In most states, if a dog bites someone, the owner is responsible, even if the dog has never bitten before. This means that if you’re walking down the street and a dog unexpectedly attacks you, the owner could be held accountable for your injuries. It doesn’t matter if the dog has always been friendly in the past.
But there’s a catch in some states. They have something called the “one bite rule.” This means that the owner might not be responsible for the first time their dog bites someone, as long as they didn’t know the dog was dangerous. However, if they were careless, like not keeping their dog on a leash when they should have, or if they broke a law related to controlling their pet, then they can still be held accountable.
If the dog owner is responsible for the bite, the victim will receive compensation from the homeowners insurance (or renters insurance) where the dog owner lives. There will be payment for medical bills, lost wages, pain, emotional suffering, and any other damages resulting from the bite.
To learn more about what a person can do if a dog bites, read Liability for Dog Attacks. We also have articles on specific topics:
- The basics
- “Statutory strict liability states”
- “One bite states” and “mixed dog bite statute states”
- Negligence
- Negligence per se for violating a leash law or other animal control law
- City and county law, and how to find it yourself
- Laws of foreign nations
- Liability for failure to stop an attack in progress
- Liability to trespassers and burglars
- Other grounds for liability
- The amount of money the victim should receive
- Who actually pays the damages
- How to find out whether the liable person is insured
- What to do when the dog owner says he is uninsured
- What will happen to the dog
- How to know if you have a good case
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