If you have been injured by a violent, vicious dog in Waldorf, Maryland, you have a legal right to seek recovery of money damages for your injuries and for other types of damages (like lost wages and earnings). Note that Maryland is NOT a “one free bite” state. That is, a dog’s owner can be held legally liable even if the dog in question has never bitten or mauled anybody before. Dog bite and mauling injuries can be very severe, so it is crucial to hire experienced dog bite lawyers to help since you want to recover FULL compensation for the injuries that have been inflicted.

Below, the proven dog bite and dog mauling lawyers at the Law Office of Robert Castro answer some Frequently Asked Questions about Maryland dog bite cases. If you — or a loved one — have been a victim here in Waldorf, MD, call us at (301) 870-1200 or use our contact page. We can answer your questions. No fee unless we win. Our offices are in Waldorf, Maryland.

FAQ: How much is my Maryland dog bite case worth?

Some dog bite cases are worth $10,000 to $25,000; others are worth substantially more, and of course, there are others that are worth less. How much your dog bite case is worth depends largely on three factors: who the victim was, whether the dog was known to be vicious and dangerous, and the severity of the injuries. Briefly, if a child or younger person is the victim, often the compensation is higher since the physical and emotional trauma is higher. If the dog was known to be vicious and dangerous, the damages would likely be higher since there is a higher legal standard for owners of such dogs. Finally, if the injuries are severe, compensation will be higher because the damages must cover a higher level of medical bills and other costs.

FAQ: How are most dog bite cases handled?

Most dog bite cases are covered by the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance. Thus, cases begin as insurance settlement cases. If an insurance settlement cannot be reached, then a dog bite/personal injury case will be filed in Maryland State courts.

FAQ: What has to be shown to prove liability?

In Maryland, there are two ways to prove liability: negligence and — let’s call it — “strict liability.” The first means that legal liability is based on the dog’s owner not taking ordinary precautions to protect others from the dog. This is similar to the legal standard for accidents like car accidents. No one intended the dog to bite, but the owner was not careful enough. The other possibility involves those dogs known to their owners to be vicious or dangerous. These owners have a high legal responsibility — similar to a “strict liability” standard — to keep their dogs in such a manner that they cannot injure others. Since it is known that these dogs are dangerous, the owners can — in some cases — be punished with punitive damages.

FAQ: Are there certain breeds of dogs that Maryland deems more dangerous than others, like pit bulls?

Not anymore. Once, Maryland had laws that said that certain dog breeds — like pit bulls — were inherently dangerous and applied the “strict liability” standard to owners of such breeds. Those laws have been changed

Contact Waldorf, MD Personal Injury Attorney Robert Castro Today

This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert Castro. For more information or questions, contact our office to speak to an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer at (301) 870-1200. We are Waldorf, MD, Personal Injury lawyers. Our address is 2670 Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD 20601.