Even though they’re man’s best friend, a dog’s behavior can sometimes be unpredictable. In the unfortunate event that you or a loved one experiences a dog bite, you need to know your legal rights. If you are bitten by a dog owned by someone else, you may be eligible for a settlement from the do’s owner. Ultimately, a pet’s owner is responsible for their pet’s actions. So if that pet bites you  and causes an injury, the owner is responsible and may owe you compensation for medical care and pain and suffering.

Alabama law states that a dog’s owner is liable for injuries caused by the dog if the injured person did not provoke the dog, the injured person was not trespassing, or the injured person was on the dog’s owner’s property or had just left the property and was chased off it by the dog. Since the owner of the animal is responsible, that owner’s homeowner’s policy will typically cover the injury.  If the owner of the pet rents the property, the renter may not be properly insured for covering the liability of a dog bite, but there are certain circumstances where the owner of the property can be held liable for things that happen on their land, even if it is being leased by a third party.

If you have been bitten by a dog, you should immediately call the authorities and seek medical attention.  Then, you should seek out a lawyer that has experience handling this type of case. Our firm has handled a number of dog bite cases in the 23 years that we’ve been in business. If you have any questions about dog bites, you can always meet with an injury lawyer at our office on Florida Street, or call us at (251) 300-2000.  Call or come by anytime, you never need an appointment.