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If a Dog Bites Me in Oklahoma, Can I Sue the Owner?
Mar 14, 2018 by Adler Markoff & Associates
Dog attacks occur far too often in Oklahoma, and they can lead to painful injuries, disfigurement, and long recoveries for victims. If you, your child, or a loved one has suffered serious harm from a dog bite, you’re probably wondering about your legal options. You might be wondering if Oklahoma law allows you to sue the owner and recover financial compensation for the resulting medical bills and other costs.

Unless the dog bite happened because you did something to provoke the dog — for example, attacking the animal or its owner — then you are almost always eligible for compensation. However, filing a lawsuit can be a complicated process, and it’s best to consult an experienced dog bite lawyer if you’re thinking about filing a personal injury claim.

Keep reading to learn more about your rights and legal options after a dog bite or other animal attack in Oklahoma.

When Are Dog Owners Responsible for Bites and Attacks?
The good news if you’ve been bitten by a dog and are facing mounting medical bills and other losses is that Oklahoma law is very strict in terms of holding dog owners liable for injuries that their pets cause.

Under Oklahoma law, there are only two valid defenses a dog owner can raise if their dog bit you:

You were trespassing on or burglarizing their private property.
You were goading, provoking, or abusing the dog in a way that could cause even a normal, non-aggressive animal to bite.
Because the law in Oklahoma is so strict and so favorable toward injured victims, dog bite cases usually end in a settlement and rarely go to trial. However, it’s very important to work with an experienced dog bite lawyer so the owner and his or her insurance company know that you intend to take the case all the way to court if necessary. Otherwise, they won’t take your claim seriously and won’t make you a settlement offer that addresses the full costs of your injury.

How Do I Go About Filing a Dog Bite Lawsuit?
The process of filing a lawsuit after a dog bite can be complicated and requires you to gather lots of evidence, but you won’t have to worry about any of that if you work with an experienced Oklahoma dog bite lawyer. If you contact AMA Law for help and we’re able to take your case, we can investigate the circumstances surrounding your dog bite, gather all the appropriate evidence and medical records, secure expert medical testimony, and deal with the insurance company so you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery.

Keep in mind that it’s very important to get in touch with an attorney as quickly as possible after a dog bite. Not only do time limits for filing a claim (known as statutes of limitations) apply to all dog bite injury cases, but some of the most important evidence in your case will only be available for a short time after the incident.

The longer you wait to get in touch with a lawyer, the more witnesses will disappear or forget and evidence will get lost or covered up, so please don’t delay — get in touch with us today for a free case evaluation if you or someone you know has been bitten and seriously injured by an aggressive dog in Oklahoma.

Contact AMA Law if You’ve Suffered a Dog Bite Injury in Oklahoma
A dog attack can leave the victim seriously shaken and hurt, and the aftermath can seem like a whirlwind of questions and stress. The experienced dog bite lawyers at AMA Law are here to help guide you through this difficult time. We’re ready to listen to your story with compassion. And if we’re able to take your case, we’ll fight for you relentlessly until we resolve it.

If you or a loved one has been attacked by a dog or other animal, please schedule your free initial consultation with an attorney from the AMA Law team by calling (405) 607-8757 or filling out our quick and easy online contact form. We handle all personal injury cases on a “no recovery, no fee” basis, so there’s no risk to speaking with one of our attorneys today.

Reference

Personal injury by dog – Liability of owner. Okla. Stat. tit. 4, § 42.1. Retrieved from https://www.oklegislature.gov/osstatuestitle.html

The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.