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FAQ's About Ohio Dog Bite Laws and Answers From Dog Bite Attorneys

Question : What is a dog bite?
Answer: A dog bite is an injury that is the result of a person or object being caught between the teeth of the upper and lower jaws of a dog. Broken skin is not a requirement.

Question: Which dogs most commonly bite? Are some breeds more dangerous than others?
Answer: The Centers for Disease Control collects information about dog bite incidents throughout the country. The breeds that the CDC considers high risk include:

• Pit Bulls
• Rottweilers
• German Shepherds
• Alaskan Malamutes
• Doberman Pinschers
• Chows
• Great Danes
• Saint Bernards
• Akitas
• Huskies

While genetics plays a part in a dog’s tendency to attack, other factors also affect a dog’s behavior. These factors include whether the animal is humanely trained, properly socialized, carefully supervised, and safely confined.

In short, the key to dog bite prevention for all breeds is responsible dog ownership.

Question: Why do some dogs bite?
Answer: There are many reasons why dogs bite. A dog may bite out of fear, or to protect its territory, or to establish dominance over the victim. Some owners mistakenly teach their dogs that biting is an acceptable form of playing. Sadly, a number of newborn infants die every year from attacks by dogs that saw them as "prey."

Because dog bites occur for many different reasons, dog owners need to be responsible for taking all the steps necessary to stop their animals from causing harm.

Question: If a dog bites me, what should I do immediately?
Answer: If a dog attacks you, here are some things you can do right away to take care of a serious wound:

• Apply pressure to the wound area to stop the bleeding.
• Raise the injured area above the level of the heart to slow swelling and prevent infection.
• Wash the wound gently with soap and water.
• Seek medical attention promptly.
• Report the incident to the local health department.

Question: What should I do if my dog bites someone?
Answer: If your dog bites someone, act responsibly by taking the following steps:

• Confine your dog immediately.
• Check on victim’s condition. Call for emergency medical help if necessary.
• Provide the victim with necessary information, including when the dog was last vaccinated for rabies and whether your dog had any serious illnesses.
• Cooperate with the local health department officials. Obey their directions about quarantining your dog in your home, a veterinary hospital, or an animal control facility.
• Seek professional help to prevent your dog from biting again. Get a referral from a veterinarian, animal control agency, or humane society to find a dog trainer or an animal behavior specialist in your area.
• If you cannot control your dog’s dangerous behavior and decide to sell it or give it away, be careful about selecting a new owner. Tell that person about the past dog attacks and ask whether the individual is willing and able to prevent the dog from causing further harm.

Question: If my neighbor's dog bit me on my own property, do I have a legal claim?
Answer: It depends on the circumstances. In Ohio, the state dog bite law imposes "strict liability" on dog owners, keepers, and harborers. Thus, you may need only to prove that the dog injured you. The place where the dog attack happened usually is a secondary issue.

Question: Can a person bring a legal claim if he or she was bitten by a stray dog? If so, against whom?
Answer: In most situations, a person bitten by a stray dog does not have a legal claim. City and township governments are generally not responsible for injuries caused by stray dogs.

Question: Do I have a claim if I went into a private home or onto private land to do work, and was bitten by the property owner's dog?
Answer: If a property owner asks you to enter to perform work, the owner usually has a legal responsibility to protect the worker from injury by a dog permitted to be on the property.

If you or a loved one was injured in an Ohio dog attack, contact a dedicated Ohio dog bite lawyer immediately.

Please click here to make out a simple, free, and confidential consultation form about your Ohio dog attack claim now.

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