Legal Rights of Dog Bite Victims in the USA

Most states and the District of Columbia impose liability on a dog owner for all dog bites even if the dog previously was a "good dog." The victim is compensated through the dog owner's homeowners or renters insurance. A minority of states observe the "one-bite rule" which shields a dog owner from liability unless he knew that it tended to bite, or caused the bite negligently or intentionally, or violated a leash law or other animal control law.

• The basics
• "Statutory strict liability states"
• "One-bite states" and "mixed dog bite statute states"
• Negligence
• Negligence per se for violating a leash law or other animal control law
• City and county law, and how to find it yourself
• Laws of foreign nations
• Other grounds for liability
• The amount of money the victim should receive
• Who actually pays the damages
• How to find out whether the liable person is insured
• What to do when the dog owner says he is uninsured
• What will happen to the dog
• More information for parents of injured kids

See also:

• Does An Adult Need a Lawyer For a Dog Bite Claim?
• Should Parents Get a Lawyer For Their Injured Child?
• The Dog Bite Law Blog.