Been Bitten by a Dog in Cincinnati?

If you’ve been bitten, your first priority is getting away from the dog and to a safe location. Dog bites can range from minor puncture wounds to severe lacerations, crush injuries, and disfiguring facial injuries. Children are especially vulnerable to serious dog bite injuries because of their smaller size and the tendency for bites to occur on the face and head.

If the bite is deep, bleeding heavily, on the face or neck, or showing signs of tissue damage, call 911 or go directly to an emergency room. For less severe bites, seek medical attention within 24 hours — even superficial puncture wounds carry a high risk of infection.

Dog bites introduce bacteria deep into tissue, creating a high risk of infection. Even bites that seem minor can develop into serious infections including cellulitis, sepsis, or in rare cases, rabies. Seek medical treatment promptly.

In Cincinnati, the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (234 Goodman Street) is the region’s only ACS-verified Level I adult trauma center and handles the most severe bite injuries requiring surgical repair or reconstruction. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (3333 Burnet Avenue) is a nationally ranked pediatric facility that treats more than 300 child dog bite victims per year — their Division of Craniofacial and Pediatric Plastic Surgery has over 30 years of experience reconstructing injuries from dog attacks. Shriners Children’s Ohio, also located in Cincinnati, specializes in traumatic wound care for children at no cost to families. TriHealth Good Samaritan Hospital, TriHealth Bethesda North Hospital, and UC Health West Chester Hospital also provide emergency care for dog bite injuries.

Your doctor will clean the wound, assess whether stitches or surgical repair are needed, prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection, and determine whether a tetanus booster or rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is necessary based on the dog’s vaccination status.

Keep all medical records, bills, and prescriptions. Photograph your injuries on the day of the bite and daily thereafter to document how they heal (or don’t).

If you don’t already know, identify the dog and its owner as quickly as possible. Get the owner’s name, address, phone number, and homeowner’s or renter’s insurance information. Ask whether the dog is current on its rabies vaccination.

If the dog is a stray or the owner is unknown, note the dog’s breed, size, color, and any distinguishing features. Note the exact location where the bite occurred.

If the owner is present, take a photo of the dog if you can do so safely. If there are witnesses, get their names and phone numbers.

Dog bites in Hamilton County should be reported to the Hamilton County Dog Warden’s Office or Cincinnati Animal Care, depending on where the incident occurred. Within Cincinnati city limits, contact Cincinnati Animal Care at (513) 541-7387 (after-hours emergencies: 513-825-2280). For bites in Hamilton County outside the city, contact the Hamilton County Dog Warden. You must also report the bite to Hamilton County Public Health at (513) 946-7800 — Ohio law requires any dog bite to be reported to the local health commissioner within 24 hours, even if the animal is a family pet with current rabies vaccinations.

The health district will have you complete a Mammal Bite Report Form and respond within one business day. A mandatory 10-day quarantine observation of the animal is standard. Animal control will verify the dog’s rabies vaccination status and investigate the circumstances of the bite.

Filing a report creates an official record of the incident. If the dog has bitten before, prior reports strengthen your case significantly — and the dog may already be classified as “dangerous” or “vicious” under Ohio Rev. Code § 955.11, which carries additional consequences for the owner.

In addition to medical records and photos of your injuries, document: the location where the bite occurred (photograph it), any “Beware of Dog” signs or lack of fencing, the circumstances that led to the bite, witness contact information, any communication with the dog’s owner, and your symptoms and recovery over time.

If the bite happened on the owner’s property, photograph the property — the fencing (or lack thereof), the gate (open or closed), and any signs. This evidence is relevant to the owner’s negligence and whether the dog was properly confined.

This is important: Ohio has statutory strict liability for dog bite injuries under Ohio Rev. Code § 955.28(B). This means the dog’s owner is liable for injuries caused by their dog regardless of whether they knew the dog was dangerous. You do not need to prove the owner was negligent or that the dog had a history of aggression.

This is a significant advantage for dog bite victims in Ohio. Unlike states that follow a “one-bite rule” — where the owner gets a pass on the first bite — Ohio holds owners responsible from the first incident.

The exceptions are limited: if the victim was trespassing, teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog at the time of the bite, the owner may have a defense. But the burden is on the owner to prove the exception applies.

Additionally, owners can face criminal liability for failure to confine a dangerous or vicious dog under Ohio Rev. Code § 955.22. Dogs that have been designated “vicious” must be kept in secure enclosures and on leashes with a muzzle when outside.

Under Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10, you have two years from the date of the dog bite to file a personal injury lawsuit. For children, the statute of limitations may be extended — but you should consult an attorney to understand how this applies to your specific situation.

Ohio’s modified comparative fault rule (Ohio Rev. Code § 2315.33) can apply if the owner argues you provoked the dog or were partially at fault. Ohio uses a 50% bar, which is stricter than many states — if you’re found 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing. This makes it especially important to document the circumstances of the bite carefully.

Dog bite cases in Ohio benefit from the state’s strict liability statute, but the dog owner’s insurance company will still try to minimize your claim. They’ll argue you provoked the dog, that your injuries are minor, or that you were trespassing. An experienced attorney can counter these defenses, document the full extent of your injuries (including scarring, disfigurement, and emotional trauma such as PTSD), negotiate with the homeowner’s insurance company, and fight for fair compensation.

Most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency — you pay nothing unless they recover compensation for you.