Dog Bite Attorney in Birmingham

snarling dog

Are you dealing with unexpected medical bills and other recovery challenges after a dog bite or animal attack in Birmingham, Alabama? You deserve to have someone on your side to fight for the financial recovery you need while you focus on healing.

Attorney April H. Collins and her team at Collins Law, LLC are here to stand up for you and handle every aspect of your dog bite claim so you can rest easier. We’ll work hard to build a strong case on your behalf and secure the resources you need to get your life back on track. Our team strives to empower you and provide the resources you need to reclaim control of your situation.

Contact us today for a free consultation, and let us help you move forward with confidence and peace of mind.

What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Birmingham, AL Dog Bite Attorney?

Securing fair compensation from an insurance claim is challenging, especially if you’re still recovering from a dog bite injury. Insurance companies often use a range of tactics to minimize or deny valid claims. For instance, they might argue that your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim or suggest that you are at fault because you somehow provoked the dog.

Adjusters frequently look for ways to reduce what they owe, and they might delay responses or use confusing language to discourage you from pursuing your dog bite claim. All of these tactics are designed to protect their bottom lines, leaving you to deal with all the physical pain, emotional distress, and financial strain on your own.

A Birmingham dog bite attorney who understands these tactics and how to counter them can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim. Attorney Collins and her team at Collins Law provide robust and supportive representation to dog bite victims throughout Birmingham. Unlike many other personal injury firms, we fight to reduce our clients’ medical bills after the resolution of their cases and strive to keep as much money as possible in their pockets.

Attorney Collins understands how insurance companies operate, and she’ll work with empathy and compassion to fight for the fair compensation you deserve. In addition, Collins Law does whatever possible to help victims of a dog bite keep more of the compensation they win — and will never take more money than their clients would.

When you choose Collins Law, you gain a team of dedicated advocates fighting for your recovery and protecting your rights every step of the way.

What Should You Do If You Are Attacked by a Dog?

If you suffer a dog bite injury in Birmingham, you should take certain steps to protect your health and your right to seek compensation. Here’s what to do if you’re attacked by a dog:

  • Seek Medical Attention Right Away – Get treatment for your injuries immediately, even if the bite seems minor. This protects your health and creates documentation that can support your claim.
  • Report the Incident to Local Authorities – Contact Birmingham Animal Control or your local police department to report the bite. This creates an official record, which can help with your claim.
  • Document Your Injuries and the Scene. Take photos of your injuries and the location where the bite occurred. If possible, photograph the dog and any identifying details, like collar tags.
  • Gather Witness Information – If others saw the incident, collect their names and contact details. Witness statements can support your case if you need to prove how the attack happened.
  • Avoid Talking to Insurers Without Legal Guidance – Insurance companies will likely contact you for your side of the story, but it’s best not to speak with them until you consult an attorney.
  • Contact a Dog Bite Attorney – A qualified attorney can help you through the legal process, deal with the insurance companies, and work to secure the compensation you deserve.

What Compensation Could You Recover in a Dog Bite Claim?

If you suffer a dog bite injury, you could file a claim to recover compensation for the resulting financial costs and related losses that arise immediately and in the future. For example, you could be entitled to dog bite compensation for:

  • Medical expenses, like the costs of emergency room visits, doctor’s appointments, and surgeries
  • Future medical costs if you need ongoing care due to your injuries
  • Lost income if your injury forces you to miss work
  • Lost earning potential in cases where your injuries affect your ability to work in the long term
  • Pain and suffering for the physical pain and emotional distress you endure due to your injuries
  • Loss of quality of life if your injuries affect your ability to enjoy daily activities or hobbies

How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Claim in Alabama?

Alabama Code § 6-2-38 gives you two years to file a dog bite lawsuit. If you wait too long, you risk losing your chance to seek compensation for your medical bills and other losses. This deadline can come up fast, so it’s best to contact a Birmingham dog bite lawyer right away after a dog bite incident.

When you hire an attorney soon after your injury, they have more time to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and build a strong case on your behalf. A lawyer can prepare and refine your claim within the required timeframe and prevent unnecessary delays that could hurt your case.

The time it takes to settle a dog bite case can vary based on several factors. Some cases resolve within a few weeks or months, while others can take a year or longer.

The severity of your injury plays a significant role; more serious injuries often require longer medical treatment, which can delay the settlement process. Insurance companies might also try to delay things by disputing your claim or offering low settlement amounts, especially if they believe they can avoid paying the full amount you deserve.

A dedicated dog bite attorney can prepare your claim as efficiently as possible and negotiate with insurance companies to push for a fair and prompt settlement.

Alabama dog bite laws impose strict liability on dog owners for bites or injuries that occur on their properties.

Under Alabama Code § 3-6-1, dog owners are legally responsible if their dogs bite someone without provocation while the person is legally on the owner’s property. This responsibility applies to bites that occur directly on the property and bites from dogs that pursue people off their owners’ properties. This strict liability means that even if an owner didn’t realize their dog might bite, they could still face responsibility for any harm their dog causes under these conditions.

Alabama’s strict liability law does not require you to prove that the owner knew their dog was dangerous or that they failed to control it. Instead, focus on the circumstances of the attack and whether you had a right to be where you were when the bite occurred.

There are exceptions to Alabama’s strict liability rules for dog attacks. For example, let’s say a dog owner can prove they had no knowledge that their dog might behave dangerously or bite. In that case, Alabama Code § 3-6-3 says the owner is only liable for the victim’s actual expenses, such as medical bills. In other words, if evidence suggests the dog had no history of aggression, the owner wouldn’t be liable for pain and suffering or other non-economic losses associated with the bite.

Alabama law also addresses cases where the dog owner knows of their dog’s aggressive tendencies. Alabama Code § 3-1-3 states that an owner who knows their dog is dangerous and fails to restrain it is fully liable for injuries it causes, even outside their property.

Alabama’s pure contributory negligence rule could prevent you from recovering compensation if you are partly responsible for a dog bite injury. Under this rule, if you hold any level of responsibility for the incident – even just 1 percent – you could lose the right to seek compensation from the other party. This could happen if the dog owner claims you ignored warning signs about the dog’s aggressive behavior or provoked the dog in some way.

A dog bite attorney in Birmingham can help you fight back if the other side tries to blame you for your dog bite injuries. Skilled lawyers like Attorney Collins understand how insurance companies and defense attorneys use tactics to shift fault and avoid paying compensation. Your attorney can gather evidence, interview witnesses, and work to demonstrate that you didn’t contribute to the incident to give you the best chance of securing fair compensation.

Dog bites can cause a wide range of injuries that often lead to serious health issues. Below are some examples of injuries you could sustain from a dog bite:

  • Puncture wounds
  • Lacerations
  • Bruises
  • Avulsion injuries
  • Abrasions
  • Nerve damage
  • Broken bones
  • Dislocations
  • Soft tissues injuries
  • Face and eye injuries
  • Infections
  • Scarring
  • Disfigurement
  • Emotional trauma
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Contact a Birmingham, AL Dog Bite Lawyer

If a dog bite injury has turned your life upside down, Collins Law is here to help you take back control. Attorney Collins and her team will listen to your story, provide clear guidance, and build a strong legal claim on your behalf.

Don’t wait to get the support you deserve. Contact a dog bite attorney in Birmingham today to get started with your free consultation session.