Laws About Dogs: Dog Bite & Owner Liability

Anyone who has a dog knows that they truly are man's best friend, but they can also be unpredictable and a potential liability. Make sure you know laws about dogs and your risk in the event that your dog bites someone. The Insurance Information Institute has a comprehensive list of information about laws about dogs and bite liability: Dog owners are liable for any injuries their pets cause in the following instances: if the owner knew the dog had a tendency to cause that kind of injury; if a state statute makes the owner liable, whether or not the owner knew the dog had a tendency to cause that kind of injury; or if the injury was caused by unreasonable carelessness on the part of the owner. There are three kinds of law that impose liability on owners:

• Dog-bite statute: The dog owner is automatically liable for any injury or property damage the dog causes, even without provocation.

• “One-bite” rule: In some states, the owner is not held liable for the first bite the dog inflicts. Once an animal has demonstrated vicious behavior, such as biting or otherwise displaying a "vicious propensity", the owner can be held liable. Some states have moved away from the one-bite rule and hold owners responsible for any injury, regardless of whether the animal has previously bitten someone.

• Negligence laws: The dog owner is liable if the injury occurred because the dog owner was unreasonably careless (negligent) in controlling the dog.

• In most states, dog owners are not liable to trespassers who are injured by a dog. However, a dog owner who is legally responsible for an injury to a person or property may be also responsible for reimbursing the injured person for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and property damage.