Question: My son was riding his bike through a field when a bull attacked him. He wasn’t seriously hurt, but it sure scared him. Can we sue the bull owner?
BILL: We don’t know a lot here, but let me take this one piece at a time.
Did your son have permission to be on the land? Did he know the bull was there? Did he provoke the bull matador style – you know, “ole” and all?
It also matters how old your son is … the laws in Alabama are a bit different for a young child and an adult.
First, if it was an organized ride like a race, you can sue the event organizers for payment for your damages. If they had you sign a waiver, I would not be too concerned about that. I have fought and won cases against those here in Mobile. But I have to say, who would have a race where a bull was grazing around?
Now, let’s look at who owns the bull and why it was out. Consider whether the bull escaped and whether it has attacked people before.
O.K., I have never had an attacking bull case. But I have had several instances here in Mobile County and Baldwin County where cows have come on the road. Also, horses are also known to get away and walk about.
Tragically, I had a death case where a horse came in off a snowy road, and my client died. In this type of case, the law is very protective of the property owner, and unless you can prove that, say, a gate was left unrepaired, which people had complained about for a long time, you have a hard case to win.
Generally, nothing can be legally done if a horse (or any animal) jumps over a fence and gets out – especially if it is a one-time incident.
In a case like your son’s, I would just be glad he was not seriously hurt. But it would be wise to sit down with an attorney and find out your rights. Personal injury lawyers almost always will give a free initial consultation.
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Injured? You can call Bill directly at 251-255-5000. He will talk to you for free.
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