Can I be held liable if my dog bites someone?

Yes, as a pet owner, you can generally be held liable for injuries caused by your dog, particularly under the general principle that a person keeping an animal is responsible for ensuring it doesn't cause harm to others — this can result in a civil claim for compensation for the injured person's medical expenses and any other losses.

Your liability, and its extent, can depend on factors like whether you were aware or should reasonably have been aware of any aggressive tendencies in your dog, whether reasonable precautions (like proper restraint or warning signage) were in place, and the specific circumstances of how the incident occurred, including whether the injured person did something that provoked the incident.

If a claim is brought against you, it would be worth checking whether your home insurance policy (if you have one) provides any liability coverage for this kind of incident, and consulting a lawyer to understand your specific exposure and the best way to respond, including whether a fair, negotiated settlement with the injured party might be the most sensible resolution.