In Baltimore, Maryland and the surrounding Glen Burnie or Dundalk areas, you must know your rights so that you can recover compensation after you or a loved one has been attacked in dog bite accidents.
A personal injury lawyer in Baltimore, Maryland will go over your legal options and make sure that you are compensated for the dog bite and any other damages that were inflicted during the attack.
How to Choose a Baltimore Dog Bite Lawyer
Baltimore, Maryland dog bite law uses a hybrid system of negligence and strict liability in determining whether a victim may be compensated.
Under strict liability, a victim will be compensated and the wrongdoer, usually the dog owner or harborer, will be held liable for dog bites if, for example, the dog was running at large before attacking. The only exceptions to this are if the dog bite victim was trespassing, tormenting or teasing the dog before it attacked.
Under a theory of negligence, an owner or harborer of a dog may be held liable for a victim’s injuries if they acted unreasonably in controlling their dog or if they had reason to know of their dog’s vicious propensities and failed to control the dog. A Maryland dog bite attorney will be able to help determine liability to make sure you are not held responsible for someone else’s negligence and that you are compensated fairly if you were a victim of a dog bite.
At Zirkin & Schmerling, we understand the value of having experienced Baltimore dog bite lawyers on your side. That’s why we specialize in helping our clients navigate the legal process after an animal attack with a free consultation.
Handling Dog Bite Incidents Involving Multiple Dogs
One of the worst-case scenarios during dog attacks is when the dog bite victim is attacked by more than one dog. These types of dog attacks can be particularly brutal and lead to severe injuries, including permanent scarring and disfigurement.
In these cases, it’s especially important to find an experienced Baltimore, Maryland attorney who can help you recover compensation for your dog bite injury.
Establishing ownership of the dog is critical so that the dog bite victim is capable of recovering damages with the help of dog bite lawyers in Baltimore, Maryland. If it is unclear who the dogs belong to, there are several methods the injured person can take to see that each animal’s owner is held responsible, and find out who is the lawful owner of the dogs.
If you are unsure who owns the dogs that attacked you, it is critical to be in touch with the police and the Local Animal Control. They are in the best position to figure out who owns the dogs that attacked you so that you can begin the process of holding them accountable.
Dogs can leave behind DNA evidence in the form of saliva during a dog attack. This can help identify the dogs and, therefore, the dog owners if multiple animals are involved during the dog bite incident. Each animal has unique DNA, so this can be a useful method of establishing a difference between an animal that looks similar to another animal, like two dogs of the same breed. Again, contacting Local Animal Control and the police is a critical step in the process of figuring out the ownership of a dog that has attacked.
Dog Temperament and Behavioral Analysis
Another method of determining which animal is responsible is to test the behavior of the animal. However, dogs are unfortunately all capable of animal attacks when they feel threatened, scared, or anxious. In Baltimore, Maryland, dog bite lawyers consider these facts as they investigate the owner of the dog when there has been a dog bite injury.
There may be cases where more than one dog owner is responsible for dog bites. In these cases, dog bite victims have a right in Baltimore, Maryland to seek compensation from all responsible parties. An animal bite lawyer or injury lawyers in the MD area will know how much to seek from each so you recover all damages.
Dog Bite Cases Involving Stray or Unowned Dogs
There may be times after dog bite injuries when it is not clear who is responsible for providing compensation for damages.
If the injuries caused by dog bites aren’t attributed to a responsible owner, it can become costly to cover the medical attention yourself. Finding the liable person is crucial for your own financial and personal well-being.
If a dog appears to be a stray animal, don’t give up. There are many ways to try and identify the liable party in Baltimore, Maryland. And other parties besides the owner of the dog may be responsible, such as harborers and keepers, and even landlords.
Find a Potential Owner
Sometimes a person hasn’t taken reasonable care of their animal and it escapes from their custody. In these cases, it’s important to track down the owner, as they could be liable for your damages in Baltimore, Maryland. Dog bites lawyers will have suggestions on how to accomplish this.
Find the Dog’s “Keeper”
If a dog does not have a registered owner, it may still have a person or group of individuals who harbor or care for it. In Baltimore, Maryland, this person may be liable and your personal injury lawyers or dog bite attorneys can file a suit against them for injuries. Harborers and keepers are treated as owners under Maryland law.
Find a Property Owner
If a stray dog bites you on personal property the property owner may be liable even if the dog does not belong to them. Personal injury lawyers will help determine if the dog on the owner’s property has been allowed there frequently enough to be liable for the injured party’s damages. These are complicated cases so reaching out to an experienced dog bite lawyer is critical.
Find a Municipality
If the stray animal has been allowed to roam free for a long period, the municipality in Baltimore may be liable. If they failed to capture and contain the dog before it caused injuries, then they may have failed to prevent someone from being bitten. In this case, your personal injury lawyers may suggest suing the municipality for the injuries inflicted in the attack. These are challenging cases.
Compensation from a Stray Dog Attack
Baltimore personal injury lawyers and dog bite lawyers have experience in helping you understand what damages you should seek compensation for.
During a free consultation, your attorneys will go over potential avenues of compensation, including:
- Medical bills and medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Psychological damages (PTSD)
- Wrongful death
- Law firm fees for a personal injury lawyer
Insurance Coverage for Dog Owners: What You Need to Know
As a dog owner, it’s important to make sure that you have the right coverage for your pet. You never want to be on the wrong side of a dog bite case, but if you are, you want to see that personal injury lawyers deal with your insurance, not with your funds.
If you have certain breeds, like a pit bull, it may be more challenging to get insurance coverage.
Make sure you consider your insurance options before purchasing a pet. And make sure that your insurance covers dog bites in case this happens to you.
Filing a Claim if You Have Been Bitten in Baltimore
While dog bite lawyers and personal injury lawyers will help support you if you are the victim of dog bites, it’s still important to know how to file a claim. It will also help your personal injury lawyers or dog bite lawyers make their case.
Here are the steps to follow:
Gather Evidence
Collect photos of all dog bite injuries, bites, and information of witnesses, and document all injury progression.
Find the Responsible Party
Track down the owner or party responsible for the dog bites so your law firm attorneys and animal bites lawyer know who to pursue.
Notify the Insurance Company
File a claim with the insurance company of the party responsible for the dog bites.
Start an Investigation and Notify Animal Control
If necessary, your personal injury lawyers will start an investigation. You should file a complaint with local Animal Control if you have been a victim of a dog bite.
This may be necessary if the insurance tries to deny the claim or do one of the following:
Challenging liability: Insurance claims that insured is not liable for damages.
Trying to reduce damages: Insurance claims that the injury is not as severe as your case states.
Delaying the settlement process: Delay the process of your personal injury case with your personal injury lawyer.
Contact Zirkin & Schmerling: Dundalk, MD Lawyers
Dog bites can lead to serious injuries. At Zirkin & Schmerling, our personal injury lawyer and dog bite attorneys in the Baltimore and Dundalk, MD area understand how important it is to help you through the legal process.
Our Maryland legal team is here to provide comprehensive legal support to help you navigate through these challenging times. We can help with dog bites and other related practice areas.
Contact our dog bite lawyers for a free consultation regarding your dog bites in the Baltimore area. Call us at 410-753-4611 to get in touch with our law office.