Dog bite injuries can be frightening, painful, and traumatic. Victims deserve financial compensation to cover medical costs as well as damages for pain and suffering, and our legal team can help you.
A settlement for a dog bite should help cover all your medical expenses plus any other damages you may have incurred. The dog’s owner should be held responsible and made to cover your costs. Even if we pursue a settlement instead of a full trial, we still need evidence. Medical records about your injuries, photos of your injuries, and information regarding the dog’s propensity for aggression may be crucial.
Ask our Maryland dog bite injury lawyers for a private, free case assessment by calling Rice Law at (410) 694-7291.
Can You Get a Settlement for a Dog Bite Injury?
Settlements are usually possible in dog bite injury cases. Dog bite injuries can be quite serious, and victims are entitled to compensation. Dog bite lawsuits can be more complex than you realize, and victims often would rather accept a private settlement than take things to court.
What is a Good Settlement for a Dog Bite Injury Worth in Maryland?
A good settlement should at least account for all your economic costs related to the dog bite injury. You should not be left with unpaid medical bills or other debts after accepting a settlement.
A good settlement should also account for pain and suffering. Dog bites and animal attacks can be incredibly frightening, especially if the dog is large and capable of inflicting serious harm. As such, you might feel psychologically traumatized while also enduring intense physical pain from your injuries.
What Damages Should You Demand?
Damages are unique in each case, so you should review all your damages with your lawyer before beginning settlement negotiations. We need to fully understand your damages so we know what your claims are worth and what kind of settlement you should receive. Damages may include, but are not limited to…
- Medical bills
- Future medical costs
- Lost income
- Future lost income
- Physical pain
- Psychological trauma or distress
What Kind of Evidence Do You Need?
Evidence is often one of the most challenging parts of any civil injury claim because it can be unpredictable. We must act quickly to determine what evidence is available and how to obtain it. We should consider the following sources of evidence, and possibly more, depending on your situation:
- Your testimony
- Witness testimony
- Medical records
- Security camera footage
- Photos of your injuries
Who Pays for a Dog Bite Injury?
Generally, the dog’s owner is responsible for paying a settlement. How they pay may vary from case to case. Some dog owners may have personal liability insurance that helps cover the costs. Others might have to pay completely out of pocket.
What if a Dog’s Owner Cannot Afford a Settlement?
If the animal’s owner cannot afford to pay, our Maryland dog bite injury attorneys may need to work out alternative payment arrangements. For example, rather than paying a lump sum, the dog’s owner may need to pay in installments.
In other cases, the dog’s owner may have no money to pay a settlement, and we may need to pursue their assets to recover your compensation. For example, the dog’s owner’s home, vehicle, and other properties or assets may be used to pay your settlement.
What if a Dog’s Owner is “Judgment-Proof”?
A person is considered judgment-proof when they have no money or assets to cover your damages. Even if you win a lawsuit, there may be no money or assets to pursue, leaving no way to recover compensation from the dog’s owner.
In such cases, we may need to seek out alternative defendants. For example, if the dog bite is somehow connected to the dog’s owner’s employment, we may include their employer in the lawsuit. If more than one person owns the dog, we may pursue compensation from all owners, not just one.
How Do You Know if the Dog’s Owner is Negligent?
Under the law, if we present evidence that a dog caused personal injury (e.g., a bite injury), we create a rebuttable presumption that the dog’s owner knew or should have known that the dog had dangerous propensities.
Evidence Still Needed
Because the presumption is rebuttable, the dog’s owner may present evidence to contradict our claims. As such, we need strong evidence that the dog was dangerous, and the owner knew or reasonably should have known. For example, if others have been bitten by the same dog in the past, their testimony may strongly support our claim that the owner knew of the dog’s aggressive behavior.
Effect of Presumption on Settlement
If the dog’s owner cannot come up with strong evidence to rebut the presumption of negligence, they may be more inclined to settle and avoid a lawsuit.
What if You Are Accused of Provoking a Dog?
Many people have dogs and enjoy playing with them. However, dogs are still animals, and if provoked, they will do what animals do: bite. One way dog owners can avoid liability and avoid paying a settlement for a bite injury is to accuse the victim of teasing, tormenting, abusing, or provoking the dog. As such, you need evidence that your behavior before the bite was reasonable and not provoking in any way.
Dog Bite Injuries and Trespassers
People often have dogs to guard their homes. While the dog may be lovable toward the family, intruders may receive a nasty bite. If a person is bitten by a dog while trespassing on the dog’s owner’s property, the owner may not be liable for the injury and cannot be made to pay a settlement.
What if You Do Not Know Who the Dog’s Owner Is?
Maybe a dog approached you alone with no owner in sight. Perhaps the dog was negligently let off the leash, or maybe they escaped from the owner’s yard. If you do not know the owner’s identity, our legal team can help you find them. Many dogs have microchips that contain the owner’s information. Simply checking the dog’s collar for an ID tag can also help us track down the owner.
What to Do if the Dog’s Owner Refuses to Settle
If the dog’s owner refuses to offer a good settlement or acknowledge any wrongdoing, we can take them to court. We should file a personal injury lawsuit against the dog’s owner before trying to settle. If a settlement is not possible, we can pursue a trial in civil court.
Should You Call the Police After a Dog Bite Incident?
Dog bites can be serious, and you need urgent care. It is a good idea to call the police and report the incident. If the attack is more than just a bite, you may need to call 911 and get emergency medical care in addition to the police.
Contact Our Maryland Dog Bite Injury Attorneys to Talk About Your Potential Settlement
Ask our Maryland personal injury lawyers for a private, free case assessment by calling Rice Law at (410) 694-7291.