What is Ohio dog bite liability law
08-21-23
Ohio is known as a strict liability state when it comes to dog bites. Some states have a “one bite rule,” which exempts dog owners with no prior reason to know of a dog’s aggression from liability for injuries. Under strict liability, however, a dog owner is liable for the attack even if the dog has never acted aggressively before.
Ohio law does carve out some exceptions to its strict liability rule. If the bite victim was criminally trespassing or attempting to when the bite occurred, for example, the dog’s owner will be exempt from liability. In addition, if the victim was in the process of committing a criminal offense other than a minor misdemeanor, or if the dog was being teased, tormented, or abused when the bite happened, the owner will not be liable.
