What if a dog knocked me down but did not bite?
Reviewed by Andrew (Andy) R. Gillin
California State Bar #45226 ↗ · Approval recorded November 4, 2026
How we record review approvalA dog can cause harm without a bite. The dog-bite law does not automatically cover a knockdown. Other rules, such as negligence, may apply.
In this guide
Here’s an example
A loose dog runs into a person. They fall and break a wrist.
A made-up example to explain the idea. Your facts may lead to a different answer.How the rule works
Negligence means a failure to use reasonable care. For a knockdown, the owner’s conduct and the dog’s behavior may matter. Do not assume the bite-specific statute covers every dog injury.
Legal references: [1] California Civil Code § 1714 — Responsibility for harm · [2] CACI No. 400–401 — Negligence and the standard of care (2026 edition) · [3] Civil Code § 3342 — Dog bite liability
What can change the answer?
How the owner controlled the dog may matter. So can what they knew and how the fall happened.
Court decisions behind this answer
A case can help explain a rule. Its facts and limits matter too.
Drake v. Dean
California Court of Appeal · 1993
15 Cal.App.4th 915, pp. 923–932
The court said dog-owner negligence has its own rules. It is not limited to proof that the dog had known dangerous traits.
A fall caused by a dog does not prove a claim by itself. The owner’s care and the cause still matter.
Case applicability reviewed as recorded above.
A useful next step
Save witness names and proof of how the dog caused the fall.
If you are unsure which rule applies, a lawyer can review your facts and any deadlines. Learn about GJEL’s injury representation.
The law behind this guide
The references below support the legal discussion. Their application depends on the facts.
- California Civil Code § 1714 — Responsibility for harm ↗Statute · Review recorded above
- CACI No. 400–401 — Negligence and the standard of care (2026 edition) ↗Jury instructions · Review recorded above
- Civil Code § 3342 — Dog bite liability ↗Statute · Review recorded above
- Drake v. Dean (1993) 15 Cal.App.4th 915 ↗Case law · Review recorded above
Updated 2026-11-04. Read our editorial standards.