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Legal Duties of Ohio Dog Owners

In many Ohio dog bite injury lawsuits, the person who owned the dog or was responsible for the dog at the time of the attack will try to escape responsibility by insisting, "Every dog is allowed one bite."

Under Ohio law, this is simply false.

A dog’s history of "good behavior" before an attack does not shield the Ohio dog owner from an Ohio dog bite claim.

In fact, as soon as someone becomes an Ohio dog owner, that individual has a duty to keep the dog from attacking innocent victims. Similarly, a person who has control of a dog, or allows it to be on his or her property, is accountable for the damages that the animal caused. In Ohio, they have a legal obligation to take necessary precautions, such as training the dog, keeping it on a leash, confining it to a house or a fenced area, or taking other steps to prevent the dog from injuring a person.

Ignorance about a dog’s background is not an excuse. An individual who gets a new dog must watch the animal very carefully, to determine how much ongoing supervision or restraint is required.

Similarly, an Ohio dog owner or keeper remains responsible, even if a dog was in an unusual or surprising situation. Thus, an Ohio dog bite victim still has a legal claim when a dog reacts to a loud noise, strangers, unusual behavior, crowded streets, elevators, heavy rain, or getting lost.

At the Sam Bernstein Law Firm, our dedicated Ohio dog attack attorneys are committed to protecting the legal rights of dog attack injury clients. We know that the defendant in an Ohio dog bite case cannot escape liability simply by saying that a dog was startled by a child’s scream, frightened by thunder, or put on the defensive by a passing jogger.

None of these excuses will get an Ohio dog owner, keeper, or harborer off the hook, according to Ohio law. These and other lame explanations certainly will not stop our Ohio dog bite attorneys from pursuing a Ohio dog bite claim or recovering compensation for a Ohio dog bite client’s injuries.

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.

Take advantage of the Bernstein Approach today. Protect your legal rights.