Dog Attacks on Children in Maryland
Kellie T. Barnes, Attorney at Law helps women and their children in Maryland when they’re injured in a dog attack.
It’s one thing when you’re hurt by a dog yourself, but it’s a completely different—and arguably more frightening situation—when your child is the one who’s attacked.
If your child was attacked by a dog anywhere in Maryland, we can help. Set up a free consultation today.
Why Should I Talk to a Lawyer?
After a dog attack, your focus is naturally on your child’s health.
Thinking about insurance, claims, or liability can feel overwhelming—but having someone guide you through the process can take a huge weight off your shoulders. My firm and team can:
- Look at the whole situation and figure out who was responsible, how the bite happened, and whether anyone else might be partially responsible.
- Explain your child’s legal options, helping you understand what Maryland law allows and what financial help you and your child can get.
- Gather all the necessary evidence, from medical records to photos to eyewitness accounts, to make sure everything is documented clearly.
- Handle conversations with insurance companies or the dog’s owner, so you can focus on your child’s health.
The goal is simple: a lawyer helps make sure your child gets the care and protection Maryland law provides, while you focus on helping them get better. That starts right after the attack happens.
What Happens When Your Child Is Bitten by a Dog in Maryland?
This question is simple on its face, but really changes when your child is the one that’s attacked. Because children are smaller, attacks are often centered on extremely vulnerable areas. Then, you have to consider the emotional and psychological impacts. All of these things come into play, but there’s also more common injuries across all dog attacks on children:
- Deep wounds to the face, neck, arms, or legs, which can be painful and traumatic.
- Eye injuries or permanent scarring, especially when bites occur near the face.
- Serious infections or other health complications if the bite isn’t treated promptly.
- Broken bones, nerve damage, or muscle tears, which are more likely if the dog was large or aggressive.
- In rare cases, transmission of diseases such as rabies.
There’s so much that can throw off your child’s development with a dog attack that it’s hard to even know what you’re dealing with. Thankfully, the law is on your side and it takes not just the current situation into account, but your child’s future. However, that’s going to rely on a strong claim–and that starts with getting the right information.
How Can You Strengthen Your Child’s Dog Bite Claim?
Just because your child’s injuries after a dog attack–epsecially right after it—seem obvious doesn’t mean you can just automatically get full financial support. You’re going to need certain pieces of information, like:
- Dog/owner information. Knowing who owns the dog is one of the most important pieces of your claim. If you can, collect the owner’s full name, phone number, and address. Insurance information is equally important, but you don’t have to get that right away.
- Medical records. Every doctor’s visit, ER trip, or follow-up appointment matters. Your child’s medical records provide an official, detailed account of the injuries and treatment, which is crucial for proving the severity of the bite.
- Animal control reports. Reporting the bite to local authorities—like animal control or the police—creates an official record of the incident. In Maryland, these reports can support your claim and help show that the event was documented independently.
- Pictures and videos can speak louder than words. Take clear photos of your child’s injuries, including close-ups of any punctures, bruising, or swelling. If possible, photograph the location where the bite occurred, whether that’s a yard, park, or sidewalk. Video recordings of your child immediately after the bite, or even videos of the dog behaving aggressively, can also help show the seriousness of the situation.
- Statements. Anyone who saw the bite happen can provide a helpful perspective. Ask neighbors, friends, or bystanders to share what they saw and write down their account. Get their names and contact information so we can follow up later if needed.
Acting quickly helps protect your child’s rights, but remember, you might not be able to get all of this information right now.
Our team can help get pieces of information and evidence that fills in any gaps. It’s all about getting your child the financial help they’ll need to get better.
Who’s Responsible When My Child Is Bitten by a Dog in Maryland?
Maryland law holds dog owners strictly liable when their dog bites someone. This means that if your child is attacked and hurt:
- The dog’s owner is responsible.
Even if the dog belongs to a friend or family member, the claim usually goes through the owner’s insurance rather than their personal savings.
The law is designed this way so families can get the care they need after an injury.
In some cases, you and your child’s actions during the attack can come into play. For example, if you weren’t supervising your child closely or if your child provoked the dog, the owner may try to argue partial fault. This doesn’t mean you lose your right to file a claim, but it will play a role in the legal process moving forward.
What’s the Legal Process If Your Child Is Bitten by a Dog in Maryland?
Maryland treats dog bites to children as seriously as those to adults. This means that your child has the exact same rights as anyone else that’s attacked and injured by a dog, namely the ability to file a claim and get “damages.”
The difference is that your child isn’t the one that files the claim and goes through the process–you are. At that point, though, the process is similar to any other type of injury claim.
Here’s a look at your main options:
- Insurance claim. The first step is often filing a claim through the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy. Many cases are taken care of in this way without going to court. It’s also quicker, but there’s limits to what you can get with these types of claims.
- If the insurance company tries to lowball you or is simply being uncooperative, you can move forward with filing a personal injury lawsuit on behalf of your child. It takes more time and effort, but gives you and your child access to fuller financial support like:
- Medical bills, including emergency visits, stitches, surgeries, therapy, and long-term follow-up care.
- Lost income from missed work to care for your child.
- Pain and suffering, covering both physical pain and emotional distress.
- Permanent injuries or disfigurement, if the bite leaves lasting marks.
- Loss of enjoyment of life, if your child can no longer participate in favorite activities like sports, school events, or playing outside.
In Maryland, families generally have three years to file a dog bite claim.
For children, though, the timeline doesn’t start until they turn 18.
Still, even with this extension, acting quickly is always better to preserve evidence and make sure your child gets timely care.
Get Help From Child Dog Bite Lawyers in Maryland
No parent ever expects a dog bite to turn their family’s world upside down.
Between emergency visits, sleepless nights, and worrying about what comes next, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
At Kellie T. Barnes, Attorney at Law, we’ll listen to your story, explain your options in plain language, and make sure your child’s rights are protected. While you focus on helping your child get better, we handle the legal side of things.
Set up a free consultation today.