Some places in the United States have a “one-bite rule” system wherein victims cannot recover compensation from a dog owner if the dog has never bitten or tried to bite anyone before. In this case, that “one bite” or first-time bite sways more in favor of the dog owner than the victim.
However, this does not apply in California. California imposes a strict liability system when it comes to dog bites. Dog owners are still liable for damages even if their dogs show no records of aggression.