Dog Bite Lawyer In Waldorf, Maryland And Surrounding Area
Suffering a dog bite is a traumatic event regardless of the victim’s age, but when a dog attacks a child, the trauma seems so much worse because of how dog bites typically affect young psyches. A once-trusting child may now be fearful of dogs following a bite, and that fear may manifest itself in numerous ways.
If you or someone you love has suffered serious injury due to a dog bite or other animal attack, you will need the guidance of an experienced dog bite attorney like Patrick Troxler to navigate the complex maze of a personal injury lawsuit. You will have medical bills, you may have lost wages, and you or the victim will certainly have pain and suffering that may carry on for weeks, months, years, or even decades.
Dog Bite Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are over 4.7 million dog bites in the United States every year; 800,000 of those dog bites require medical care. Considering the latest census of the U.S. population, that number means that one in every 69 people will suffer a dog bite at some point in their lives. In 2016, over 30 dog bite fatalities occurred in the United States in over 900 U.S. cities, and Maryland cities are included in that list. No city is immune from dog bites, and no family is immune from a dog attack.
There are numerous statistics out there that indicate whether the family dog was the culprit in a dog bite incident, and there are numerous statistics available that place blame on certain breeds of dog. Regardless of the nature of the attack, and regardless of the breed that attacked you or your loved one, if it happened in Maryland or D.C., Patrick D. Troxler is here to help.
Damages
Victims of dog bites may be entitled to damages, which is monetary compensation for what you’ve endured as a result of a dog bite. Some of the most common damages in dog bite cases include:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income
- Property damage related to the incident
- Punitive damages (very few cases will result in punitive damages; your attorney will discuss this with you during your no-obligation, no-cost consultation)
Maryland’s Dog Bite Laws
In 2014, Maryland’s dog bite laws were significantly changed, and under the new law, the owner of a dog that is “running at large” when it attacks can be held “strictly liable” for all injuries and damages that occurred because of the dog’s aggressive behavior. The term “strict liability” means that no negligence on the part of the owner needs to be proven.
In Maryland, a dog owner will have to prove that he had no knowledge of the dog’s aggressiveness to avoid liability in most cases of dog bite injuries. In Maryland, civil lawsuits for dog-related injuries can also be considered under Maryland’s common law of negligence. In order to recover damages for a dog bite under common law negligence, the injured person must show that the owner’s “lack of reasonable care caused the dog bite.”
If you live in Waldorf, Maryland or anywhere in Maryland or D.C. and have suffered a dog bite injury, or if your loved one has been attacked by an aggressive dog, please contact Patrick D. Troxler to schedule a no-cost consultation.
