Dog Bite Injury Attorney

No one loves dogs more than the attorneys at Dross Berman LLC.  Unfortunately, a dog bite or dog attack can lead to serious injury and, in rare instances, even death.  A dog owner may be financially responsible for your injuries if you have been bitten or attacked by a dog. Speaking to a dog bite lawyer or attorney is key to seeing if you have a viable claim. The attorneys at Dross Berman are experienced in providing top-quality legal services to help you recover damages if you are injured by a dog bite, whether it is caused by a negligent owner or a dangerous dog.

Do I need a Dog Bite Injury Attorney if I have been Attacked or Bitten by a Dog?

If you are bitten or attacked by a dog, you should reach out to a qualified dog bite injury attorney for a free consultation. During this consultation, your lawyer will evaluate your case and discuss with you the viability of moving forward with a claim. The experienced team at Dross Berman works with dog bite victims in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC. Contact us for a free consultation!

Are injuries from dog attacks common?

More common than you would think – over 1% of American visit the emergency room each year due to a dog bite attack.  In 2019, 48 Americans were killed by a dog, and in 2015, over 850,000 people receive medical treatment as a result of a dog attack.  Despite the high number of dog attacks, only 15,000-16,000 people receive compensation.  The average compensation for a dog bite is approximately $29,000.00.  The value of your dog attack claim is dependent on many factors, all of which your dog bite injury attorney can discuss with you.

Who pays for dog bite claims?

Most people do not realize that a homeowners or renter’s insurance policy will cover a dog bite claim.  If you have been bitten, obtaining the dog owner’s insurance policy is an important first step in receiving compensation. Suing for dog bites or filing dog bite lawsuits is one of the best ways to recover payment for injuries or a dog bite claim – to do this successfully, speaking with a dog bite attorney is key!

Under what circumstances can I receive compensation for a dog bite injury?

Simply being bitten may not be enough to receive financial compensation.  To recover compensation as a result of a dog bite injury, the victim must prove that the dog’s owner was negligent (Learn More About Suing for Dog Bites). There are several ways to prove negligence, and each dog bite presents a unique set of circumstances.  Some ways a dog owner may be negligent include:

  • The dog is in public without a leash.
  • The dog has a history of biting or aggression.
  • The owner fails to supervise their dog around a young child.
  • The owner fails to control the dog, who is exhibiting aggressive behavior.
  • The landlord knew a dangerous dog was on their premises but failed to evict or remove the owner.

Is it true that there is a “one bite” rule?

A common misconception of dog bite claims is that a dog owner gets “one free bite.”  In other words, unless the dog has bitten people before, you will not be able to receive compensation for your injuries.  This is not the case.  Each state has separate and unique dog bite laws, and it is very important that you retain a dog bite attorney who understands the differences.

Maryland

Maryland imposes a “strict liability” policy on dog bites.  However, the dog owner will not be responsible for the dog bite if they can prove that they did not know or should have known that their dog was dangerous.  The burden of proof is on the dog owner to establish that they did not know their dog was dangerous.  Further, if the dog was “at large,” meaning not on a leash, the owner is held strictly liable for the injury.

Some counties in Maryland, such as Prince George’s County, have breed restrictions and do not allow their residents to own a pit bull.

District of Columbia

The District of Columbia requires the victim to prove that the dog owner was negligent, the dog was at-large, or the dog had bitten someone previously.

Virginia

Like the District of Columbia, Virginia does not have a “strict liability” statute and requires a victim to prove negligence to recover for a dog bite.  Virginia dog owners are required to know their dog’s propensities and prevent foreseeable harm.

If a dog owner knows or should know that their dog might cause injury, they have a duty to use ordinary care to prevent injury to others. If an owner fails to perform this duty, then he is negligent.

Further, the owner of a dog must take notice of its general, natural inclinations or characteristics and of the inclinations or characteristics, if any, peculiar to the animal in this case that he knows about or should have known about. If any of those inclinations or characteristics are of a kind likely to cause injury, the owner has a duty to use ordinary care to prevent any reasonably foreseeable injury. If an owner fails to perform this duty, then he is negligent.

How do you prove a dog owner was negligent?

Hiring the right attorney to investigate and prove negligence is an essential first step in receiving compensation for a dog bite injury.  There are several ways to prove that the dog owner was negligent, including, but not limited to:

  • Obtaining the “bite report” or incident report from the police department or local animal control agency.
  • Finding out the dog’s history from the dog’s owner.
  • Speaking to neighbors about their observations of the dog in the past.
  • Detailing and documenting the incident in writing.
  • Obtaining the medical history of the dog through its veterinarian.
  • Obtaining obedience/training school records if they exist.
  • Medical reports concerning treatment of the injuries.
  • Obtaining witness statements.

What injuries do people who are bitten by a dog typically suffer?

We have seen shockingly serious injuries caused by a dog bite or attack.  These can include:

  • Puncture wounds
  • Cuts and bruising
  • Loss of fingers
  • Scarring
  • Broken bones
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Infections

Victims of dog bite injuries may be entitled to receive compensation for the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Disfigurement or scarring
  • Emotional distress
  • Future medical treatment for scar revisions

Contact One of the Dog Bite Lawyers at Dross Berman Today!

If you or a loved one have been bitten by a dog, please contact the dog bite injury lawyers at Dross Berman LLC for a free consultation.

Dog Bite Reports

If a dog bites you, you should file a bite report with the proper authorities and request a bite report for that dog’s biting history. For information about where to file or obtain a report, you can check out the following links for nearby counties in DC, Maryland, and Virginia:

Maryland

Montgomery County Animal Services

Prince George’s County

Anne Arundel County

Howard County

Virginia

Fairfax County

Loudon County

Arlington

Alexandria

District of Columbia

Washington, D.C.

Why Choose Dross Berman’s Dog Bite Attorneys?

We believe that you are entitled to the best legal representation possible, and we are committed to providing that to all of our clients! We have decades of experience in dog bite cases, have recovered significant compensation for our clients, and we have the accolades to prove it with a 10.0 Avvo rating, Bethesda Magazine Top Attorney Award, Super Lawyers awards, being listed as a Top Lawyer in the Washingtonian, and a member of The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 list! You can also check out our reviews to see what our satisfied clients have to say!

What Our Clients Say

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