Personal Injury | Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
Charleston, WV and Columbus, OH

Dog Bite Lawyers

Helping animal attack victims in West Virginia

Being attacked by a dog can be a painful, terrifying and costly experience. The victim may be left with permanent physical and psychological damage. This is especially true if the victim is a child. The personal injury attorneys at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC understand the seriousness of dog bites. We work hard to secure just compensation for innocent victims and their families.

West Virginia law puts expectations on dog owners

Unfortunately, many dog bites throughout West Virginia result from owners and keepers who allow their dogs to roam at large, fail to protect others from animals they know to be dangerous or who otherwise act negligently in the handling of their pets. The options that may be available in your particular case will depend on a number of factors.

Was the dog running at large? West Virginia has a strict liability dog bite statute, W. Va. Code § 19-20-13. It applies when a person is injured by a dog that was allowed to run at large, or without a leash. Strict liability means that you do not need to prove the owner was negligent in order to recover compensation for your injuries.

Did the owner or keeper know of the dog's potential to attack? If you were not attacked by a dog that was running at large, you can still seek damages if you can show that the owner or keeper actually knew or reasonably should have known of the dog's potential to attack. This is referred to as "limited strict liability," or the "One Bite Rule."

Was the dog owner or keeper otherwise negligent? If the facts of your case do not support a strict liability or limited strict liability claim, you can still seek a recovery by proving that the dog owner or keeper was negligent. In other words, the owner or keeper failed to act reasonably in protecting others from being harmed by the pet.

Our law firm can help your family

A personal injury attorney from our law firm can thoroughly review your case to determine whether one or more options for a recovery are available to you. We can seek a full and fair recovery for the harm you or a loved one has suffered, including past and future medical expenses, scarring and disfigurement, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress and more.

If you or a loved one was injured by a dog bite, learn about your legal options by contacting us today to get started. We can seek maximum compensation in your case and help you to secure the funds you need for your recovery.

Charleston, WV

Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC
10 Hale St Suite 501
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 720-1000

Columbus, OH

Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC
20 E Broad St Suite 1000
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 587-8423