Law & Society

Owner responsibility for a dog bite in Montgomery

You were bitten by a dog—or perhaps another animal—and were seriously injured as a result. Now the owner of the animal is denying any responsibility for your suffering and is saying that he or she will not pay for costs related to your injury.
You know that this is unfair. But is it legal? Below are some important Alabama dog bite laws to consider if you suffered a dog bite in Montgomery or elsewhere in AL:

• You must have been lawfully on the property where you were attacked. If you were not, the owner may be able to deny liability, and you will not be eligible to collect any compensation for your injuries.

• You need not have provoked the animal. Whether you intentionally or unintentionally instigated the attack, you may still be entitled to damages. The law recognizes that sometimes attacks occur out of the blue without any actions on the part of the victim.

• The owner must not let his or her animal run free if he or she has prior knowledge of its harmful behavior. In other words, if the owner had reason to believe that the animal might bite people, and through intentional or negligent actions still let the animal run loose, then that owner can be held liable for any injuries caused by their pet.

• It may be against the law to let the animal run free at all. Depending upon where you live in the state, letting a dog or other companion animal run free at all may be considered illegal, thus increasing the liability and potential penalties for an owner that lets his or her animal do so.

Contact an attorney about your dog bite in Dothan, Selma, Auburn or Montgomery today
If you suffered an animal attack in Auburn or elsewhere in Alabama, you should consult an attorney who has the experience it takes to win your case. Let the law firm fight for compensation for you pain and suffering. Contact a Montgomery animal attack lawyer today for help with your dog bite injury claim.