May 3, 2012, ERIE, PA — As Pennsylvania dog bite lawyers, we keep a careful eye on legal developments concerning legal liability for animal attacks, even when these developments happen out of state. That’s why a recent decision by the Maryland Court of Appeals which found pit bulls, as a breed, “inherently dangerous” caught our attention.
According to a recent report on msn.com, the Maryland court’s finding means that owners of pit bulls (and pit bull mixes) in Maryland, as well as the landlords who rent to them, are strictly liable whenever their dog causes harm. What is strict liability? It means an injured person only has to show that they were injured by a dog that was, at least partly, pit bull. There is no requirement that the injured person show that the owner was careless or negligent.
In Pennsylvania, a dog owner who properly confines his pet is not liable for injuries caused by the animal unless it can be shown that the owner knew or should have known of the dog’s “dangerous propensities.” However, courts across the country are growing increasingly strict with owners of dangerous breeds and the development of strict liability in Maryland could be a sign of change that Pennsylvania dog bite attorneys should consider when bringing future animal attack claims in Pennsylvania.
Contact a Pennsylvania Dog Bite Lawyer
Call Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. today, locally at 814-273-2010 or toll free 814-273-2010 to schedule your free and confidential consultation with an Erie Dog Attack Lawyer. Our consults come without strings and we won’t charge a fee in a dog bite case unless we recover money for you or your child
We will fight for your legal rights to the money and resources you need to fix what can be fixed, help what can be helped and make up for what cannot be fixed or helped.