California Dog Bite Laws

California’s dog bite statute, Cal. Civ. Code § 3342, imposes strict liability upon dog owners. This means that the victim of a dog bite is not required to prove that the owner acted negligently or had reason to know that the dog could be dangerous. Under California’s statute, the bite must have occurred while the victim was either in a public place or lawfully on private property. California’s courts have specified that the “bite” does not necessarily need to break the skin in order for the victim to be able to file a dog bite claim; for example, an owner could be responsible if the victim suffers nerve damage from the bite. However, an owner may not be responsible for the injuries if the victim was trespassing when the bite occurred, or if the victim provoked the dog to bite them. There is also an exception for bites caused by dogs in military or police work.