Livestock in the Road

If you’ve lived in Maryland for any amount of time, you’ve witnessed the expansion of suburban sprawl way beyond the towns surrounding Baltimore.

Suburbia has crept past the traditional bedroom towns out into the Maryland countryside. These formerly rural areas include parts of Carroll County, Cecil County, Harford County, Howard County, and St. Mary’s County. And on the Eastern Shore –– there’s Kent County and Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. People are willing to commute 50 miles or more to get to and from their Baltimore City jobs.

The downside of living in a picturesque Maryland country setting is the risk of getting in a serious or deadly car accident if you suddenly come upon an animal in the roadway. Livestock such as cattle or even buffalo can get loose and wander into the path of oncoming Maryland cars, trucks, and SUVs. Startled drivers can do little or nothing to avoid a 2,000–pound obstacle standing in the road. The results of a Md. car accident with a cow, buffalo, horse, or other large farm or exotic animal can be disastrous.

Maryland Auto Accidents Caused by Animals in the Roadways

The combination of a motor vehicle and a big animal in the roadway is never good. Road accidents in rural Maryland can be caused by a variety of livestock and other large animals in the road. These include…

• Cattle and buffalo being raised for the meat industry (not far from Baltimore)
• Dairy cows on Maryland dairy farms
• Horses kept in Maryland fields and riding stables
• Game animals such as deer and elk raised for hunting (in what are known as “canned hunts” where hunters pay to shoot animals raised and kept on private property in the state of Maryland)
• Exotic animals such as big cats, primates, llamas, alpacas and other animals that we think of as “wild animals” that are kept –– sometimes illegally –– as “pets” in Maryland

The experienced Maryland car and animal accident lawyers at Butschky & Butschky, LLC represent clients injured in motor vehicle crashes with animals throughout the state of Maryland and the Mid–Atlantic. Contact us at 800–722–6616 for more information.

Maryland Liability Law and Road Accidents Caused by Animals

The standard rules of negligence apply if someone keeps livestock or exotic animals on their property and those animals escape and cause a car, SUV, or truck accident. In Maryland, the property and/or animal owner can be sued for negligence.

In certain cases, Maryland’s strict liability laws will apply, as well. An animal owner may be held strictly liable for injuries caused by the animal(s), if the owner knew or should have known that the animal had a propensity to commit the type of mischief that was the cause of harm. (For example, wandering off, jumping fences, or attacking humans –– in the case of some exotic animals.) In other words, if you’re going to keep buffalo or lions in your backyard in Maryland, better make sure they don’t get loose.

If You’ve Been Injured in a Maryland Auto Accident Caused by Livestock or Other Animals in the Road…

1. Seek immediate medical attention and document your injuries.
2. If possible, find out who the property and animal owners are and take notes.
3. CALL THE POLICE if they haven’t shown up already. You need a formal police report and investigation to properly document the Maryland car and animal accident.
4. DO NOT approach an injured animal in the roadway (as difficult as that is to see). An injured animal can strike out and seriously injure people. Let the authorities take care of matters.
5. Note the details and circumstances surrounding the Maryland car and livestock or other animal in–the–road accident (time of day, weather conditions, location of animal).
6. TAKE PHOTOS with your cell phone camera or other camera, if you can do so safely.

At Butschky & Butschky, LLC, our professional Maryland car and animal accident injury attorneys only represent people (plaintiffs) who have been hurt or killed in motor vehicle accidents. We have experience with cases of Maryland motor vehicle accidents caused by animals in the road.

Free Consultation: To discuss whether you may have a legitimate claim or case against a responsible livestock, animal, or property owner connected with a Maryland motor vehicle accident that caused injury or death –– contact the experienced Maryland injury attorneys at Butschky & Butschky, LLC at 410–472–3651 or toll–free at 800–722–6616, or email us today.

909 Ridgebrook Road, Suite 200, Sparks, MD 21152
Local: (410) 472–3651 Toll Free: (800) 722–6616

The Vansant Building, 210 East Lexington Street, Suite 406, Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Local: (410) 625–1110 Toll Free: (800) 722–6616

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