Dog bite liability is typically handled in one of two ways throughout the United States. Some states follow a negligence theory, while others follow a strict liability theory. In a negligence theory state, a dog owner will only be held liable for dog bite injuries if their negligence allowed the bite to happen. However, Illinois operates under a strict liability dog bite statute. This means that a dog owner can be held liable for any injuries that occur if their dog bites somebody else, regardless of whether or not they were negligent or whether or not the dog has ever been aggressive before. In other words, you can be held directly responsible for any injuries your dog causes if they bite somebody else.