No, Massachusetts does not follow the “one bite” rule. Massachusetts is a strict liability state, which means the owner is always responsible for their dog’s behavior, regardless of if they previously believed their dog was aggressive or not.
In addition to strict liability, dog bite laws in other states include:
One-bite rule: Dog owners or caretakers may be held responsible for injuries caused by their dog if they were aware of their dog’s previous tendencies to act aggressive or violent
Shared fault: If a victim’s actions were partially to blame for a dog biting them, the amount of compensation they are eligible for will be adjusted based on how responsible they were for the events that took place