Akron Personal Injury Lawyer - Property Owner's Liability (Slip & Fall)

Dog Bites: More Dangerous Than You Think

Rebecca Castell — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 10:38:18 GMT

Every year, approximately 4 million people are bitten by dogs. Most of these people are children. Aside from the physical injuries of lacerations and bruising, dog bites can cause infections and disease, especially for individuals with certain health conditions.

For example, someone with a chronic disease, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, liver dysfunction or systemic lupus can experience a high risk of infection after a dog bite. Doctors recommend treatment with antibiotics following a dog bite wound.

Another concern is the risk of rabies. If the dog has not been vaccinated for rabies, or if the dog's vaccination history is unknown, the dog should be quarantined for 10 days to determine whether it is positive for rabies. If the dog cannot be quarantined, a rabies vaccination for the victim is recommended.

With dog bites, as with most injuries, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Teach children to be careful around animals, even if the animal appears to be friendly. Should a bite occur, seek medical attention.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rebecca Castell

Dog Attack Lawsuit

Christina Cole — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 00:49:29 GMT

A dog attack lawsuit has challenged the laws in Ohio. The case involves Niko, a Yorkie, that was attacked by a neighbor's dog, suffering from injuries that left his owners with thousands worth of vet bills.

In June, Niko's owners let him outside in the front yard to use the restroom. As they were returning to the house the
Rottweiler attacked, biting Niko so hard that he lost a kidney, barely surviving the dog attack. With over $5,500 spent on emergency surgery, he did recover.

When Niko's owners went to their neighbor for reimbursement of her vet bills, they were told they weren't going to pay a dime. They took them to court and won, Akron Municipal court ruled in their favor.

According to Ohio law, a person is only entitled to recover the fair market value of the property. Dogs are considered property, only entitling them to $899, the amount she paid for Niko.
The Akron jury however, determined Tristan should get the full $5,500, she paid for medical bills, plus court costs.

Niko is almost fully recovered from the attack.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole