Maryland Dog Bite
Posted on : 10-05-2008 | By : Legal Information | In : Assault & Battery, Assault & Battery Injury, Criminal Law, Dog Bites, Other Legal Topics, Personal Injury
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I just read in the local paper that a vicious pit bull attacked 4 horses at a farm in Harford county. One of the horses had to be put down after the dog bit it in the foreleg. The owner of the horses has suffered $1,700 in veterinary fees and the horse that had to put down was worth $7,000. Luckily, a customer of the farm who was with his daughter at the time was able to subdue the dog with a lead pipe. The dog was owned by a neighbor and had recently been fined $60 for not being properly confined.
My question is, what kind of liability can be brought to the owner of the pit bull? Could the owner have to pay punitive damages and pain and suffering to the horse owner? Is the dog owner criminally liable for his pit bull’s attacks?
If I was the dog owner I would hire a really good personal injury defense lawyer. I would imagine he is liable for the veterinary bills and the value of the horse. I also read the article in the paper, and found that one of the injured horse may also have to put down. This would add to the liability of the dog owner. Also, there is probably damage to the horse farm owner’s business as well. I hope the farm/horse ownder sues the pants off this reckless dog owner. Pit bulls are bred to vicious dogs and without careful restraint, these types of attacks happen. thank God no child or adult was attacked.
There are a lot of attorneys in Maryland and other states that specialize in dog bite lawsuits. I am not sure about dog bites against horses, but this horse farm owner should levy a lawsuit against the dog’s owner.
Maryland has an archaic dog bite law based on old English law traditions. In Maryland, there is a “One Bite Rule” meaning that the owner of the dog is not liable for the first dog attack. Once the dog has shown a propensity for biting, then the owner is off the hook for the dog bite.
So imagine, a crazed pit bull (who never bit anyone) attacks a poor child in a school yard, the owner is not liable in Maryland.
(I am not a lawyer, but I did some research on the internet. If you or someone you know was bit by a dog or other animal, definitely consult a lawyer that specializes in Dog Bite lawsuits in Maryland).
It’s not quite as simple as spok describes concerning dog bites in Maryland.