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Dog Bite Lawsuits in Oklahoma

Dog bites are a severe concern in the United States. Every year, over 4.7 million dog bites occur. In 20 percent of those occurrences, dog bite victims require medical attention. If you’ve been bitten by a dog in Oklahoma, you’ll need an experienced Oklahoma Dog Bite Lawyer on your side to fight for the compensation you deserve.

Dakota Low has a compassionate and competent team of Oklahoma dog bite lawyers who are ready to help you with every part of your claim. Because you’re a member of the Dakota Low family, we work on a contingency fee basis. You only pay when we win. We’ll make sure your medical expenditures, future medical requirements, and pain and suffering as a result of a dog bite in Oklahoma are adequately compensated by the insurance carrier.

Begin filing your dog bite lawsuit right away with Dakota Low's Oklahoma Dog Bite Lawyer at 405.601.8899 or by our contact form.

Dog bite cases require specialized knowledge.

You already know that you cannot expect to win a medical malpractice case without knowing details about medical procedures, anatomy, hospitals, etc. You cannot expect to win an auto accident case without knowledge about cars, roads, the meaning of skid marks, and on and on.

The same is true of dog bite cases. This field not only has a unique set of legal concepts, but unique ways of establishing the facts. Dakota Low will tell you what the dog owner, the insurance adjuster, and their attorney are going to say — and how to make their own words bite them hard. For example, when the defense asserts that your client provoked the dog, you will learn how to use the defense allegations to put liability squarely on the shoulders of the dog owner.

We can prove the true cause of an attack by using facts about the dog’s health, confinement and training. To do this, you must have accurate information about canine aggression, and know where to get the witnesses, documents and experts for your particular case. The insurance adjuster and defense attorney will know about these things. Unless you learn them, you will start out behind and fall further behind as time goes on. The information you will learn from this fast-moving seminar will enable you to recognize the winning claims, devastate the defense, avoid insurance scams that are the plague of structured settlements, and much more.

What to Expect in a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Oklahoma

Dog bite lawsuits are frequently made against the dog owner’s insurance coverage for failing to take reasonable precautions to manage or restrain the animal, especially if the dog is prone to attack.

Many dog owners, however, do not have insurance that covers dog attacks. When local municipalities and apartment complexes failed to safeguard inhabitants from a known vicious animal, they were deemed accountable for animal assaults.

Why should I hire Dakota Low to represent me in a dog bite lawsuit in Oklahoma?

Our dog bite legal team is known for its honesty, hard work, and compassion. While adhering to a strong code of ethics, we endeavor to give the best legal counsel to victims of Oklahoma dog bites. We promise to act in the best interests of the victim and to make the legal process as painless as possible for the injured and their families.

At Dakota Low Law, you will receive the undivided attention of our Oklahoma dog bite lawyers and will have immediate access to our dog bite legal team.

What is a contingency fee, and how does it work?

Contingency fee lawyers agree to take a specified proportion of any monetary benefits from your litigation to cover their legal bills. You do not have to pay if your Oklahoma dog bite lawsuit does not result in any compensation. To put it another way, we only get paid if you get paid.

How much money can I obtain if I file a dog bite case in Oklahoma?

If you win a dog bite lawsuit in Oklahoma, you may be entitled to compensation for the following:

  • Health-care costs
  • Wages that have been lost
  • Suffering and pain
  • Oklahoma Laws Concerning Dog Bite

When dogs attack and injure someone, Oklahoma dog bite laws apply “strict responsibility.” When a dog attacks you in Oklahoma, strict liability means you don’t have to establish wrongdoing. The only things to prove are whether or not the dog bit the claimant and who owns the dog. Licensing or immunization records are commonly used to demonstrate ownership.

After that, all that’s left is to determine how much compensation you or a loved one should receive. Individuals harmed by a dog bite in Oklahoma are often covered by and compensated by the dog owner’s homeowners insurance policy.

Oklahoma dog bites laws that apply include the following:

  • 4-42.1. Personal injury by a dog—liability of the owner. It is the owner’s responsibility for any damages that occur or has occurred when his dog bites or injures any person while the person is in a place or in a place where the person has a right to be. The owner is fully liable.
  • 4-42.2. Lawful presence on owner’s property, what constitutes—Public place. A public place includes any and all public building, parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities, and any and all places of business, amusement, or entertainment, which are privately owned where merchandise, property, services, entertainment, or facilities are offered for sale, hire, lease, or use. For private property, the owner can still be liable for those individuals who do a performance of any duty on the property based on the laws of the state.
  • People who read meters
  • Make repairs to any public utility or service located on the premises
  • When working on the private property at the request of the owner
  • Any person entering the property on invitation
  • Postal workers
  • 4-42.3. Exceptions to application of act—Existing rights and liabilities.

