In some states, owners can only be held liable for a dog bite if they knew their dog was dangerous because it bit someone before. In those states, the “one free bite” rule is in effect because if you get bitten by a dog that has not bitten someone before, the owner can claim that they did not know their dog was dangerous.
Fortunately, in California, the “one free bite” rule does not apply. The state’s dog bite statute makes dog owners liable for any bite that their pets inflict while the victim is on public or lawfully on private property. If you are bitten by a dog in the State of California, you will not need to prove that the owner knew the dog was dangerous in order to be awarded compensation for your injuries.
