Dog Bite Can Leave People Seriously Injured
If you’ve been bitten by a dog and suffered injuries from the attack, contact a dog bite attorney in Oklahoma to hold the dog owner accountable and seek compensation for your suffering.
When a dog approaches you on the street, you never expect the situation to turn violent. Although the majority of dogs are friendly, some canines have the potential to be extremely dangerous. If a dog attacks and injures you, you may get lucky and receive apologies from the dog owner. However, an apologetic owner won’t always offer to compensate you for your injuries and related suffering.
Thankfully, in the state of Oklahoma, there are laws in place to protect injured victims in dog bite accidents. Dog owners are liable for any and all actions taken by their dogs, and our attorneys at Talley, Turner, Stice & Bertman can help you file a claim to recover damages in court. An Oklahoma dog bite lawyer will guide you through the legal process so you can recover without financial stress.
Injuries That Can Result From Dog Bites
Dogs have the potential to inflict serious and sometimes life-altering injuries. Usually, a dog can be stopped before anything too severe occurs. However, the medical expenses from your injuries may still be significant. Some of the common injuries that can result from dog bites include the following:
- Puncture wounds
- Eye injuries
- Face injuries
- Broken bones
- Scarring
- Head and neck injuries
- Nerve damage
- Emotional effects
If you’ve experienced any of the injuries listed above, or any other injury as a result of a dog attack, a canine bite lawyer in Oklahoma can investigate your case to ensure all liable parties are held accountable. The dangerous dog needs to be dealt with and the pet owner needs to be reprimanded.
Strict Liability In Oklahoma For Dog Owners
Some states have a one-bite rule that relieves dog owners of liability after a first-bite incident when a dog has never proven to be dangerous in the past. Oklahoma, however, has strict liability laws in place for dog owners and doesn’t give dogs or their owners this second chance. Even if a dog has never shown aggression in the past and bites someone, the dog owner will be held liable for any resulting damages.
How To Prove Negligence In Oklahoma Dog Bite Incidents
When trying to prove negligence in an Oklahoma dog bite accident, your lawyer will do an investigation of both the owner and the dog in question. If the canine has attacked anyone in the past, there will be records of the attack. Dog owners may also have records revealing whether they’ve been negligent in dog attack cases in the past. In some cases, the owner may face criminal charges for canine attacks.
Negligence can easily be proved in your lawsuit if the dog attacked you when the owner wasn’t around, if the dog was off-leash with its owner, or if the dog was on a leash and the owner tried to pull him away. Because of Oklahoma’s strict liability rule, an owner walking their dog on a leash can be proven negligent because they brought a potentially violent dog around others.
Damages You Can Recover In A Dog Bite Lawsuit
The damages you can recover in your dog bite lawsuit will be determined based on the severity of your injuries. The severity of the accident will also be considered, such as whether children were present on the scene and how long the attack lasted. Economic damages that can be recovered will include medical expenses, property damage, and loss of income from being out of work.
Noneconomic damages will also be examined and included in your claim value. A dog attack is a traumatic experience that can be detrimental to your lifestyle. Pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring and disfigurement, and emotional distress may all be included in your settlement.
Contact An Oklahoma Dog Bite Attorney
Experiencing a dog bite accident may be difficult, especially if you once loved dogs and now you fear them. Your attack may cause not only physical injuries, but significant emotional damage as well. Hopefully, with the elimination of financial worry, you’ll be able to focus on a full recovery and get back to normal life as quickly as possible.
If you’re ready to speak with an Oklahoma dog bite lawyer from Talley, Turner, Stice & Bertman about your case, fill out the contact form or call 405-467-2858 to schedule a consultation.