Tittle & Perlmuter is pleased to announce that our firm has reached a confidential settlement with the tortfeasor’s insurance company in an amount well into the six figures relating to a Lorain County dog bite claim. After being offered a measly $10,000 by the insurance company, a Lorain County family turned to Tittle & Perlmuter for help. While at a family friend’s home, the dog mauled the visiting family’s teenage son, tearing off a portion of his lip. Immediately after the dog attack, the teen was rushed to a local hospital in Oberlin, Ohio, where emergency plastic surgery was performed. Fortunately for the family, the surgeon was able to repair the teen’s lip, leaving only a scar down his chin, along with a small scar on his upper lip.
A claim was brought against the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy. At first, the insurance company attempted to take advantage of the good worked performed by the surgeon, claiming that, as a result of the repair, the teen’s scars “healed well.” Accordingly, it was reported to the family that the insurance company would only offer “around $10,000” to settle the claim. That’s when Tittle & Perlmuter stepped in. As a result, the family was awarded a settlement well into the six figure range.
Ohio is considered a strict liability state relating to dog bites. This means that as a result of Ohio’s dog bite statute, a dog owner, harborer, or keeper will be liable whenever his or her dog injures, bites, or causes loss to a person or the property of a person, even if it is the first time the dog has caused injury. Nationwide, there are roughly 4.5 million American dog bite victims according to a recent survey. Sacks JJ, Kresnow M. Dog bites: still a problem? Injury Prevention 2008 Oct;14(5):296-301. If you or a loved one has suffered a dog bite, you may be entitled to compensation for present and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and permanent scarring. Give our dog bite attorneys a call for a free evaluation and consultation. For more information on dog bites, feel free to visit out dog bite page.