Who is liable if you get bit by a dog in Maryland?

Every man, woman, and child in the US have been aggressed or bitten by a dog at least once in their lifetime. Dogs are territorial beings, and you never know what they consider to be their “private territory” and how they react when you “trespass” into it. Each year more than 45 million people are bitten by dogs and go the hospital, requiring medical attention. In Maryland dog bite liability is not set in stone, and that is why you if you want to get compensation, you should get the help of a dog bite injury lawyer from Maryland.

Is the dog owner liable?

The answer is “yes”, but it depends. Up until 2014, the dog bite law was not very clear, but after it was revised, a new set of rules was introduced. Now, the dog owner is strictly liable for their dog behavior, and if someone gets injured, they will be compensated.

The good news is that now your injury attorney will not have to prove the negligence and fault of the owner. The term “Strict liability” means that the owner should have been aware their pet was dangerous, and he or she should have taken appropriate action to prevent people from getting hurt.

On the other hand, the owner can still avoid liability by proving they were not aware their dog was aggressive. But it is much harder to demonstrate that you didn’t know your own animal was aggressive.

Proving you were not at fault

Even though you don’t have to prove the dog owner’s liability, you still have to demonstrate that the dog bite was not your fault. If you were bitten in a public place, the case is simple. But if you entered on private property where the dog resided, then the owner might try to get your case dismissed on the concept of “trespassing”. In some cases, even if you were bitten in a public place, the owner might still try to accuse you of provoking the animal, which made it respond aggressively.

To maximize your chances of winning, you should contact a personal injury lawyer from Maryland. They can establish your best course of action and offer you valuable advice.