Many people love their dogs so much that they are considered a member of the family. Oftentimes, they are called “man’s best friend.” Part of owning a dog is ensuring they are trained to stay friendly and not harm other people. However, this is not always the case, and dog attacks happen. When a dog does not receive proper behavioral training, it can be unpredictable and aggressive toward others. Dog bite injuries are usually severe, as they can damage flesh, tendons, nerves, and more. These can leave long-lasting impacts, possibly for the rest of someone’s life. When this happens, a person may wish to consider their legal options to hold the dog owner responsible. A seasoned Birmingham dog bite lawyer from our firm can provide effective representation for victims of dog bites. Contact Alabama Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC today to discuss your case.
Few things are more jarring than being attacked by a dog. Unfortunately, dog attacks are far from rare here in Alabama, and if you’ve been attacked and injured due to no fault of your own, our seasoned Jefferson County personal injury lawyers are prepared to fight for you. Contact us online or give us a call today so you can tell us your story and we can get started working towards the compensation you deserve and need to heal.
In the state of Alabama, dog owners are responsible for the actions of their pets. This means that they can potentially be held liable for any accidents and injuries that their dog may cause, especially if the incident occurred while the victim was legally on the owner’s property or if the dog chased the victim from the owner’s property. That said, under Alabama law, the damages an injured person recovers may be limited if the owner didn’t know the dog had a propensity for violence, i.e. the dog has never attacked anyone before.
That being said, if the dog owner can prove that you provoked the attack in some way, such as by teasing the dog or trespassing on their property, you may be ineligible for financial compensation. For this reason, you need a seasoned attorney in your corner who can help you fight for the full and fair compensation to which you are entitled.
If you were injured by a dog, it is crucial to seek medical attention. This can ensure that the wound is taken care of and does not get infected. In addition, it ensures that the visit is documented and there are medical reports to show for it. This information can be useful if the victim wishes to build a case for a lawsuit.
If possible, it may be beneficial to gather information about the dog and its owner. This can include the owner’s name and address, the type of dog, if it has any history of aggression or previous attacks, and more. If there were any witnesses to the attack, it is important to collect their contact information so they can testify as to what they saw.
If the injured party is successful in holding a dog owner responsible for the attack, they may be able to recover significant compensation. This provides coverage for the physical, financial, and emotional burdens that occur due to the accident. This may consist of both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages can include medical expenses, lost wages, and more. Alternatively, non-economic damages can include emotional distress, pain and suffering, a loss of quality of life, and more.
Alabama’s dog bite law is more complex than the laws in many other states. As a result, it is worth looking at dog owners’ responsibility in a bit more detail. Here is an overview of some of the key aspects of the law from an experienced Birmingham dog bite lawyer at our firm:
As a general rule, Alabama’s dog bite law holds dog owners “strictly liable” when their dogs attack. This means that dog owners can be held liable for attacks without proof of negligence. In other words, if a dog attacks a victim, the dog’s owner is liable regardless of how and why the attack happened.
However, there are a couple of exceptions. Under Alabama law, a dog owner generally is not liable for an attack if the victim provoked the dog or was trespassing at the time of the attack. With that said, if a dog owner encourages an attack or fails to adequately restrict access to the owner’s property (or to restrain the dog within the owner’s property), then the victim could still have a claim for just compensation. As we said, the law is complex, and this makes it important to speak with a dog bite lawyer regardless of the circumstances involved in an attack.
Under Alabama law, dog owners have additional responsibilities when their dog has shown aggressive behavior (i.e., if it has attacked previously). If a prior attack resulted in injuries but did not result in the dog being put down, then the following requirements generally apply:
If a dog owner fails to meet any of these responsibilities and their dog attacks again, this can expose the owner to serious penalties. The owner can also face full liability for the victim’s medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Subject to the exceptions discussed above, dog owners in Alabama can generally be held liable for dog attacks that occur at their homes, during walks or when they permit their dogs to run “at large.” Dog owners are not allowed to prioritize their dogs’ enjoyment over people’s safety. As a result, if you or a loved one has been attacked by someone else’s dog under any circumstances, it will be worth talking to a Birmingham dog bite lawyer about your legal rights. Talking to a lawyer costs nothing; and, if you have a dog bite claim in Alabama, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation.
Enacted in 2018 after a fatal dog attack, Emily’s Law provides additional protections for dog bite victims and their families in Alabama. It also establishes additional penalties for dog owners who fail to comply with the law.
If a victim (or a victim’s family) reports a dog attack to the police, under Emily’s Law, the police must refer the case to animal control. Animal control must then conduct an investigation. If the investigation confirms the victim’s (or the family’s) report, the dog must be impounded to protect the public, and the dog owner will be responsible for the costs of impounding and the dog’s continued care.
At this stage, the county attorney can file a petition in court to have the dog declared “dangerous.” This subjects the owner to the additional responsibilities listed above, unless the dog is euthanized. If the dog attacks again, the owner is now subject to facing misdemeanor or felony charges—in addition to facing full liability for the victim’s financial and non-financial losses.
Regardless of whether an individual dog has been classified as “dangerous” under Emily’s Law, there is no question that some dog breeds are more dangerous than others. With that said, all breeds can—and do—attack, and all dog attacks can lead to both serious physical injuries and life-changing emotional trauma. Our lawyers handle dog bite cases involving all breeds in Alabama, including (but not limited to) commonly dangerous breeds such as:
In addition to handling cases involving all dog breeds in Alabama, we also handle cases involving all attack-related injuries. This includes not only injuries from dog bites, but also injuries from being scratched or falling during a dog attack. If you have a claim for a dog attack in Alabama, a Birmingham dog bite lawyer may be able to help you seek just compensation for:
When you schedule a free consultation, we will arrange for you to speak with an experienced Birmingham dog bite lawyer in confidence as soon as possible. Your lawyer will explain everything you need to know about filing a claim, and then you will be able to make informed decisions about your next steps. We handle all dog attack cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means our clients pay nothing unless we win.
Dog bite attacks are often traumatic and cause life-impacting injuries to a victim. The attorneys at our firm understand this and are determined to hold the owner accountable for your suffering. If you need an experienced attorney to fight for your best interests and recover rightful compensation, contact Alabama Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC today.
Here at Alabama Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC, we believe injured workers should be informed of their rights and understand how the workers’ compensation process works. Tracy W. Cary, Esq. wrote the book on workers’ compensation in Alabama so people just like you can save time and mitigate the stress of a workplace injury.
Order the Book Today
No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the services performed by other lawyers.
© 2025 Alabama Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC All rights reserved.
Call
Chat
Message
