Every year, thousands of people across the United States suffer serious injuries from dog attacks, and many of them never realize they have the right to fight back. A dog bite can leave physical scars, emotional trauma, and mounting medical bills that turn your life upside down.
If a dog has attacked you or someone you love, you deserve answers, and you deserve compensation. Alison Mason Heurich, Esq., has been fighting for injured Marylanders since 2005, winning millions of dollars for hundreds of clients. She knows Maryland dog bite law inside and out, and she’s not afraid to take on tough cases.
Maryland Dog Bite Law: What You Need to Know
Maryland’s dog bite laws were significantly overhauled in 2014. Under current law, if a dog is “running at large” when it attacks someone, the owner can be held strictly liable for all injuries and damages. Strict liability means you do not need to prove the owner was negligent or knew the dog was dangerous.
Maryland law also creates a “rebuttable presumption” that the dog owner knew or should have known their dog had dangerous tendencies. To avoid liability, the owner must prove otherwise.
A dog owner may assert an affirmative defense if:
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The victim was trespassing or attempting to trespass on the owner’s property
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The victim was committing or attempting to commit a crime on the owner’s property
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The victim was committing a criminal offense against another person
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The victim was provoking, abusing, teasing, or tormenting the dog
In Maryland, a dog may be classified as a “dangerous dog” if it has, without provocation, killed or inflicted severe injury on a person, or if it was previously classified as “potentially dangerous” and then bit a person, injured or killed a domestic animal off the owner’s property, or attacked without provocation. Dog owners whose animals kill or seriously injure someone may also face criminal charges.
How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Claim?
The statute of limitations for dog bite legal action in Maryland is three years from the date of the attack. Waiting too long can cost you your right to compensation entirely. If you’ve been attacked, it’s time to act.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
A dog bite claim can cover more than just your immediate medical bills. You may be entitled to compensation for:
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Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, and ongoing treatment
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Lost wages if your injuries kept you from working
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Pain and suffering
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Emotional distress and psychological trauma, including PTSD
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Scarring and disfigurement
Alison has seen firsthand how devastating dog attacks can be, especially for children. In one case, she secured a $360,000 settlement for a family whose child suffered physical injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder following a dog attack.
Why Choose Alison Mason Heurich, Esq., for Dog Bite Cases in Waldorf, MD?
Alison Mason Heurich is not your average personal injury attorney. Since earning her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law in 2005, she has handled some of Maryland’s most difficult personal injury cases and recovered millions of dollars for her clients. Her background includes experience at one of Washington, D.C.’s most prestigious law firms, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, and she brings that level of skill and determination to every case she takes on.
What truly sets Alison apart is how she fights. She is aggressive, knowledgeable, and relentless. She will walk you through every aspect of your case in plain language, and she will not stop until she has secured the best possible outcome for you. There is no money upfront, and you pay no fee unless she wins.
Get the Fight You Deserve After a Dog Attack
A dog bite can change your life in an instant. You shouldn’t have to navigate the legal system alone while also recovering from a traumatic attack. Alison Mason Heurich, Esq., is ready to put her experience and track record to work for you.
Contact Alison today for a complimentary consultation. She serves clients throughout Maryland from her Waldorf, MD office. Call 240-346-4883 to get started.
