Oklahoma City Dog Bite Lawyer
Have you or a family member been attacked and injured by a dog in Oklahoma City, OK? If so, you might be able to recover damages for your medical bills, lost wages, as well as the emotional distress it’s caused.
An Oklahoma City dog bite lawyer from McGuire Law Firm can help you seek maximum compensation from the dog’s owner, negligent property owners, and anyone else who might be responsible for your injuries.
Contact our Oklahoma City law firm to discuss your case with our skilled team. Your first consultation is always free, so don’t hesitate to call us at (405) 513-5658 to get started today.
How Our Oklahoma City Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Dog Attack
Dog bites can inflict life-threatening injuries and leave victims struggling with serious emotional distress for years to come. Sadly, many dog bite injuries are fatal - especially when kids are involved. When a dog is aggressive and bites, victims deserve to be compensated. McGuire Law Firm can help you seek full compensation for your dog bite injuries.
Our Oklahoma City personal injury attorneys know how much is riding on your case. That’s why we’re prepared to put our 60+ years of collective experience, reputation, and demonstrated record of success behind you.
When you turn to McGuire Law Firm for help with a dog bite injury claim, we will:
- Help you and your family navigate this challenging time
- Ensure that a full investigation into the attack that caused your injuries is conducted
- Consult with medical professionals, animal experts, and other specialists as we build and value your case
- Defend against claims made by the dog’s owner or insurance company that you or your child share any blame for your injuries
- Handle all conversations and negotiations with other parties
- Passionately represent you and your family at trial, if you aren’t extended a fair settlement offer.
We’re here for you. To get started, all you have to do is give us a call or reach out to us online. It’s that simple. And, as always, your initial case evaluation is absolutely free of charge.
Understanding Oklahoma Dog Bite Law
When dogs are well cared for, they can be some of the kindest, gentlest creatures in the world. When they are mistreated, abused, or unsupervised, however, they can become quite aggressive – and may bite or attack an unsuspecting human. Whoever is responsible for that dog - or owes some legal obligation to the dog bite victim - can be held legally and financially accountable for the consequences of an attack.
In Oklahoma, there are two ways to establish liability in a dog bite injury case: strict liability and negligence.
Strict Liability in Oklahoma Dog Bite Injury Cases
In the Sooner State, owners are automatically held liable for the damages sustained by individuals who are bitten by their dog. This is true long as that person was lawfully present on their property when the attack occurred.
This practice is known as strict liability and is outlined in section 4-42.1 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
This rule states that:
"The owner or owners of any dog shall be liable for damages to the full amount of any damages sustained when his dog, without provocation, bites or injures any person while such person is in or on a place where he has a lawful right to be."
Under Oklahoma law, a visitor is generally considered to be lawfully present on another person's property if they are:
- Invited by the owner
- Working on the property at the request of the owner
- Delivering mail
- Reading meters
- Repairing a public utility
So, it’s up to the owner ot take necessary precautions to prevent an attack from happening. If they fail, they can be liable for the victim’s injuries.
Negligence in Oklahoma Dog Bite Injury Cases
Dog owners aren’t the only ones who might be financially responsible for injuries resulting from a bite or attack in Oklahoma. Anyone who owed the dog bite injury victim a duty of care can be on the hook, too.
If you were bitten by a dog and can prove that it happened because someone else was negligent, you could be able to accountable.
Negligence means:
- You were owed a duty of care
- The person who owed you that duty of care failed to uphold it
- You suffered injuries, and
- Your injuries are a direct and proximate consequence of this chain of events.
You could potentially have a valid negligence case against a:
- Property owner
- Business
- Manager
- Landlord, or
- Government agency.
Our experienced attorneys are well-versed in all aspects of Oklahoma personal injury and dog bite law. If you were recently forced to seek medical treatment as a result of a dog bite, please do not hesitate to give us a call. We might be able to help you recover some much-needed compensation.
Common Injuries Caused By Dog Attacks
An attack by an animal has the potential to cause serious damage to the human body. As such, it is little surprise that individuals who are bitten by dogs often report to the hospital or emergency department with severe, sometimes life-threatening, injuries.
Some of the most common injuries sustained by the victims of dog attacks in Oklahoma City include:
- Fractured bones
- Muscle and ligament damage
- Nerve damage
- Dismemberment
- Lacerations
- Disfigurement
These injuries all require medical treatment. In some instances, this treatment can be as simple as some stitches and a prescription for antibiotics. In others, extensive surgery and years of occupational therapy may be required.
Would you like to have a personal injury lawyer from McGuire Law Firm help you fight for compensation for your dog bite injuries? If so, please reach out to us as soon as you can. We would love to arrange a free consultation at our Oklahoma City law offices to have an in-depth discussion about your case.
What is My Dog Bite Injury Case Worth?
The amount of compensation received by dog bite injury victims in the state of Oklahoma varies significantly from case to case. The main factor that determines how large a payout will be is the seriousness of the injuries that are sustained in the attack. The more serious the injuries, the higher the value of a related injury claim.
People who sustain injuries that can be easily treated by their family physician and that will leave them with no long-term health issues typically receive relatively small payouts. Individuals who suffer life-changing injuries that require extensive surgery or years of physical therapy to treat, on the other hand, usually receive much more sizable compensation checks.
What Damages Are Available in Oklahoma Dog Bite Injury Cases?
At McGuire Law Firm, we regularly help our injured clients seek both economic damages and non-economic damages that arise as a result of a dog attack in Oklahoma. Economic damages are awarded to compensate for the verifiable financial costs and expenses of the dog bite, while non-economic damages help to make up for the more personal traumas a victim experiences.
Typically, dog bite injury victims can secure damages for past and present:
- Medical expenses
- Ongoing care costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
When we file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the family of a person who was killed in a dog attack, we may also fight for compensation burial expenses and loss of consortium.
At McGuire Law Firm in Oklahoma City, we have years of experience helping dog bite victims pursue financial restitution for their injuries. To have a member of our team review your case and let you know how much compensation you might be eligible to receive, all you need to do is pick up the phone and give us a call.
How Long Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit in Oklahoma?
The vast majority of individuals who are attacked by dogs in Oklahoma City are required to file a lawsuit within two years of the date they were injured. This two-year window is the standard statute of limitations for almost all personal injury cases in the Sooner State.
The state makes an exception to this rule for children. Since people who are younger than 18 years of age do not have the ability to file lawsuits in Oklahoma, their two-year statutory window does not begin on the day they are attacked. Instead, it starts on the first day they can legally pursue compensation - their 18th birthday.
Are you ready to file suit against the dog owner that is responsible for your injuries? Then please reach out to our Oklahoma City law firm as soon as possible to begin the legal process.
Your Trusted Dog Bite Lawyer in Oklahoma City
McGuire Law Firm is here to help you seek compensation for your injuries after a dog attack in Oklahoma City. Contact our law office to get started with a free consultation. Our Oklahoma City dog bite injury lawyers are ready to fight to get you the money you deserve.
