Massachusetts is a “strict liability” state, which means that a victim does not need to prove anything about the dog’s history or the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s aggressive nature. Dog owners are liable in this state for dog bites and dog attacks if:
The dog bites or attacks caused someone to suffer a personal injury or injuries.
The victim was not trespassing, committing a crime, or provoking the dog.
In a strict liability state like Massachusetts, proving these two elements of a personal injury claim arising from a dog attack is all that the victim has to do to prevail and win compensation.