It depends on the circumstances. Virginia, along with 19 other states, adheres to the “one bite rule,” which generally prevents civil claims for monetary damages from being successful against an animal owner the first time one of their animals bites another person if the attack was unintentional. However, the dog owner may be held liable if a personal injury lawyer can prove the dog has a history of attacking and biting people or that the owner violated a local or state ordinance such a leash law and that failure to comply with rules and regulations regarding pet ownership led to the attack.