How will you prove liability in my dog bite case?

Depending on the laws of your state and the particulars of your situation, you may be able to hold the dog owner liable for your bite. Ohio is a strict liability state regarding dog bites, meaning that the victim does not have to prove the owner, harborer, or keeper of the dog was negligent to seek damages. You’ll only need to prove that you were bitten and that the bite caused injury or damage.

While who a dog’s owner is is probably self-explanatory, some explanation about the other two parties above is warranted. A dog’s harborer is the person who controls the property where the dog lives. For example, if the dog’s owner lives with their aunt, that aunt would be the harborer of the dog. A dog’s keeper is the person with control over the dog at a given time. If a dog is being walked by someone when you’re bitten, that person could be held liable as the dog’s keeper at that time.