Dog bite injuries in California: strict liability in plain English

California is a “strict liability” state for dog bites. That means a dog’s owner is usually responsible for a bite even if the dog had never bitten anyone before.

What strict liability means

You generally do not have to prove the owner was careless or knew the dog was dangerous. If you were bitten in a public place, or while lawfully on private property, the owner is typically liable for your injuries.

What to do first

• Get medical care and a record of the injury

• Photograph the wounds and the location

• Get the owner’s name and the dog’s vaccination information

• Report the bite to animal control

If you or your child was bitten, call us for a free review of what happened.