BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – A 9-year-old girl in Hanceville received dozens of stitches after a dog attack this past weekend, the latest in a series of brutal dog attacks reported across Central Alabama in recent months.
The incidents have raised questions about how dog owners can be held responsible under Alabama law and when attacks result in criminal charges.
Civil vs. criminal cases
Dog bite cases can result in both civil and criminal proceedings, but the two serve different purposes.
A civil case involves the injured person seeking compensation from the responsible party, while a criminal case represents the state of Alabama prosecuting someone for committing a crime…