Maryland legislators will be reviewing proposed legislation this session that would require dog bite victims to prove that the owner of the dog knew or had reason to know that the dog was dangerous.
This is a major step back from the Maryland Court of Appeals decision handed down in 2012, which labeled pit bulls as “inherently dangerous.” That ruling allowed victims to hold landlords and homeowners responsible for their injuries without proving their knowledge of the dog’s past behavior.
The 2012 decision sparked controversy over labeling certain breeds as inherently dangerous, which imposed essentially automatic or strict liability on the dog owner for the attack. Since that decision, animal rights advocacy groups have been lobbying hard for a breed-neutral law under the notion that the types of dogs covered i.e. pit bulls, are not naturally more hostile or dangerous, but are made that way due to the treatment and training by the owner. If this legislation goes through the compromise creates more difficult hurdles for victims to prove their case and receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries, particularly in those cases where the dog seems to be a member of a known “dangerous” breed.
If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog and suffer from severe injuries, please call 301-251-1286 today or contact the Law Offices of Stuart L. Plotnick for your consultation with an experienced Maryland dog bit attorney.