Call John Brinkley Law Your Dog Bites Lawyer

Animals must be controlled. When they cause damage, the owner has the burden to make things right.

The laws involving dogs in Alabama can be complex. If you are attacked, you can receive compensation, but there are restrictions.

The one-bite rule

Basically, this rule says that owners are not responsible for damages if they do not know the dog has a tendency to bite. So, you may hear the phrase that in Alabama “a dog gets one free bite.”  This can be misleading. There are severe restrictions against this — including where the attack took place, the breed of the dog and what safety measures were used by the owner.

What you can expect

I see this all the time in my office — injured people just wanting to be compensated for their medical expenses. However, there is so much more to be considered. For example, you can receive money for your lost income and emotional distress. Punitive damages, those used to punish the wrongdoer, are only awarded if the owner knew the dog was aggressive and did not provide enough safeguards.

You can expect the dog owner or the owner’s insurance company to intensely fight against paying you. I have seen arguments including:

• You provoked the attack by teasing the dog.
• You were trespassing.
• You assumed the risk by coming to the area of the attack.
• Safety measures were in place but failed.

Note: Alabama has different laws when children are involved. This mainly puts more of a burden on the dog owner.

Time limits

Generally, you have two years after the attack to file a lawsuit. After that, you will collect nothing. So, call an attorney experienced in working with clients injured by a dog bite immediately. There is nothing gained by waiting.

We have a wide variety of experience in dealing with injuries involving dog bites. At the very least, you should not have to pay for any medical expenses out of your pocket. Remember, you can always talk to us for free and learn about your rights.