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Dangerous breeds, feral packs, and neglected dogs of any kind can kill a person. Though fatal dog encounters are generally rare, Alabama has had far too many of them in the past several years. Children and the elderly are most at risk, but no one is guaranteed to survive an encounter with a dangerous dog.
If the worst has already happened and your family needs to speak to a Montgomery fatal dog bite lawyer, please let our office help you as soon as we can. Our dog bite attorney could help you pursue justice for your loved one by determining the responsible dog owner and pursuing damages for the losses your family has suffered.
Although dog attacks could be fatal to anyone in Montgomery, the majority involve people over 65 years of age. Infants and children are also at serious risk of death. Because they do not know better, children and babies can accidentally trigger poorly kept dogs, and like elderly people, they may not be able to safely get away on their own.
Dogs of any breed, even the smaller breeds, can cause fatalities, as bite infections can lead to worsening conditions. In deadly attacks, however, larger breeds more commonly are at fault due to their immense jaw strength. Under Alabama law, a dog’s owner may be considered to know that their dog is dangerous, which could be vital for any future legal proceedings.
Lawmakers have acknowledged the problem with vicious dog attacks in Montgomery. Under Emily’s Law, passed in 2018, a court will order euthanasia once it finds that a dog has killed someone “without justification.” If the owner already knew the dog was dangerous, they could be guilty of a felony worth up to 20 years in prison, following Alabama Code § 3-6A-5.
Survivors have their own separate rights for damages in civil court. An owner who knows they have a vicious or dangerous dog, but still allows it to run loose, must pay damages for any injuries it causes under Ala. Code § 3-1-3. If the attack happened on the owner’s property, and the injured person had a right to be there, then the owner can also be responsible under premises liability law (Ala. Code § 3-6-1).
Most often, a claim or lawsuit in a fatal dog attack proceeds against the insurance company of the homeowner or tenant involved. Dog owners do have defenses to liability after an attack, and the insurance company knows how to use them. Its representatives will investigate the incident for any evidence that they could use to deny the claim.
If the insurer can assert that the person killed was a trespasser—or that they provoked the dog—it can try to avoid liability. Our firm knows how to work with eyewitnesses, medical professionals, and other experts to reconstruct what happened. When a Montgomery dog attack leads to death, the survivors need a strong representative who understands how to protect them from public and corporate pressures.
No one should ever need a Montgomery fatal dog bite lawyer, but anyone who does can come to us for help. Compassion, care, and honesty are the bedrock of Attorney Brown’s practice. With 31 years of experience serving this community. We want to be there for you and your family in this painful time. We work on contingency fees, so you will not have to pay unless your claim is successful.
If you choose to work with our office, you will have the contact information to get in touch with your paralegal or Attorney Brown through calls and texts whenever you need to. We will be transparent with you and upfront about what the law requires to pursue legal action. Call us as soon as you are ready to get started.
