Liability is a key factor in pursuing financial compensation for the injuries resulting from an Oklahoma dog bite accident. Contact our dog bite attorneys today if you have suffered injuries in a dangerous dog attack.
Liability is one of the most important factors to consider after being attacked by a dangerous dog in Oklahoma. After all, if the dog owner can’t be held liable for your injuries, you may have a hard time recovering the compensation you deserve. If you have been involved in an Oklahoma City dog bite accident, contact our skilled dog bite accident attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center to discuss your legal options. Our lawyers have years of experience helping dog bite victims protect their legal rights, and they can help you understand strict liability laws and what you need to prove in order to seek fair and timely reimbursement for your injuries. With the help of the knowledgeable dog bite accident lawyers at the Oklahoma Dog Bite Law Center, you can protect yourself from further harm and hold the dog owner liable for the injuries his dangerous dog caused.
Is Fault a Factor in OK Dog Bite Liability?
Under Oklahoma dog bite laws, “strict liability” applies to cases involving a dangerous dog that attacks and bites another person. In the case of a dog bite accident in Oklahoma, strict liability means there is no need for the victim to prove fault in order to file a claim and pursue compensation for injuries. The victim need only prove the following:
- Ownership of the dog – usually through vaccination or licensing records
- That the dog actually bit the claimant
- That the dog attacked without provocation
- That the victim was in a place he or she had a lawful right to be at the time of the attack
To clarify these points: Oklahoma dog bite laws state that if an attack occurs while the victim is legally on private property, or while on public property, the dog owner is liable for the victim’s injuries, as long as the victim was not intentionally antagonizing the dog who attacked him or her. In most cases of Oklahoma dog bite accidents, the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy will compensate individuals who suffer injuries as a result of a dog bite.
Dog Bite Accident Liability: Exceptions to the Rule
While the above information holds true for most cases of dog bite accidents in Oklahoma, there are some exceptions to the rule. For example, the dog owner may not be liable for the dog bite victim’s injuries if any one of the following is true:
- The victim of the dog bite was trespassing on the owner’s property when the attack occurred
- The victim was bitten while committing a felony
- The victim provoked the dog into attacking
- The victim was bitten by a military or police dog
- The victim was a veterinarian treating the dog at the time of the attack
Aside from these few exceptions though, dog owners can be held legally liable when their dog bites and inflicts injuries on another person.
Pursuing Compensation for Dog Bite Accidents in Oklahoma
When a dog owner is found to be liable for injuries occurring during a dog bite accident in Oklahoma, the injured victim may be entitled to damages for medical bills, emergency medical treatment, future medical care, scar-reduction surgery, lost wages due to missed time at work, permanent disfigurement, psychological counseling to help cope with the traumatic event, and more. If you have been attacked by a dangerous dog in Oklahoma, your first course of action should be to contact an experienced dog bite accident attorney to discuss the process of filing a claim for compensation. A qualified dog bite lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and can inform you of your compensation options.
Contact a Dog Bite Accident Attorney to File a Claim
Dog bite accidents can result in devastating and life-changing injuries, especially if the victim is a child, which is the case in an alarming 60% of all instances of dog bite accidents. In some cases, a dog bite may lead to permanent physical impairment, sometimes requiring extensive medical treatment, and sometimes resulting in death. If you or a loved one has been attacked by a dangerous dog in Oklahoma City, act quickly and contact our experienced dog bite accident attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center today. There is a statute of limitations for Oklahoma dog bite accidents, which means victims only have a certain period of time to file a claim for compensation, after which they may forfeit that opportunity. With the help of our skilled dog bite accident lawyers at the Oklahoma Dog Bite Law Center, victims of dangerous dog attacks can protect their legal rights and pursue the compensation they deserve for their injuries.