Does Maryland Law Hold Dog Owners Responsible for Bite Injuries?

 Posted on June 17, 2026 in Dog Bites & Animal Injuries

Maryland law gives dog bite victims a strong legal foundation for seeking compensation. Under state law, the burden falls on the dog owner to show they are not responsible, not on the injured person to prove negligence. The Bowie, MD personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Kari H. Fawcett handle dog bite and personal injury claims and can help you understand what your case may be worth in 2026.

What Does Maryland's Dog Bite Law Actually Say?

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, and roughly 800,000 of those injuries require medical attention. Many of those victims never pursue the compensation they are legally entitled to, often because they do not know where the law stands. In Maryland, it stands firmly on the side of the injured person.

Maryland Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings Section 3-1901 is the state's dog bite statute. It creates a rebuttable presumption of liability. That means that when a dog injures someone, the law automatically assumes the owner knew, or should have known, the dog was dangerous. The owner then has to prove otherwise, and if they cannot, they are responsible for the injuries their dog caused.

This is very different from the old "one bite rule" that Maryland used before April 2014. Under that older approach, a victim often had to show the dog had bitten someone before to prove the owner knew it was risky. The current law changed that approach and now places the burden on owners to show they should not be held responsible.

The statute also covers more than just bites. If a dog jumps on someone and knocks them down, breaking a wrist or causing a head injury, the owner is liable for that, too.

Can a Dog Owner in Maryland Avoid Being Held Responsible for a Dog Bite?

Owners do have a narrow path to defending themselves, but it is not easy. An owner can try to rebut the presumption by showing they had no reason to believe their dog was dangerous. This means presenting real evidence, beyond just saying the dog was always friendly. Courts consider the dog's history, behaviour around others, and whether the owner took reasonable steps to control it.

Beyond that limited defense, the statute also carves out three specific situations in which an owner is not liable. The owner may escape responsibility if the injured person was:

• Trespassing on the owner's property, or
• Committing a crime, or
• Provoking the dog

These exceptions are narrow and simply walking through a neighborhood or approaching a dog that approached you first would not qualify.

Maryland's contributory negligence rule applies to dog bite cases. If a court finds that you did anything that contributed to the bite, such as reaching over a fence to pet a dog you did not know, you could be barred from any recovery at all.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Dog Bite in Maryland?

A successful dog bite claim in Maryland can cover medical bills, follow-up treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The physical damage from a bite can be lasting, and Maryland law allows victims to seek compensation for the full scope of their injuries.

Maryland caps non-economic damages, meaning there is a legal limit on pain-and-suffering awards. That cap is set by Maryland Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 11-108 and increases each year. Medical costs and lost income are not subject to that cap.

Maryland gives injured victims three years from the date of the bite to file a civil lawsuit. Claims involving minors can work differently, so it is worth checking with an attorney if the victim was a child.

Speak with a Bowie, MD Personal Injury Attorney About Your Dog Bite Case Today

If a dog has injured you or a family member, the attorneys at the Law Office of Kari H. Fawcett are ready to fight for you. With more than 50 years of combined experience across personal injury and family law, our team does not back down from a challenge, whether that means taking on an insurance company or pushing a case to trial. Contact our Annapolis, MD personal injury lawyers today to schedule a consultation.