Montgomery County Dog Bite Lawyer
Dog bites are much more common than many people realize, but until you or a loved one have been a victim of a dog bite, it may be hard to understand just how devastating even a minor dog bite injury can be. Our Montgomery County dog bite lawyers have experience pursuing compensation on behalf of dog bite victims
Our MoCo dog bite attorneys understand how stressful and worrisome dog bite recovery can be. Having an experienced Montgomery County dog bite attorney as your advocate is a positive step toward getting the compensation you deserve in order to progress in healing from the physical, emotional and medical losses you have suffered. Call today and schedule a consultation with a Montgomery County injury lawyer and discuss your case.
Dog Bite Injuries in Montgomery County
About 4.5 million dog bites occur each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and about 1 in 5 of these bites become infected and require additional treatment. Nearly 27,000 people require reconstructive surgery following a dog bite, the American Veterinary Medical Association reports.
Dog bites can cause pain, injury, nerve damage, loss of function of body parts, muscle or bone exposure, severe scarring, profuse bleeding, infection, illness and even death. Some of the more common illnesses that can be transmitted through a dog bite include rabies, tetanus, MRSA (staph infection).
Even if you do not believe your dog bite injury is serious, it is still important you seek immediate medical evaluation and consult an experienced Montgomery County dog bite lawyer for advice. Some injuries may be more severe than they seem, and many illnesses do not immediately show signs.
Dog Bite Liability in MoCo
Most dog bites are preventable, and if a dog owner is found to have been negligent or reckless in not taking reasonable steps to prevent their dog from attacking others, he or she may be held liable for a victim’s injuries, including medical bills, rehabilitation costs, plastic surgery, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages.
Because Maryland is one of only a handful of states that still maintains contributory negligence rule, it is especially important you consult an experienced MoCo dog bite attorney. Under this rule, a victim can be barred from recovering compensation if he or she contributed in some way to their own injuries.
If the owner responsible for the dog argues that you were trespassing when you were bitten, or provoked the dog in some way, it’s possible this could damage your case. But this does not mean you will automatically lose your case. The defendant will still have present evidence of their claims. This is why it is so crucial that you have an experienced MoCo dog bite lawyer looking out for your best interests in court.
Consult an Experienced Montgomery County Dog Bite Lawyer
Your MoCo lawyer can investigate the details of the dog bite accident, the dog’s background and history, and whether the dog owner may have had reason to know the dog had a tendency to bite. Your Montgomery County dog bite lawyer can also look into factors that impact liability, including how the dog was cared for, whether it was raised to be aggressive, whether it was contained or restrained properly under the law and if it was abused or neglected.
