Strict Liability vs. the One-Bite Rule in Arizona

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

Arizona is firmly a strict liability state for dog bites — its statute specifically displaced the older one-bite rule that still governs in states without dog-bite legislation.

What strict liability actually requires

Under A.R.S. §11-1025, a dog owner is liable for a bite when the victim is in a public place or lawfully present on private property, regardless of whether the owner knew the dog had ever bitten anyone before. This is the defining feature of strict liability: you don't need to establish the owner's prior knowledge, the way you would under a one-bite / scienter rule.

Where one-bite-style proof still matters

Strict liability has real limits. If you were trespassing when bitten, A.R.S. §11-1025 doesn't apply at all — you'd need to fall back on an ordinary negligence theory, which in practice often requires showing the owner knew or should have known the dog posed some risk, much like the one-bite approach used in states without a bite statute.

Bites only, not every dog-related injury

Arizona's strict liability statute is narrowly focused on bites. A dog that knocks someone down, scratches them, or causes injury some other way without biting falls outside §11-1025 entirely. The separate dog-at-large statute, A.R.S. §11-1020, can cover these non-bite injuries, but only when the dog was running loose or unconfined at the time.

You can pursue both theories at once

Arizona courts have confirmed that the existence of the strict liability statute doesn't prevent a victim from also bringing an ordinary negligence claim against the dog's owner. This matters practically: the strict liability claim under §11-1025 must generally be filed within one year, while a negligence claim gets Arizona's standard two-year personal injury deadline — pursuing both theories can be a meaningful safety net if the shorter deadline is missed.

This is general information, not legal advice. Which theory applies, and how strong your evidence is under it, depends on the specific facts. Confirm your situation with a licensed Arizona attorney.