Dog Bites

Dog Bite Attorney in Maryland

Injury-Focused Representation Since 1988, With Offices in Upper Marlboro & Waldorf

When a dog bite leaves you hurt, the legal path forward isn’t always clear. Maryland’s dog bite law is stronger for victims than most people realize, and having attorneys who handle injury cases every day makes a real difference in how those claims are built and resolved. Wilson & Parlett has represented injured and disabled clients since 1988, with over 85 years of combined legal experience across our team. We handle dog bite cases throughout Maryland, with offices in Upper Marlboro and Waldorf that give Prince George’s County and Southern Maryland clients a local team to call. Legal services are available in English and Spanish.

If you or a family member has been hurt by a dog in Maryland, contact us for a free consultation. We handle all cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Call (301) 231-1737 to speak with our team.

How Maryland’s Dog Bite Law Works

Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings Section 3-1901, which took effect in April 2014, is the governing statute for dog bite claims in Maryland and applies equally to all dog breeds. When a dog causes personal injury or death, the law creates a rebuttable presumption that the owner knew or should have known the dog had dangerous or vicious propensities. The burden then shifts to the owner to prove otherwise.

Strict Liability When a Dog Is Running at Large

When a dog was running at large, meaning it wasn’t under anyone’s physical control, the owner faces strict liability for all resulting injuries. No proof of prior dangerous behavior is required. Maryland doesn’t follow the traditional one-bite rule, so an owner can’t escape liability simply because their dog had never bitten before.

The statute also covers injuries beyond bites. If a dog knocks someone down or causes a person to fall while fleeing, the same liability rules apply. Two theories of recovery are available in most cases: strict liability under the statute and general negligence, which requires showing the owner failed to exercise reasonable care in controlling the animal.

Dog Bite Injuries & Recoverable Damages

Dog attacks cause serious physical harm. Common injuries include deep puncture wounds, nerve and tendon damage, broken or crushed bones, permanent scarring, and infection. Children face elevated risk because their smaller size makes neck and facial injuries significantly more likely.

Psychological harm is also recognized under Maryland law. Post-traumatic stress and anxiety following an attack are legitimate injury categories that factor into a claim’s full value. Recoverable damages can include:

Medical expenses: Emergency care, surgery, follow-up treatment, and rehabilitation
Future medical costs: Ongoing care for permanent injuries or psychological treatment
Lost wages and earning capacity: Income lost during recovery and any long-term impact on ability to work
Pain and suffering: Physical pain and emotional distress resulting from the attack

Homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies frequently cover dog bite claims, even when the attack happened away from the insured property. Adjusters tend to focus narrowly on documented economic costs and undervalue non-economic damages. Accepting an early settlement before the full picture of your injuries is known can forfeit your right to recover later-emerging harm. We work to put the complete value of your claim on the table before any resolution is reached.

Why Maryland Dog Bite Victims Choose Wilson & Parlett

Our practice is built entirely around representing injured and disabled people. Dog bite cases aren’t a sideline for us. That focus shapes how we evaluate claims, how we negotiate with insurers, and how we prepare cases for litigation when settlement isn’t adequate.

We know a legal claim compounds an already difficult experience. Every client has a dedicated contact throughout the case, and we walk clients through each step so nothing comes as a surprise. Many of our new clients come to us through referrals from people we’ve represented before, which reflects the relationships we build, not just the outcomes we pursue.

We offer free, honest case evaluations with no obligation. All cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Our team serves clients in English and Spanish, and we’ve helped thousands of injury victims across Maryland recover hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation and benefits.

Contact Us Before the Filing Deadline Passes

Maryland law gives dog bite victims three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim under Courts and Judicial Proceedings Section 5-101. That window can feel long, but evidence deteriorates. Animal control records, witness accounts, and documentation of the dog’s history all become harder to recover over time. Early action can help protect the strength of your case.

Contact Wilson & Parlett for a free consultation. There’s no fee unless we recover compensation for you. Call (301) 231-1737 to get started.

Owner Defenses & Maryland’s Contributory Negligence Rule

Maryland law gives dog owners specific defenses. A victim can’t recover if, at the time of the attack, they were trespassing, committing a criminal offense, or provoking, teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog. Whether provocation occurred is a fact-specific question. A person invited to pet or interact with a dog generally has a reasonable expectation of safety, and that context matters when a provocation defense is raised.

Maryland also follows the contributory negligence doctrine, one of the strictest liability standards in the country. If a victim is found to have contributed even one percent to causing the incident, they may be barred from recovering any compensation at all. An attorney can challenge provocation and contributory negligence claims by gathering witness accounts, animal control records, and documentation of the dog’s prior behavior, which is why getting legal guidance early is so important.

When a Landlord May Be Liable for a Tenant’s Dog

The dog’s owner isn’t always the only party who can be held responsible for your injuries. In Maryland, a landlord may be liable if they knew or had reason to know a tenant’s dog was dangerous, had the ability to act through a lease provision or property policy, and failed to do so. The Maryland Supreme Court’s decision in Shields v. Wagman (1998) established the framework for this kind of liability.

Landlord liability follows a different legal standard than owner liability under the 2014 statute. Rather than relying on the rebuttable presumption that applies to owners, the victim must establish the landlord’s actual knowledge and control. Maryland courts have generally recognized that this liability arises most often in common areas of a property, though it can extend to areas where the landlord retained control through a lease provision. Pursuing a landlord as a defendant may be necessary when the dog owner has no renter’s insurance or insufficient resources to cover a judgment.

What to Do After a Dog Bite in Maryland

The steps you take immediately after an attack directly affect both your recovery and the strength of any legal claim. Here’s what matters most:

Seek medical attention right away: Treatment protects your health and creates a documented record of your injuries that supports your claim
Report the bite to animal control: Maryland law requires animal bites to be reported to the local health department, and the dog may be subject to a 10-day quarantine
Gather information at the scene: Get the dog owner’s name and contact information, note any witnesses, and photograph your injuries and the location as soon as possible
Don’t speak to the insurance company yet: Don’t give a recorded statement or accept any payment from the dog owner’s insurer before consulting an attorney. Not all injuries are immediately apparent, and early settlements can forfeit future claims
Contact a Maryland dog bite attorney promptly: Evidence like animal control records and witness recollections can be lost quickly, and the three-year filing deadline begins on the date of your injury

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85+ Years of Combined Legal Experience

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