related injuries, not just dog bites. For example, dog owners can also become liable if a dog knocks someone down, causes them to fall while attempting to escape, or injures them during an attack.

The only exceptions that can eliminate an owner’s responsibility are:

• Trespassing: Owners escape liability when their dog attacks someone lawfully on their property. However, guests, delivery personnel, and others with legitimate reasons for being there do not qualify as trespassers.
• Provocation: Owners may be able to avoid liability if victims intentionally provoke the attack by hurting the dog, threatening it, or engaging in behavior that would naturally cause aggression. Petting or accidental contact does not count as provocation.
• Criminal Activity: Owners are not liable when their dog attacks people attempting to commit crimes on their property during an incident.

What Damages Can I Recover for My Dog Bite Injuries in Cleveland?

Dog bite injuries in Cleveland can result in extensive damage that goes far beyond the initial medical treatment. As a result, dog bite victims may need a claim that can adequately cover the following:

• Immediate Medical Treatment: This may include emergency room visits that involve treatments such as wound cleaning, antibiotics, tetanus shots, and rabies prophylaxis when necessary.
• Ongoing Medical Care and Rehabilitation: Dog bite victims may need physical therapy if the dog bite injures muscles, tendons, or nerves. In some cases, victims may need psychological counseling if the trauma of being attacked by a dog causes them to suffer anxiety or depression.
• Future Medical Expenses: Long-term medical costs may be necessary for severe injuries that require plastic surgery years after the initial attack. Also, chronic pain management is needed for victims with nerve damage or complex injuries.
• Lost Wages and Income: Dog bite injuries frequently prevent victims from working, either temporarily or permanently. Lost wages include regular salary or hourly earnings, overtime opportunities, and more.
• Pain and Suffering: Physical pain from dog bite injuries can cause internal pain. Victims endure pain during emergency treatment, surgical procedures, wound care, and the healing process.

Evidence You Need to Support Your Cleveland Dog Bite Injury Claim

A solid Cleveland dog bite injury claim starts with gathering evidence right after the incident, while the victim continues with the recovery process. The evidence you gather determines whether you can prove liability, establish damages, and secure fair compensation for your injuries.

Property Conditions

Document any inadequate fencing, broken gates, or failed restraints that allowed the dog to escape. Also, look for warning signs indicating that the owner was aware the dog might be dangerous.

Damage Documentation

Track all expenses, including medical bills, lost wages, travel costs for appointments, and impacts on daily activities. Maintain a daily journal describing pain levels, limitations, and emotional effects.

Expert Evidence

If you decide to work with an attorney, they can consult with medical experts, animal behaviorists, and economic specialists. They can provide professional opinions about your injuries, the circumstances of the attack, and potential future damages.

Digital and Surveillance Evidence

Your attorney can request access to security camera footage from nearby businesses before it’s deleted. Preserve text messages, emails, or social media posts related to the incident. Be cautious about your own social media activity during recovery.

Why There Is a Greater Risk of Dog Bites During the Summer

Rising temperatures directly increase the risk of dog bites by affecting canine behavior and stress levels. Dogs cool down by panting. When dogs overheat, their stress hormones rise, making them more irritable and less patient with everyday interactions.

Summer increases the risk of dog bites for several reasons, including:

• Children Out of School: School vacation puts children in closer contact with dogs during daytime hours with less adult supervision. Children often lack experience reading canine body language and may engage in behaviors that trigger dogs.
• Extended Daylight Hours: Longer days mean more time for dog-human interactions and dogs spending more time outside, which increases their exposure to passersby.
• Relaxed Safety Practices: Summer’s casual atmosphere leads to relaxed containment practices with open doors, windows, and gates providing escape routes for dogs.
• Vacation and Travel Stress: Disrupted routines, unfamiliar environments, and boarding situations can increase a dog’s stress levels. Dogs in vacation settings may be more protective of temporary territories.
• Service Worker Exposure: Summer activities require more outdoor services like pool maintenance, landscaping, and deliveries to backyards where dogs may be present and territorial.

Ohio’s Dangerous Dog Laws and Local Ordinances

Ohio law classifies dogs into three categories based on their behavior:

• Nuisance Dogs: Dogs that attempt to bite someone without provocation.
• Dangerous Dogs: Animals that have injured a person without provocation, killed another dog while off the owner’s property, or menacingly chased people. Any physical injury to a person, including minor bites, can result in a canine being classified as a dangerous dog.
• Vicious Dogs: Animals that have seriously injured or killed humans without provocation, or dangerous dogs that attack again after initial classification. This highest classification can result in a painless end to a dog’s life.

Owners of classified dogs must meet specific legal requirements, including carrying liability insurance or a surety bond of at least $100,000. These dogs must also be registered with local authorities and kept under strict control.

Dangerous dogs must be confined in locked enclosures on the owner’s property and muzzled or leashed when in public. Failure to follow these rules can lead to criminal charges, fines, and civil liability for future incidents.

How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Injury Claim in Cleveland

You have exactly two years from the date of the dog attack to file a lawsuit in court seeking compensation. This deadline applies to all dog bite claims in Cleveland and throughout Ohio, regardless of the severity of the injury or damage. The two-year clock typically starts running on the date the attack occurred, and you sustained injuries.

Ohio law gives children more time to file a dog bite lawsuit. The deadline does not start until they turn 18. Therefore, a child bitten at the age of 10 has until the age of 20 to sue. The deadline can be extended if the dog owner lies about vaccines or hides key details, or if the victim has severe mental or psychological issues from the attack.

Why Seek Legal Help for Your Cleveland Dog Bite Injury Claim

Dog bite cases may involve multiple legal theories, including Ohio’s strict liability law, negligence claims, premises liability, and landlord responsibility. Each type requires different proof and offers access to insurance coverage that victims often overlook when handling the case independently.

An attorney can help you maximize compensation by:

Identifying All Parties Who May Be Liable

While dog owners may be the sole or primary liable party, our FDS attorneys are diligent to investigate all parties who may share liability for the attack and resulting injuries. Other at-fault parties who may share liability include property owners, landlords, animal caretakers, and even municipalities for potential liability. This detailed approach often reveals multiple insurance sources and responsible parties, which could significantly increase the available compensation.

Accurate Calculation of Your Damages

Experienced attorneys ensure all damage categories are included, such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, future treatment costs, scarring, disfigurement, and psychological trauma. Future damages often represent the largest portion of awards but require expert testimony to calculate correctly.

Strategic Negotiating Your Settlement With the Insurance Company

Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts using tactics like questioning treatment necessity, disputing causation, and pressuring victims into quick, inadequate settlements. Attorneys level the playing field by understanding these tactics and knowing fair settlement ranges.

Quickly Taking Steps to Preserve Evidence of Your Attack

Attorneys identify vital evidence and take steps to preserve it before it is lost or destroyed. This includes issuing preservation letters, obtaining complete medical records, and securing witness statements while memories are fresh.

Call Friedman, Domiano & Smith After a Dog Bite Attack

Summer dog bites in Ohio create complex legal scenarios that require immediate action and guidance from a trusted attorney. A lawyer who knows Ohio’s dog bite laws and handles your case correctly can help you recover fully instead of facing significant expenses alone.

The experienced personal injury attorneys at Friedman, Domiano & Smith understand the unique challenges summer dog bite cases present in Cleveland. Our firm has a proven history of success for our clients. We have recovered millions in compensation for injured victims throughout Ohio, including those injured in dog bite attacks. We are deeply committed to helping families rebuild their lives after these traumatic attacks.