Call The Harris Firm LLC today at (205) 201-1789
Most dog bite claims are paid by the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance — not out of the owner’s pocket. Knowing that changes how many victims feel about making a claim against a neighbor.
In short: Alabama dog owners can be held responsible when their dog bites or attacks someone — through a statute covering attacks on or near the owner’s property, and through negligence and common-law claims everywhere else.
The Alabama framework: Alabama Code §3-6-1 makes an owner liable when their dog bites a person lawfully on the owner’s property — but caps damages at actual expenses if the owner had no prior knowledge the dog was dangerous. Full damages generally require showing the owner knew or should have known — prior bites, snaps, complaints, or how the dog was kept.
Where the money comes from: Homeowners and renters policies typically cover dog bite liability. The claim is against the insurance company — which is exactly why the owner’s insurer starts working the file immediately, and why you should too.
Act now: Two years under Alabama Code §6-2-38 for most claims — but animal control reports, witness memories, and evidence of the dog’s history are freshest right now.
Dog Attack Cases We Handle
Deliverymen and letter carriers attacked in a yard. Children bitten in the face by a relative’s or neighbor’s dog. Joggers and cyclists run down by dogs left to roam. Guests attacked at a cookout. Dogs that escaped fences their owners knew were failing. If a dog someone else was responsible for hurt you or your child, it is the kind of case we handle.
Children’s cases deserve a special word: facial scarring on a child is a lifetime injury, and Alabama law treats claims for minors differently — including court approval of settlements that protect the child’s money. We handle those protections as part of the case.
Compensation in Alabama Dog Bite Cases
Dog attacks mean ER care, stitches and wound care, rabies protocols, and often plastic surgery — sometimes staged over years for a growing child. Compensation accounts for those medical costs past and future, lost work, permanent scarring and disfigurement, and the psychological aftermath, which for children frequently includes a lasting fear that needs real treatment.
Scar cases are valued heavily on documentation — photographs over time, plastic surgery opinions, and honest accounts of what changed. We build that record so the claim reflects the whole injury, not just the first hospital bill.
How Your Dog Bite Case Works
Four steps — and the investigation into the dog’s history is the one that changes outcomes.
Free Consultation
Tell us what happened, whose dog it was, and where you or your child have treated. We tell you honestly what the claim looks like.
Investigate the Dog and Find the Coverage
Animal control records, prior complaints, neighbor witnesses, and the owner’s homeowners or renters policy — the two facts that drive value are the dog’s history and the available insurance, and we run down both.
Document the Full Injury
Medical records, scar photography over time, plastic surgery consults, and counseling records where the attack left more than physical marks — especially for children.
Settlement or Suit — No Fee Unless You Recover
Most claims resolve with the insurer; minors’ settlements get the court protection Alabama law requires. No attorney fee unless there is a recovery.
Alabama Dog Bite Claims — Frequently Asked Questions
1.What does it cost to hire you for a dog bite case?
Nothing up front. The consultation is free, and the case is handled on a contingency fee — the attorney fee is a percentage of any recovery. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fee.
2.The dog belongs to a neighbor or family member. Do I really want to sue them?
In most cases the claim is paid by their homeowners or renters insurance — the exact coverage they have been paying premiums for. Handled professionally, these claims resolve with the insurance company, not across the fence.
3.The owner says the dog never bit anyone before. Does that end my claim?
No — but it may shape it. A first-bite defense limits statutory damages, which is exactly why the investigation into snaps, chases, complaints, and how the dog was kept matters so much. Owners say “he never bit anybody” in almost every case; the records often say otherwise.
4.My child was bitten. How is a child’s claim different?
Children’s settlements in Alabama typically require court approval, and the funds are protected for the child. Scar valuation also looks decades ahead for a child, and future plastic surgery is part of the claim. We handle all of it, including the court process.
5.Should I report the attack to animal control?
Yes — promptly. The report documents the attack, triggers rabies verification, and creates the official record your claim will lean on. It also protects the next person the dog might meet.
6.How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in Alabama?
Generally two years from the attack, with different rules for minors. But witnesses move, dogs get rehomed, and animal control records get harder to chase — the strongest cases are the ones investigated early.
Find Out What Your Claim Is Worth — Free
One free phone call tells you whether you have a claim, what insurance applies, and what happens next. No obligation, no fee unless you recover.
Have This Handy When You Call
✓ When and where the attack happened
✓ Whose dog it was, if known
✓ Photos of the injuries
✓ Whether animal control was called
✓ Where you or your child have treated
Call the Office Nearest You
Birmingham — (205) 201-1789
Chelsea — (205) 677-5490
Huntsville — (256) 665-9473
Montgomery — (334) 782-9938
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