How does the Massachusetts dog bite law work?

The Massachusetts dog bite law holds that the owner of a dog is automatically liable for injuries caused by his/her dog. This means that even if the dog’s owner took reasonable care to restrain the dog or to prevent it from harming someone, the owner is still liable for any injuries caused by the dog. For example, if the owner took steps to secure the dog on a leash, but the dog gets loose and bites someone, the owner can still be held liable for the resulting injuries. If a dog knocks someone down or causes someone to fall off a bicycle, the dog’s owner can be held liable for the resulting injuries.