MARYLAND DOG BITE INJURY LAWYERS

If a dog has attacked you, or bitten a family member, you know that a dog bite can leave extensive physical injuries, scars, and even mental and emotional trauma that doesn't go away for a long time, if ever. Blaszkow Legal is here to fight for you, and your family, after you have suffered a dog bite in Maryland. Our job is to get you the compensation that you deserve, for the injuries that you have sustained. There are many things that you can claim, but Maryland law leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Don't try to wade through the quagmire of cases and decisions alone!

Blaszkow Legal has the most capable Maryland dog bite attorneys in the state. From Beltsville to Baltimore and beyond, our Maryland dog bite attorneys are here to help you, and to hold negligent dog owners accountable for your injuries. If you or a loved one have been bitten by a dog, or attacked, call today for a free consultation anywhere in Maryland - 703-879-5910.

Free consultations and virtual appointments are available throughout Maryland!

What should I do after being bitten by a dog?

1) You need to call 911. The police will often respond, and in some cases, animal control Personnel will also respond and handle the case. Calling 911, and letting local officials take over is extremely important, as they will begin the initial investigation to find out exactly who owns the dog. Sometimes this is as easy as researching the chip embedded in the animal.

2) After you have suffered a Maryland dog bite, your first priority is to get to the hospital. Go get immediate medical care, where a licensed provider can get you evaluated at once. Doctors will begin work to preventing the spread of any infection from wounds, especially if the skin is broken, and you are bleeding. Do not go to a primary care doctor or chiropractor, as these medical practitioners are often not able to handle traumatic incidents. You need to go to an emergency room, or an urgent care clinic.

3) Document everything. This includes taking pictures and videos, especially of your injuries. Sometimes injuries go away in a few days, and a daily picture shows the progression of the wound, and also shows what is left behind once the wound has closed. Some wounds do not close for a long time, and these pictures again are evidence of your pain and suffering, and of the severity of the bite.

4) Call a Maryland dog bite attorney immediately, because there are time limits that apply, and our investigation needs to be opened right away!

Should I call a Maryland dog bite lawyer?

Absolutely! Speaking to a Maryland dog bite lawyer is vital, and should be done as soon as possible after the dog bite itself. There is neither risk nor cost to speak to a lawyer. You can call us for free, at any time.

Maryland law is pretty complicated when it comes to dog bite laws. The law surrounding dog bites, and the rules of negligence for dog owners, underwent a significant change in 2014. Dog owners can now be held responsible when a dog is running at large, or roaming through the neighborhood without a leash or supervision.

Our dog bite lawyers are going to be able to begin their investigation right away, and gather and locate all of the evidence necessary to make the arguments and win the case. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better.

Maryland law dog bite laws

There are two primary theories of negligence in Maryland, under which your claim may fall: strict liability and negligence.

1. Strict liability. Strict liability means that a dog owner is responsible, regardless of your actions, as long as you are not trespassing, provoking the animal, or otherwise involved in the commission of a crime. A common example of strict liability is "running at large." For example, if the dogs owner has just put the dog in the yard, without any safety measures such as a fence, and the dog gets out at attacks someone, your claim is against the owner of that dog. No special counts of negligence have to be alleged in this fact pattern.

2. Ordinary negligence. Ordinary negligence supplies when a dog is not running at large, for example, when the dog is on a leash. In this situation, the burden of proof is on the plaintiff, or the person bringing the case, to prove that the dog owner breached his or her duty of care, to stop the dog from biting someone.

Maryland law is very different than, for example, Virginia law, in that you do not need to prove a pattern of behavior. The fact of a dog bite itself, creates a rebuttable presumption that the dog owner knew, or should have known, that there was a danger that the dog would bite. The defense has the option to argue against that, but it is a unique starting point.

Dog Bites and Insurance Companies in Maryland

After a dog bite, many insurance companies will reach out to you, either a homeowner's insurance company or renters insurance. They want to talk to you and get "your side." However, you should never speak to an insurance company without speaking to an attorney. Insurance companies are very quick to offer you some small amount of money, to make you go away. This is known as a "nuisance settlement". An insurance company has no obligation to tell you what you may claim under the law. Once you have settled your case (meaning that you have taken the money that they have offered), you waive any and all other claims. If your case may be worth $50,000, but you took their offer of $5,000, you cannot then speak to a lawyer and try to get the balance.

Additionally, you have to remember that Maryland is a contributory negligence jurisdiction. That means if the at-fault party, in this case the dog owner, can prove that you are 1% responsible for the injury, then you cannot recover. The insurance companies can and will use anything you say against you. This is another reason why you should never speak to an insurance company without a lawyer!

Your damages after a Maryland dog bite - what compensation can you claim?

After you have been involved in a Maryland dog bite incident, you have the ability to file a claim for your damages. Damages is a legal term which attempts to encompass all of the ways that the dog bite has impacted you, and impaired the many aspects of your life. There are many elements that make up damages:

• Pain and suffering

• Scarring

• Permanent injury

• Emotional trauma

• Post-traumatic stress

• Anxiety

• Time lost from work

• Loss of earning capacity

• Future cosmetic surgery

Who is responsible in a Maryland dog bite case

Every case is different, but this is exactly what our job is: to investigate as soon as you call us and we open up a file. We set our Maryland dog bite attorneys, and our team of paralegals and investigators to work in determining all of the facts surrounding the dog bite. There are several potential negligent parties in dog bite situations.

• Pet sitters or caretakers

• Dog owners

• Parents of minor dog owners

• Property owners

There is some case law that suggests that a claim may be filed against a landlord, such as at an apartment building, if they knew that there was an aggressive dog on the property, and did not do anything about it, such as moving the dog, or taking other mitigating action. This does not apply in every dog bite situation, but it is definitely something that we investigate every time!

Dog breeds and Maryland dog bite cases

Many people mistakenly believe that German shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and pitbulls, are more likely to bite, and thus will be treated more harshly under Maryland law. This is not accurate. The change of Maryland law in 2014, has enacted what is now known as breed neutrality. Maryland law does not recognize that one breed is more dangerous or vicious than another. No one breed is listed as automatically dangerous.

Contact a Maryland dog bite lawyer today!

Contact Blaszkow Legal, and our experienced Maryland dog bite lawyers will get to work right away in investigating the circumstances of your case, and working to fight for the compensation that you and your family deserve. Our Maryland personal injury lawyers have been fighting for injured people throughout the DMV for over 40 years!

Contact the team that is experienced and dedicated, and ready to fight for you. Call us today for a free consultation!

Free consultations for all personal injury cases

Virtual Consultations are available for Baltimore and Northern Maryland clients!