What Is Strict Liability In California Dog Bite Cases?
Strict liability in California’s dog bite law means that the dog owner is held legally responsible for a dog bite, irrespective of the dog’s past behavior or the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s aggressiveness. It applies even if the owner took reasonable precautions to prevent the bite or had no reason to believe the dog would act aggressively.
Essentially, if the dog bites someone, the owner is liable for damages, with limited exceptions such as when the victim was trespassing or provoking the dog. This concept differs from the “one-bite rule” in some other jurisdictions, where the owner’s liability is contingent upon their knowledge of the dog’s propensity to bite. In California, a dog bite victim doesn’t need to prove negligence or fault, only that the bite occurred.
