OGH ruling clarifies

Bike-dog crash: it’s not always the animal’s fault

The law also takes a "virtual" leash into account when keeping a dog.(Bild: canecorso)

In principle, pet owners are liable if something happens in connection with their dog and damage is caused. But not in every case, as a recent court ruling shows. What exactly happened and what should you look out for? We have done some research for you!

Anyone who owns an animal must take care of it - and is responsible for any damage caused. However, in the event of a collision between a cyclist and an unleashed dog, for example, the pet owner cannot be held responsible across the board, as the Supreme Court ruling recently showed. We asked the Viennese lawyer Martin Bleckmann for clarification.