A dog owner is responsible for injuries from a bite in a public place, or when the person bitten was lawfully on private property, even if the dog never bit anyone before and the owner didn’t know it was dangerous.
What it means for you
- Applies to bites, not other dog-caused injuries (those use negligence rules)
- Does not apply to police and military dogs on duty
- Most claims are paid by homeowner or renter insurance
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This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; talk to a lawyer about your situation.