Alabama Dog Bite Laws
Under the Code of Alabama, dog attacks are torts or wrongful actions that result in loss or harm. There are two standards that Alabama law uses to decide whether a dog owner is liable for injuries caused by their dog: negligence and wantonness.
Alabama does not follow a “one bite” rule like other states. There are multiple ways for you to recover damages after a dog bite attack in Alabama. Local ordinances also affect how dog attacks are handled from municipality to municipality.
Alabama Law Requires Vicious Animals to be Properly Restrained
Alabama (AL) Code § 3-1-3 states that if you are injured due to the “careless management” of a dangerous animal, the animal’s keeper is liable for your injuries. Whether or not the management of an animal is deemed careless usually requires an investigation into the animal’s past. If previous behavior indicates that the keeper’s control of the animal can be classified as either negligent or wanton, the handler can be assigned liability for your injuries.
If you were injured by a dog you believe to be vicious, speak to a dog bites attorney right away.
Dogs May Not Roam at Large in Alabama
Often referred to as the “leash law,” AL Code § 3-1-5 prohibits dogs from roaming unaccompanied by their owners. The owners or keeper of the dog must take reasonable steps to keep it within the boundaries of the premises where it’s usually held. If the dog is being watched by someone other than its owner, the dog must remain on the keeper’s premises. Whoever claims responsibility for a dog also claims responsibility for any damage it causes while roaming unaccompanied.
Dog Owners’ Responsibilities in Alabama
If you are legally on someone’s property, they are responsible for any damages you may suffer due to their dog. This rule is stated in (AL) Code § 3-6-1. This rule says that the property owner is liable for your injuries if you’re legally on someone’s property and their dog bites you without incitement.
Alabama dog bit laws also declare the owner liable for damages caused to someone on their property “immediately before” the attack and “pursued therefrom” by the dog. Even if a dog chases you off the owner’s property, the owner still may be responsible for damages incurred in the attack.
Dog bite laws can be confusing. If you’re searching for clarity after suffering from an attack, call a dog bite injury lawyer from Belt, Bruner & Barnett, P.C. to learn more about the statutes governing these cases.
