Dog Bite Injury Lawyer: Huntsville, Alabama

Personal Injury Attorney Serving Huntsville and North Alabama Areas

Dog bite injuries can be serious, causing severe bleeding, infections, nerve damage, and even death. If you or a loved one have been bitten by a dog without provocation, you deserve compensation for your medical expenses.

 

Why You Should Get Help from a North Alabama Dog Bite Lawyer

After an attack by a dog, you may be reluctant to hire a lawyer, especially if the dog owner is someone you know. However, dog bite injuries can be serious, and they shouldn’t be left untreated or uncompensated.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in five dog bites becomes infected, and in 2018, nearly 27,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

You don’t deserve to have to pay for what could be significant medical bills out of pocket because someone else didn’t restrain their dog properly. A dog bite injury lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve, and you don’t pay us unless we win you money.

 

What You Should Do After a Dog Bite Injury in North Alabama

If you’ve been attacked by a dog, you may be in shock and in pain. However, following these steps can help protect your health and rights to compensation:

  • Wash your wounds immediately with soap and water, and apply pressure to stop the bleeding.
  • Take photos of your wounds.
  • Get the dog owner’s name and contact information, as well as the contact information of any witnesses.
  • If possible, find out if the dog is up to date on all vaccinations.
  • Get medical attention as soon as possible after the injury occurs, and inform the healthcare provider you were injured by a dog.
  • File a report with your local police department or animal control agency.
  • Contact a dog bite injury lawyer.

 

What are Your Options for Dog Bites Under Alabama Law?

Dog bite lawsuits are governed under Section 3-6-1 of the Code of Alabama. According to this statute, to win a dog bite injury lawsuit, victims or their attorneys will need to prove:

  • The victim did not provoke the dog.
  • The victim wasn’t trespassing on the dog owner’s property.
  • The victim was on the dog owner’s property when attacked or had been on the property shortly before the attack and was chased off by the dog.

This statute doesn’t just cover bites. Any unprovoked injuries caused by a dog when on the dog owner’s property by invitation qualify. For example, if you are injured when a dog jumps on you, you can file an injury claim.

However, Alabama’s dog bite statute does not cover dog bites that occur in public places like parks, or on private property belonging to a third party, like a home where both the victim and dog owner were guests. However, that doesn’t mean you have no means of getting compensation if you were bitten or injured by a dog somewhere other than the dog owner’s home. In that case, you can still get compensation through a negligence claim.

If you aren’t sure how to pursue your dog bite claim, contact the team at Tyler Mann Injury Law for a free case review.

 

What Compensation Can You Recover in a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Alabama?

According to Alabama law, the owner of a dog who bites or otherwise injures a person owes compensatory damages to the injured person. This type of damages can include:

  • Medical costs
  • Lost wages
  • Emotional distress

However, the dog owner can’t be held liable for punitive damages unless the owner knew the dog was aggressive and didn’t do enough to prevent the attack.

If you’ve been injured by a dog, the dog owner or their insurance company may try to avoid paying you the total amount you are due by arguing they had no way of knowing the dog would do what it did. An experienced dog bite lawyer can help prove that the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous.

 

How Much Time to File a Dog Bite Injury Claim in Alabama?

In Alabama, you have two years from the date of the attack to file a claim. After that date, courts will toss out your case. That is why it is important to speak to a lawyer as soon as possible after your injury to improve your chances of getting the compensation you deserve after a dog attack.

 

Get Help From an Experienced Dog Bite Injury Lawyer in North Alabama

Our team knows how painful an unexpected injury from a dog can be, whether it is a dog owned by someone you know or a stranger. We also know that when you are attacked unprovoked, it isn’t right that you should be forced to pay for your medical expenses out of pocket. We want to help you hold negligent dog owners responsible for their actions. Contact Tyler Mann Injury Law today for a free case consultation.