A lot of Baltimore residents still believe Maryland follows the old one-bite rule. It does not, and it has not since 2014. Under current state law, a dog owner is presumed to have known the animal was dangerous the moment their dog injures someone.
That change has reshaped how these cases develop, and it is why a well-prepared Baltimore dog bite lawyer may recover far more than injured people expect.
Furman Honick Law represents adults and children who were bitten, knocked down, or otherwise hurt by someone else's dog.
If a neighbor's mastiff came through a broken fence, or a delivery route ended in an emergency room visit, we may be able to help. Call 410-844-6000 to speak with an attorney directly.
What Sets Furman Honick Law Apart in Dog Attack Claims
Dog bite cases look simple until they are not. Owners deny knowing the dog was aggressive, insurance carriers dispute coverage, and landlords point fingers at tenants.
Our Baltimore dog attack attorneys handle these disputes head-on, using Maryland's presumption of owner knowledge to push cases toward serious offers or trial.
Dustin Furman and Allen E. Honick take on dog injury claims personally rather than passing them to junior staff. A few reasons clients bring dog bite cases to us:
- Trial preparation begins the day we take the file, not the week before a hearing
- We work directly with plastic surgeons, pediatricians, and mental health providers to document long-term harm
- Our firm has recovered $80+ million across serious injury and malpractice cases in Maryland
- We hold 230+ 5-star reviews from clients across the Baltimore area
- Recognition includes Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Best Lawyers Ones to Watch, and National Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers
Scarring, nerve damage, and post-traumatic stress often outlast the physical wound. Treating serious dog attack claims as small cases costs victims real money.
How Does Maryland's Dog Bite Statute Work?
Maryland's dog bite statute creates two paths to owner liability under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-1901. The first path applies to most bites and injuries. The second applies when the dog was running at large.
The Rebuttable Presumption
Under subsection (a) of the statute, when a dog causes personal injury or death, the law presumes the owner knew or should have known the dog had vicious or dangerous propensities.
The owner then carries the burden of trying to rebut that presumption with actual evidence. That shift matters a lot in practice, because most dog owners have no documented reason to think their pet was harmless in every situation.
Strict Liability for Dogs at Large
Subsection (c) imposes strict liability on the owner when the dog was running at large at the time of the attack. Strict liability means the injured person does not need to prove the owner's state of mind.
The statute identifies exceptions involving trespass or other criminal conduct and teasing, tormenting, abusing, or provoking the dog. Other applicable defenses or immunities may also remain available under Maryland law.
Liability Paths at a Glance
| Situation | Legal Standard | Key Defense |
| Dog injures someone on any premises | Rebuttable presumption of owner knowledge | Owner shows no reason to know dog was dangerous |
| Dog running at large causes injury | Strict liability | Trespass, criminal conduct, or provocation |
| Landlord liability | Common law negligence, with knowledge required | Landlord had no control or knowledge of the dog |
The statute applies to all breeds equally. A pit bull, golden retriever, or German shepherd faces the same legal treatment.
Where Does the Money Actually Come From?
Compensation in a Baltimore dog bite claim usually comes from the owner's homeowner or renter insurance policy, not the owner's personal savings. Some attacks involving inadequately secured or restrained dogs on commercial property may also intersect with negligent property security claims.
Standard policies often include liability coverage for dog-related injuries, though many carriers exclude certain breeds or add limits after prior incidents.
Common insurance and recovery sources may include:
- Homeowner insurance liability coverage carried by the dog's owner
- Renter insurance liability coverage if the owner rents rather than owns
- Umbrella policies stacked on top of the primary policy
- Landlord liability coverage, in narrow situations involving known danger
- Health insurance for immediate medical expenses, subject to lien or subrogation rights
Identifying every applicable policy early gives a claim its full value. Owners sometimes deny coverage exists, or claim their policy excluded the dog.
A dog bite injury claim in Maryland benefits from an attorney who requests policies directly and reviews the exclusions in writing.
What Injuries Do Baltimore Dog Attacks Cause?
Dog attacks in Baltimore produce injuries that range from puncture wounds to permanent disfigurement or catastrophic injuries. The force of a large-breed bite may crush tissue and damage nerves in ways that surgical repair does not fully restore. Emergency room treatment is often only the beginning.
Injuries our Baltimore dog attack attorneys see regularly include:
- Deep puncture wounds prone to infection, including rabies and MRSA exposure
- Facial lacerations that lead to permanent scarring, especially in children
- Tendon and nerve damage in the hands, forearms, and calves
- Broken bones from being knocked down or dragged
- Post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and long-term fear of dogs
Photographs of injuries taken during the days after the attack often become some of the strongest evidence at trial. Scars fade in appearance long before their emotional weight does, and juries respond to what they may see with their own eyes.
