Attorney For Selma and Montgomery, Alabama
If a dog bit you or your child in Alabama, the owner may be legally responsible for your injuries. Alabama has a specific dog bite statute, and it does not always require proof that the dog bit someone before. We help bite victims in Selma, Montgomery, and West Alabama.
Is a dog owner liable for a bite in Alabama?
Under Alabama Code Section 3-6-1, the owner of a dog is liable when the dog bites a person who is lawfully in a public place or lawfully on private property, including the owner's property. Unlike the old common law rule, the statute does not require proof that the dog had bitten someone before.
What is the mitigation limit?
The statute has an important limit. If the owner had no prior knowledge that the dog was dangerous, damages can be reduced to the actual expenses rather than the full range of damages. Whether the owner knew of the dog's dangerous tendencies is often the central fight, and it turns on facts like prior incidents, warnings, and how the dog was kept.
What about negligence claims?
Beyond the statute, an owner or another responsible party can be liable for ordinary negligence, for example failing to restrain a dog known to be aggressive, or violating a local leash ordinance. These theories can matter when the statute's limit applies.
Who pays for a dog bite injury?
Often a homeowner's or renter's insurance policy covers dog bite liability. That is why identifying the owner and the applicable policy early is important.
What should I do after a dog bite?
Get medical care and document the wound, report the bite to animal control, identify the dog and the owner, and photograph the scene and the injuries. Then let us handle the claim.
Frequently asked questions
Does Alabama have a one bite rule? Not in the strict old sense. Section 3-6-1 makes the owner liable for a bite even without a prior bite, though the owner's knowledge of danger affects the damages.
My child was bitten. Is the deadline different? Alabama tolls the deadline for minors in many situations, so a child's claim may remain open longer than an adult's. Do not assume it is too late.
A case review is free and confidential, injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis so you pay no attorney fee unless we recover for you, and you can reach the office at (334) 230-7986.