Chris Kreeger explains the old one free bite rule and why California does not follow it. Under that rule, an owner was not liable if the dog had never bitten anyone before. California instead holds owners strictly liable for bites, covering expenses, pain and suffering, scarring and future medical bills.
Chris Kreeger on Why California Rejects the One Free Bite Rule
The one free bite rule used to say that the owner of the dog was not liable if the dog had never bitten a human being before. Therefore, the owner of the dog had no notice or knowledge of the dog’s vicious propensities. That is not the law in California. The owner of a dog that bites a human being is strictly liable in California, and that means liable for all of their out of pocket expenses and a fair and reasonable amount of money for their pain and suffering, including their disfigurement, scarring and future medical bills.