Dog Bite Injury Claims Lawyers

Baltimore, Maryland

About 5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. And statistics reveal that about one in every six bites is harmful enough for the bite victim to see a doctor for the injury. Statistics also show that about 60 percent of all dog bite attacks happen in the home and that over half of all dog bite victims are children.

In the state of Maryland, dog owners whose dogs are deemed "dangerous" are liable for damages to anyone their dog bites.

Under Maryland law, a "dangerous dog" is:

• A dog that, without provocation, has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person. (A "severe injury" includes broken bones or disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery).
• A dog that was determined by the appropriate local authority to be a "potentially dangerous dog" and thereafter bites somebody.
• A dog that, when off its owner's property, killed or inflicted severe injury on a domestic animal; or
• A dog that attacks without provocation.

If a victim's actions contributed even a mere 1% to the attack, Maryland law prohibits that victim from recovering damages.

In some cases, even a dog with no prior history of attacks, the owner may still be held liable for damages. This is particularly true with dogs like Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, etc.

If you or a loved one was bitten by a dog, here are some factors to consider when evaluating the strength of your case:

• Clear liability—If the dog owner is legally responsible for your dog bite injuries, then you have a case. If he or she is not, then you don't. Strict liability means that the owner either knew or should've known that their animal had the tendency to bite a human. Maybe it's bitten a person before or has growled or lunged at people in the past. A dog owner can also be held responsible for "negligence" or if they exercise ineffective control in a situation where that level of control is to be expected, and therefore increases the chance of an injury.
• Contributory negligence is not present—Under Maryland state law, if you are only 1% responsible for causing your injuries, you can recover nothing. If you provoked the dog in any way, whether you lunged at the canine or warned it to stay away from you, this can be considered contributory negligence.
• Your damages are substantial—If the economic losses you incur because of the dog bite, including medical bills and a loss of wages, are significant, you may have a good case. Damages also take into account non-economic losses like pain and suffering, mental anguish, inconvenience, and physical impairment and disfigurement. Together, these determine your overall damages.
• You have the evidence—To prove your case, ask the owner about the dog's history, talk to neighbors, take notes about the injury and map out a recap of the scene. Also obtain the dog's medical history from Animal Control, and records concerning your injury such as ambulance reports, police records, and medical documents.
• You can collect the damages to which you are entitled—If the dog owner has no money, you may not be able to recover. However, in some cases, we are able to find a responsible party with insurance who could be liable for the damages. For this reason, you should always contact an attorney to evaluate your claim. If the injury took place on private property, renter's or homeowner's insurance might cover your claim. But every case is different.

If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, please contact Cohen & Dwin today to schedule your free initial consultation. Our experienced lawyers can help you recover the damages you deserve. Please call 410-LAW-HELP today. "Let Our Family Help Your Family."