What Happens When the Bite Victim Is a Child?
Children face a different set of risks in dog attacks because their height puts their faces closer to a dog's mouth. Bites to a child's face, scalp, and neck may require reconstructive surgery in stages as the child grows.
Furman Honick Law handles pediatric dog bite claims with those long-term realities in mind.
Extra Considerations in Child Bite Cases
Several factors shape child dog bite claims differently from adult cases:
- Facial scarring often needs revision surgeries throughout adolescence
- Psychological injuries may include night terrors, phobias, and school avoidance
- Maryland tolls the statute of limitations for minors under § 5-201, giving parents added time to act on behalf of a child
- Court approval may be required for settlements involving minor children
- Life care planners help project future medical costs from childhood scarring
A child's dog bite claim is not a compressed version of an adult claim. It carries decades of forward-looking damages that a careful attorney documents from the start.
What Should You Do After a Baltimore Dog Attack?
The most useful steps after a dog attack happen once the victim is home from the emergency room.
Reporting the incident, identifying the owner, and preserving evidence all shape what the claim looks like weeks later. Maryland gives victims real leverage, but only if the record supports it.
Practical steps once you are safe at home:
- Report the bite to Baltimore Animal Control by calling 311 or to your local county animal services
- Save the medical records, discharge instructions, and prescription receipts
- Photograph wounds daily as they heal, along with torn clothing and the location of the attack
- Ask witnesses for written statements or contact information before memories blur
- Avoid speaking with the dog owner's insurance carrier until you have legal advice
Baltimore City and Baltimore County both require dogs to be leashed off the owner's property and vaccinated for rabies. Documented violations of those rules may strengthen a claim under the presumption in § 3-1901.
How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Claim in Maryland?
Maryland generally gives adult dog bite victims three years from the date of the attack to file a personal injury lawsuit under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101. Missing that deadline typically ends the claim.
For minors, the three-year clock generally does not start until the child turns 18, subject to the specific rules in § 5-201. Claims against a Maryland local government follow the shorter deadlines in the Local Government Tort Claims Act, so any bite involving a police or governmental dog may need faster attention.
Talking to an attorney early keeps every option on the table.
FAQs for Baltimore Dog Bite Lawyer
Does Maryland still follow the one-bite rule?
No, Maryland no longer follows the one-bite rule. Under § 3-1901, effective April 8, 2014, a dog owner is presumed to have known the dog was dangerous once it causes injury.
The owner then carries the burden of proving otherwise, which is a very different standard from the older rule.
Do I have a case if the dog never bit anyone before?
Yes, you may still have a case even if the dog never bit anyone before. Maryland's current statute presumes owner knowledge of dangerousness once the injury occurs, so prior bites are not required.
That presumption is one of the biggest reasons Maryland dog bite claims often settle in the victim's favor.
Can I recover money if the dog owner has no assets?
Often yes, you may still recover money if the dog owner has no personal assets. Most claims are paid through homeowner or renter insurance policies rather than out of the owner's pocket. A lawyer may identify coverage the owner did not know applied.
What if I was bitten at a friend or family member's house?
Yes, you may still pursue a claim even if the attack happened at a friend or family member's home. If the dog owner has applicable homeowner's or renter's insurance, the insurer may handle the claim and pay a covered settlement or judgment on the owner's behalf.
Can a landlord be responsible for a tenant's dog?
Sometimes yes, a landlord may share responsibility for a tenant's dog under narrow circumstances. Maryland requires proof the landlord had knowledge of the dog's dangerousness and retained control over the property, an issue tied closely to broader property owner responsibility under Maryland law.
These claims are fact-heavy and benefit from close legal review.
What if the dog owner claims I provoked the dog?
Provocation is a recognized defense under Maryland's dog bite statute, but the bar is higher than most owners think. Approaching a friendly dog, petting it, or walking near it is not provocation. A lawyer may push back against loose claims of provocation, which owners often raise reflexively.
Speak With a Baltimore Dog Bite Lawyer About Your Next Move
A dog attack claim in Baltimore rewards preparation and punishes delay. Medical records get harder to gather, insurance carriers close files, and the owner's story tends to change over time.
Getting an attorney involved early may protect the value of the case long before litigation begins. Furman Honick Law represents dog bite victims across Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Owings Mills, and communities throughout Maryland.
Call 410-844-6000 to talk with a Baltimore dog attack attorney about what happened and what your options may look like. Consultations are free, and no attorney fees apply unless we win.