Dogs often make great pets; however, sometimes, dogs do not fit the description of "man's best friend." Negligent or reckless owners of dangerous dogs are responsible for the grave harm suffered by innocent victims across the United States. Attorney Dillon Hobbs understands that circumstances may arise when a particular dog poses a danger to the public. Human health and safety must be favored over the interests of irresponsible dog owners and their dangerous dogs that injure or kill innocent victims.
After witnessing the horrific injuries that dangerous dogs may inflict upon innocent victims, Attorney Dillon Hobbs understands the emotional trauma, physical pain, and suffering that follow a vicious dog attack. He fights for the just and fair compensation the injured victims deserve.
Dog Bite Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 4.5 million dog bites occur annually. Those bites, however, come in a wide variety of severities, with only about one in five – 885,000 of them – requiring medical attention. Fatalities from dog bites are rare but do occur occasionally.
Why Do Dogs in Birmingham, Alabama Bite People, and Who Is At Fault?
Dogs may bite people if they are provoked or aggressive. A viable personal injury claim may exist against the dog's owner if the dog bites someone due to aggression. Aggressive behavior or "dangerous propensities" are essential for proving fault or legal responsibility on the owner's part.
Dog owners may be held responsible if their dogs are categorized as a "dangerous breed." That is because owners of dangerous breed dogs are automatically deemed to be on notice of their dogs' dangerous propensities. For example, the law says that the owner of a pit bull is automatically on notice of the pit bull's dangerous propensities, regardless of whether the owner had notice of any prior incidents involving that dog harming someone.
Depending on the circumstances of the attack, a dog owner may be held liable under an enacted rule or statute. For instance, if the attack occurred on the dog owner's property, then the owner may be legally responsible for the attack under a theory of strict liability. Under Alabama law, if someone lawfully on the dog owner's property is injured by a dog on the owner's property or immediately after leaving that property, the owner may be liable for the dog attack.
Examples of Why Dogs Bite
Dogs bite people in Birmingham, Alabama, and elsewhere for many reasons. Some of the most common include:
- The dog is chained or otherwise in some stressful situation.
- The dog is trained to attack.
- The dog feels scared or threatened or is otherwise provoked.
- The dog has experienced abuse in the past.
- The dog wants to protect itself, its guardians, or its puppies.
- The dog is ill.
Provocation and Dog Bites
It is important to note, though, that regardless of why the dog bites, you are not at fault unless you in some way provoked the dog. Provocation is any act that causes an immediate and radical change in the dog's behavior. It can include, but is not limited to:
- Hitting the dog
- Trapping the dog in a small space
- Pulling on its tail, legs, ears, or fur
- Stepping on its tail
If you provoked the dog, the other party may be able to blame you for the attack. As such, it is essential to note what is not necessarily considered provocation in the event the defendant tries to claim it:
- Walking toward a dog
- Walking towards and/or addressing the owner
- Being seated and getting up to face the dog
- Reaching out to pet the dog
- Playing with and petting the dog
- Feeding a dog
- Extending a hand over or through a fence
- Transporting the dog when it is injured
The overall circumstances may determine provocation, so contacting a dog bite attorney in Alabama may be critical. The case outcome can depend on how the facts and circumstances are argued.
What to Do If Attacked by a Dog in Alabama
The injury could be serious when a dog bites or attacks a person. To protect yourself, there are a few things you should do.
- It's always important to get medical attention immediately.
- Be sure to obtain the dog owner's contact information, homeowner's or renter's insurance information, and proof of rabies vaccination.
- If there were any witnesses to the attack, collect their names and contact information.
- Take photos of the scene and the injury.
- Contact the police or your local animal control agency.
If you are attacked or bitten by a dog, your safety is the most important thing. Take all precautions and get help as soon as possible.
Most Damaging Dog Bites by Breed
The breed may matter in terms of the severity of the dog bite. The most damaging dog bites by breed are unknown, according to a study published in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, because the breed of the dog causing the injury was unknown. The breeds that follow the “unknown” category for most damaging bites include:
- Pit bulls
- Mixed breeds
- German shepherds
- Terriers
- Rottweilers
Great Danes and Akitas are other dog breeds capable of causing severe injuries, but are less likely to bite than the above-listed breeds. Bite severity was assessed according to wound size, tissue tearing, bone fractures, and other injuries severe enough to require facial trauma or reconstructive surgery.
Common Injuries from Dog Attacks in Birmingham, Alabama
The injuries that victims can suffer in a dog attack can be severe and life-changing. Some of the most severe include:
- Severe lacerations, often requiring numerous stitches or sutures
- Serious infections
- Nerve damage
- Dismembered fingers
- Partial paralysis
- Chronic pain
- Scarring
These are just the physical symptoms a dog bite victim has to live with. Victims frequently experience emotional distress and mental anguish from the attack as well. In some severe cases, it can even amount to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Children are the Most Vulnerable
Children, especially children under the age of 4, are the most likely to be hurt in a dog attack. These children do not understand how dangerous a dog can be. Many of them think all dogs are friendly and may approach a strange dog to pet it without their parents or the dog's owner noticing until it is too late.
Unfortunately, these are the very victims who are most likely to suffer the worst consequences of a serious dog bite. Not only is the mental anguish of a dog attack likely to haunt them more intensely than it would an adult, but the physical injuries that a child suffers are more likely to have serious long-term repercussions on their growth and development.
Contact a Dog Bite Injury Lawyer in Alabama
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury from another person's dog, the owner may be held accountable for the injury and, thus, liable for compensation. Hobbs Law, LLC, in Birmingham, Alabama, wants to make sure members of our community who have been injured or who have had, in rare circumstances, a loved one die from a dog attack are fully compensated. Please call 205-683-2892 to schedule a free consultation and better understand your dog bite injury case.