Maryland Dog Bite Injury Attorneys

Crofton Maryland Dog Bite Injury Attorneys

Dogs are often referred to as “man’s best friend.” This belief is held in part because of the dog’s fierce duty to be a loyal and protective friend. However, some dogs do not understand the difference between loyalty and violence. Aggressive behavior presents itself when a dog, its pack, or its property is being encroached upon. In Maryland, the dog’s owner is legally responsible for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by the dog while the dog is running at large. The dog’s owner is responsible in D.C. if they knew or should have known about the dog’s vicious propensities. This liability is fertile ground for a dog bite injury lawsuit.

It is a dog owner’s duty to ensure that the dog is properly leashed and/or living in an enclosed and secure area to prevent potential injury. However, there are still many instances wherein someone is injured or wrongfully killed because of a dog bite by an unleashed or out of control dog. A dog owner who fails to exercise reasonable care in preventing someone’s injury or fails to properly control the animal can be held legally accountable for any injuries that the dog causes.

The Crofton legal team of dog bite injury attorneys at Henderson Law have over 30 combined years of experience in representing clients. Schedule your free initial consultation to find out more about how dedicated we are to your case and defending your rights. Call (410) 727-1979 or submit our request form here today.

Injuries Associated with Dog Attacks

Approximately 4.7 million people are the victims of dog attacks according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The types of injuries sustained depend upon environmental factors such as dog breed and circumstances of the situation. Injuries of dog attacks may include:

• Damage to the head, neck, and face
• Puncture wounds, flesh tears, and bruises
• Injury to the spinal cord and brain
• Broken bones and soft tissue damage

There are thousands of injuries reported every year as a result of dog bites. Treatment is expensive and the pain and suffering involved is tremendous. Whether you are ready to hire a lawyer at this point, it does not cost anything but your time to discuss your options. Schedule a free consultation with the team at Henderson Law by submitting a request through our secure messaging form or by calling (410) 727-1979.

What to do if You Have Sustained a Dog Bite Injury in Maryland

The steps you take immediately following a dog bite that should have been prevented. Your dog bite injury lawyer can help you through the legal process. However, familiarizing yourself with what to do beforehand makes your case easier to understand and process from a legal perspective.

• Step 1: Get the Owner’s Contact Information
  The first thing you should do is obtain the owner’s personal and contact information. It is a good idea to ask him or her about the dog’s overall health and wellness records to see if it is current on shots and vaccines. Find out everything you can and write the details down as soon as possible.
• Step 2: Seek Immediate Medical Attention
  If the injuries are severe enough, call 9-1-1 immediately for ambulance transportation to the emergency room. Otherwise, have someone drive you there right away. Medical care professionals can treat your injuries with expertise while reducing exposure to infection. The action of seeking immediate medical attention is critical to a personal injury case if you file one down the road in Crofton or another Maryland jurisdiction.
• Step 3: File a Report with the Police
  You should file a police report in your municipality as soon as possible. Taking this act serves two distinct purposes. First, you are creating a paper trail of your claims. Second, the negligent dog owner, who may continue to be a menace, needs to be stopped from having their dog cause future injury.
• Step 4: Contact a Maryland Dog Bite Injury Lawyer
  Being forced to foot medical bills and suffer emotional losses is one option, but it may not be necessary in situations of owner negligence. Most attorneys handle dog bite cases on a contingency fee basis that does not require any up-front form of payment. Rather, a percentage of your settlement or compensation is collected when your case is won.