Maryland: 301-854-9000/410-995-1515 | Northern Virginia: 703-916-1227 | Richmond, Virginia: 804-643-3783 | Washington, D.C.: 202-554-1449

Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia Dog Bite Lawyers

The permanent nature of the mental and physical injuries associated with animal attacks requires that your attorneys have experience handling animal attack cases, investigate all possible sources of recovery and obtain compensation. Our law firm has recovered large settlements in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia for clients injured as a result of dog bites and animal attacks

Dog bite laws in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia are complex and not as straight forward as one may think. A lawyer needs to establish that some individual or corporation is liable for the attack. In some cases, liability of the owner can be established because they own a dangerous dog, such as a Pit Bull. Also, whether the dog attacked someone before is an extremely important factor. In some cases, a property owner, such as a landlord, may be liable because he or she allowed the dog to remain on the property unrestrained. Furthermore, in instances where the attack resulted from the ownership of a wild animal a theory of strict liability may apply.

In urban areas, breeds such as Pit Bulls are extremely popular. Although dogs like Pit Bulls can be loving and gentle pets, their physical prowess and instincts give them the potential to inflict serious injury if aggressive towards people. Interestingly, the breeds which are responsible for the most bites are small dogs such as Cocker Spaniels and Jack Russell Terriers. Our Maryland dog bite attorneys and Virginia animal attack lawyers have recovered for attacks by dog breeds of all sizes.

I. MARYLAND DOG BITE LAWS AN OVERVIEW

A short review of the Maryland Court of Appeals' decisions in dog bite cases, gives bite victims a thorough understanding of what needs to be shown to prevail.  Maryland’s dog bite law was established in 1882 in the case of Goode v. Martin, 57 Md. 606, 609-612 (1882).  In Goode, the Court held that in order to render an owner liable in damages to anyone bitten by a dog, it must first be proven not only that the dog was fierce, but that the owner had knowledge that the dog was fierce.

After Goode, different cases reviewed how to infer the dog owner knew his dog was fierce.  For example, in later cases the courts noted that if the defendant tied up his dog during the day it could be presumed he knew it was fierce and dangerous.  Hence, if a plaintiff suffered a dog bite in Maryland from a dog that was usually tied up during the day, the plaintiff had the necessary proof.

A.  One Bite Rule

There is an easy way to understand Maryland’s dog bite rule with respect to “knowledge”.  Consider it the “one bite rule”.  In other words, before the dog bites someone one time the owner is not considered to have the requisite knowledge to be liable.  Unlike other states, Maryland has no dog bite statutes which make exceptions to the “one bite rule”.

Maryland law made a distinction in the past between dog bites and bites from wild animals.  Wild animals the Court stated were “inherently dangerous” and therefore owners were on notice that they were dangerous to human beings.  As a result, in contrast to dog bite cases, bite victims did not have to prove that the wild animal was fierce, or the owner had such knowledge.

B.  Recent Change to Maryland Dog Bite Law

In the recent case of Tracey v. Solesky, (No. 53 September Term 2012) the Court created an exception to the proof requirement in Maryland dog bite cases.  Specifically, the Court excluded Pit Bulls from the general dog bite rules.  The Court found that Pit Bulls are “inherently dangerous”.  Therefore to prevail in a Pit Bull bite case in Maryland it is no longer necessary to prove that a particular Pit Bull is dangerous.  Essentially, the Court modified the element of proof from knowledge that a particular dog is dangerous, to knowledge that a particular dog is a Pit Bull.

In reaching this drastic change in Maryland’s dog bite laws, the Court reasoned that the forseeability in these Pit Bull bite cases is clear, and the extreme dangerousness of this breed is well recognized.  The Court indicated that Pit Bulls as a breed are known to be extremely aggressive and have been bred as attack animals.  Further, the Court pointed out that Pit Bulls bite to kill without signal, are selectively bred to have powerful jaws, high insensitivity to pain, extreme aggressiveness, a natural tendency to refuse to terminate an attack, and a greater propensity to bite humans than other breeds.  Tracey, at 14.  To the dismay of many Maryland Pit Bull owners, the Court went on to reason that Pit Bulls should be treated differently in Maryland dog bite cases because:

    1.    a Pit Bulls massive jaw can crush a victim with up to two thousand pounds of pressure per square inch;
    2.    a Pit Bulls capacity for vicious attacks, extraordinary savage behavior and unpredictable nature;
    3.    during a recent six year period of the 32 known human deaths in the United States due to dog attacks, 23 were caused by attacks by Pit Bulls;
    4.    a Minnesota Court has considered a Pit Bull a “weapon”;
    5.    the Albuquerque Humane Society will not adopt out Pit Bull dogs because of their potential for attacks on other animals and people;
    6.    recent studies reveal that Pit Bull dogs were involved in approximately a third of human fatalities over a recent nine year period;
    7.    pit bull attacks, unlike attacks by other dogs, occur more often, are more severe, and are more likely to result in fatalities;
    8.   Pit Bulls are stronger than other dogs, are less willing than other dogs to retreat from an attack, and have a higher pain tolerance.

See Tracey, Md. pp, 15-16, 23.

In short, the Court took it upon itself to prevent future harm to the public in dog bite cases by separating Pit Bulls from the general class of dogs.  Pit Bull owners and the Maryland Legislature may have the last say in these types of dog bite cases.  However, for the present time this will remain Maryland law.

