A Free Legal Resource for Dog Bite Victims in Cuyahoga County
This site exists to help dog bite victims in Cuyahoga County understand their rights under Ohio law — clearly and without cost. It covers the applicable statutes, municipal courts, local ordinances, reporting agencies, and practical steps for documenting an injury and navigating the claims process.
Ohio Dog Bite Law Is Strong — But Most Victims Don't Know Their Rights
Ohio's dog bite statute, R.C. § 955.28, is one of the most protective in the country. Unlike most states, Ohio does not follow the “one bite rule” — owners are strictly liable for injuries their dogs cause regardless of whether the animal had shown aggression before. Victims do not need to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
Despite this, many dog bite victims in Cuyahoga County don't pursue valid claims — because they don't know what the law says, aren't sure what records to request, or accept an early insurance offer without understanding what their injury may actually be worth. This site is designed to close that information gap.
The resources here cover the state statute, the municipal courts that hear dog bite cases in Cuyahoga County, the local ordinances that vary city to city, the government agencies involved in bite investigation and reporting, and the practical steps a victim should take to document an injury and preserve their rights.
All information is provided as a public resource. Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Ryan Injury Attorneys
This site is maintained by Ryan Injury Attorneys — a civil litigation firm located at 55 Public Square in downtown Cleveland. The attorneys below are responsible for the accuracy of the legal information published here.
Daniel J. Ryan
Founding Attorney at Ryan Injury Attorneys
Dan Ryan has practiced civil litigation in Ohio for more than 40 years. He began his legal career in 1973 at the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office and subsequently served as North Olmsted's Assistant Law Director and Prosecutor from 1979 through 2001, while simultaneously maintaining a civil practice focused on wrongful death, medical malpractice, and general negligence matters.
He has completed several hundred trials and is admitted to practice before the Ohio courts, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
- J.D. — Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University (1973)
- B.A. History & Mathematics — John Carroll University (1968)
Thomas P. Ryan
Attorney — Ryan Injury Attorneys · Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy
Thomas Ryan has practiced civil litigation since 2007, focusing on personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice matters. He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate through the National Board of Trial Advocacy and a Registered Patent Attorney before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Prior to law school, Tom worked as a software developer and technology consultant for IBM and Sprint. He continues to apply that technical background to case development and to maintaining this site and the firm's online resources.
- J.D. — Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University (2007)
- B.S. Chemistry & Biology — Ashland University (2000)
Accuracy & Currency of Information
The statutes, court contacts, municipal ordinances, and agency information on this site are reviewed and updated periodically by the attorneys at Ryan Injury Attorneys. Municipal ordinances in particular change with some frequency — if you are researching a specific city's animal control rules for a legal matter, we recommend verifying the current ordinance text directly through that city's published code.
Links to government sources — Ohio Revised Code, Cuyahoga County court websites, and municipal code libraries — are provided throughout the site so readers can access primary sources directly. Nothing on this site should be relied upon as legal advice for a specific situation.
Questions About a Dog Bite in Cuyahoga County?
If you have questions about a specific situation, the attorneys at Ryan Injury Attorneys offer free consultations and can evaluate your claim without obligation.