If you are bitten or otherwise injured by a dog, you might have a right to compensation from the owner of the dog and the property owner where the dog was kept. Ohio actually gives you two theories to use in seeking damages for your injuries. The first of these is a lawsuit against the negligent property owner who kept a dog that was known to be vicious or had shown signs of being a danger to people.
The second theory of relies upon state law that holds the owner or keeper of a dog strictly liable if the dog bites or otherwise causes injury to someone. The statute does not require proof of negligence on the part of property owner where the dog is harbored or kept.
Suing a negligent property owner for a dog bite based upon negligence requires that you prove that the property owner was aware that the dog created a dangerous property condition that could cause injury for someone coming on to the property. The difficulty with negligence is that you must prove that the dog had either bitten someone in the past or had shown vicious or aggressive propensities. For example, a dog that snarls, growls and lunges at people approaching the front door of a home might be sufficient to establish that the property owner was aware that it could cause injuries to someone.
The statute eliminates the need to prove prior notice of the vicious dog’s propensities in order to recover for injuries you receive. Strict liability may not apply in cases in which you were teasing, tormenting or abusing the dog at the time of the attack. If you have been injured because of a dog creating a dangerous property condition, you might benefit from obtaining legal advice from a Columbus personal injury attorney.