Most animals are cute, cuddly, and kind to others. Some are not. Anyone who has been bitten by an animal – most commonly dogs, a more regular occurrence than you might expect – knows how harrowing of a process it can be. You have to get medical attention and often receive stitches. You have to take time off of work to heal. Sometimes the animal is infected and you run the risk of disease.
That medical attention does not come cheap in America. In order to help pay for the injury that was in no way caused by yourself, you deserve compensation. This begs the question: in Alabama, can you sue an animal? Well, dogs don’t tend to have much money. Their owners might.
For the sake of simplicity, we are going to focus on dog bites in this article. This information applies to any pets, however, including snakes, cats, and lizards. In Alabama, there is a legal process for addressing dog bites and awarding the victims compensation to pay for their damages.
The first thing to do is to seek medical attention. Following that, you should contact an experienced attorney. Save any and all documentation of the bite and everything you did following it. It is important not to speak with any insurance companies or sign any unnecessary paperwork. A dog bite can be like a car accident where everyone involved will want you to say anything that could make them less liable in court.
The process for legally addressing dog bites involves proving that the owner was aware that the animal was dangerous. The Alabama law protects those who were bit by an angry dog without provoking it when the owner knew such an incident could happen. If this is a freak accident where a dog has shown no prior aggressive behavior and suddenly snaps without being provoked in any way, the case faces a much steeper uphill battle. That is not normally the situation.
By taking the dog’s owner to court, you are making the case that they were negligent with their pet. Your argument will state that they were aware they owned a dangerous or vicious animal and did not do enough to prevent it from hurting others. Additionally, Alabama law states that if the owner was aware that the dog was rabid at the time of the incident, they will be liable for double the cost of the damages involved.
If you have been injured by an animal bite, you deserve compensation to pay for the damages you received. Contact John M. Totten, P.C. today to speak with someone who understands the situation and can help you out. We believe in the power of representation, and have been recognized as a top trial law firm in Alabama.
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