Exceptions to this new Maryland dog bite law will not be made advocated by any of Maryland’s top dog bite lawyers.  However, Pit Bull advocates will ask the legislature to consider factors such as socialization, training, and size, the dog's owner and the dog's sex when judging a Pit Bull's violent tendencies.

II.  PROVING THE DOG BITE CASE

A.  Proving Knowledge

In Maryland, to recover in a dog bite case, a top dog bite attorney can prove knowledge by circumstantial evidence.  Facts that can be used to infer knowledge of the dangerousness on the part of the dog owner include evidence that:

    1.    the dog was always kept in an enclosure;
    2.    the dog would jump on people entering the enclosure;
    3.    the dog would become easily excited;
    4.    the enclosed dog would run up and down the fence;
    5.    the enclosed dog would growl;

See, Bachman vs. Clark, 128 (Md. 245, 248, 97 A. 440 (1916)

B.  Proving negligence by Investigating the Owner
A top dog bite attorney in Maryland and Virginia can also prove liability through investigating the owner of the dog.  Investigations often reveal improper:

    1.    handling of the dog;
    2.    training of the dog;
    3.    improper or violent commends taught to the dog

III.  GENERAL INFORMATION ON DOG BITE INJURIES
                        
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the US, with one in five of those bites requiring medical attention.  The majority of dog bite victims are children.  In many cases the injury is so extensive that it requires reconstructive surgery and may leave a dog bite victim with permanent scars or disfigurement.  Some common injuries that we have see sustained from dog attacks in Maryland and Virginia include:

» broken bones
» bruises and puncture wounds from teeth
» eye damage
» head / brain injury
» spinal cord injury

Expenses paid as a result of dog bites exceed $1 billion per year.  Every year in fact more than 350,000 dog bite victims seek medical attention in emergency rooms, and approximately 850,000 seek medical attention outside of the hospital.  Recent studies by the CDC reveal that there were 4.5 million dog bite victims per year.  Approximately, 15,000 dog bite victims each year recover for their injuries.

In 2008, DogsBite.org reported 23 fatal dog attacks. Pit Bull type dogs were responsible for 65%.  Pit Bulls make up 5% of the U.S. dog population.

C.  Common Factors an Experienced Maryland Dog Bite Attorney and Virginia Dog Bite Lawyer Must Review
To prove liability the dog bite attorney in Maryland or Virginia must:
    1.    ask the owner about the dog’s history;
    2.    talk to neighbors and all potential witnesses;
    3.    write down the circumstances of the injury, draw diagrams;
    4.    obtain a medical history of the dog;
    5.    obtain records from animal control concerning the dogs history;
    6.    obtain police reports;
    7.    obtain obedience / training records if they exist;
    8.    get medical and ambulance records;
    9.    obtain an expert;
    10.  get witness statements from all witnesses immediately;
    11.  take pictures of the injuries.

IV.  DOG BITE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1.  Why should a dog bite victim chose Portner & Shure for their case in Maryland, Virginia, or D.C.?

Dog bite cases are not the same as automobile accident cases.  Proof requirements are drastically different.  Therefore, the investigation must be done timely and by an attorney who understands what is needed to prove “knowledge” if the bite does not involve a Pit Bull.

2.  What is the attorney fee for a dog bite victim?

Portner & Shure represents dog bite victims in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. on a contingency fee basis.  No “up front charges” are sought from the victim.  The firm receives one-third at the time the recovery is awarded unless the case goes into suit.  Since we are one of the top dog bite firms in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C., we do handle cases referred by other injury firms.  In those cases the fee we receive is worked out with the referring injury firm.

3.  Should I hire an attorney for my child's dog bite injury in Maryland, Virginia, or D.C.?

Yes.  The insurance adjuster will typically only offer you 20% of the value of the claim.  Hence, even after paying expenses and an attorney’s fee, the recovery is substantially more if an experienced dog bite attorney is retained.
                                    
Remember obtaining a dog bite attorney is not the same as suing.  An experienced dog bite lawyer knows how to present a case to an insurance company so the claim gets resolved without it going to court.  In fact, top injury attorneys like Portner & Shure are able to settle 98% of their cases without having a trial.

Another advantage of hiring an experienced dog bite lawyer is so that law firm can use their money to properly investigate the claim.  In dog bite cases for example, Portner & Shure will advance money to get copies of medical evidence and billings, hire a photographer to take photos of the victim, hire an investigator to learn the history of the attacking dog, and possibly hire a consultant or expert to review the medical evidence.

Lastly, some of the dog bite victims bills are paid by third parties, i.e. health insurance.  Portner & Shure attorneys and paralegals can negotiate with the third parties' and get those bills reduced.

4.  Should Pit Bulls be treated differently?

The Maryland Court of Appeals thinks so.  However, many people believe that people are to blame for many of the Pit Bull attacks.  The question is really is it nature or nurture?  A recent 2011 study did reveal that 91% of the fatal dog bite attacks are a result of Pit Bulls.

5.  Who is most at risk for dog attacks?

A previous 2006 study revealed that 70% of dog attacks occurred to children (11 years and under).  However, in 2011 the number of adult victims doubled the number of child victims.

6.  Does the sex of the dog reveal a greater propensity to attack?  

Yes, 61% of the most recent attacks were by male dogs.
                
7.  Where do most dog attacks generally take place?  

80% of dog attacks take place on the owner's property.

We serve the following counties:
Virginia - Loudoun County, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Fauquier County, Fredericksburg County, Clark County and Warren County
Maryland - Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Harford County, Baltimore City, Prince George's County, Frederick County, and Montgomery County

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