This act does not apply to all rural areas of the state of Oklahoma.
This act does not apply to any cities or towns that do not have city or village United states mail delivery service.
Nothing in this will be interpreted as diminishing any right or liability for injury by dog bites now existing under the laws of this state.

DANGEROUS BREEDS

The top ten dog breeds responsible for causing the highest number of fatalities in the United States are, according to www.oklahomadogbitecenter.com:

  • Pit Bull types
  • Rottweilers
  • German Shepherds
  • Husky types
  • Malamutes
  • Doberman Pinschers
  • Chow Chows
  • Great Danes
  • Saint Bernards
  • Wolf-Dog hybrid types (crossbred)

Any dog is capable of biting, but the above ten are associated with being the most aggressive and dangerous. Not all dog bites are fatal or cause injury. Most bites happened to children under the age of 18.

It is important to know, a dog can cause injury, not only to a human but to small dogs as well.

Reasons a dog may attack:

  • Neglect
  • Mistreatment
  • Bad temperament
  • Being provoked or threatened

LIABILITY

Oklahoma law states that you, as an owner, are responsible for your dog attacking anyone on public property. If on private property and the dog attacks a person invited there or working for government agencies (i.e. postal worker), you are liable for their injuries.

If you are found liable for your dog’s actions, you may be sought out for the following:

  • Emergency-related medical treatment and medications
  • Future medical treatment needs like scar reduction surgery
  • Psychological counseling to help cope with the traumatic event and fear
  • Lost wages

Landlord liability

  • In Miller v. David Grace, Inc., par. 24, 212 P.3d 1223 (2009) the Oklahoma Supreme Court said “this Court imposes a general duty of care upon landlords to maintain the leased premises, including areas under the tenant’s exclusive control or use, in a reasonably safe condition. This duty requires a landlord to act reasonably when the landlord knew or reasonably should have known of the defective condition and had a reasonable opportunity to make repairs.” The court went on to say:
  • “The law is well-settled that a landowner has a duty to keep the premises in a reasonably safe condition, Jack Healey Linen Ser. Co. v. Travis, 1967 OK 213, ¶ 5, 434 P.2d 924, 926-27, and to warn others of any “hidden dangers, traps, snares, pitfalls, and the like.” Id. ¶ 5, 434 P.2d at 926-27 (citing Henryetta Constr. Co. v. Harris, 1965 OK 88, ¶ 3, 408 P.2d 522, 531-32 (Irwin, J., supplemental opinion on rehearing)). Excepted from this duty is the necessity of protecting from dangers so “open and obvious” as to reasonably expect others to detect them for themselves. Id. ¶ 5, 434 P.2d 926-27 (citing Henryetta Constr. Co. v. Harris, 1965 OK 88, ¶ 7, 408 P.2d 522, 531-32 (Irwin, J., supplemental opinion on rehearing)).”
  • Based on the foregoing, it is clear that the victim of a dog known to the landlord to be vicious toward people can bring a claim against the landlord after being attacked by a dog belonging to a tenant. To put it another way, Oklahoma follows the one bite rule when it comes to dog bite claims against landlords and property owners. 

The Meaning of a “Potentially Dangerous Dog”

A “potentially dangerous dog” is:

  • a dog that, when unprovoked, bites a human; or
  • a dog that, when unprovoked, kills or severely injures a domestic animal.

The Meaning of a “Dangerous Dog”

A “dangerous dog” is:

  • a dog that, when unprovoked, has inflicted severe injury on a human being. A severe injury means any physical injury that results in broken bones or lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery.
  • a dog that has been previously found to be potentially dangerous and the dog thereafter aggressively bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of humans; or
  • a dog that has been previously found to be potentially dangerous and the dog thereafter kills or severely injures a domestic animal.

Legal Responsibilities of Dangerous Dog Owners

  • Dangerous dogs must be registered with the state.
  • Dangerous dogs must either be confined indoors or confined outdoors in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure that prevents the entry of children, as well as the dog’s escape. The pen or structure must have secure sides and a secure top. When outside the enclosure, the dog must be muzzled and restrained by a substantial chain or leash and physically restrained by a responsible person over the age of 16.
  • The owner must post the property with a clearly-visible warning sign that alerts people that a dangerous dog is on the property. The owner must also conspicuously display a sign with a warning symbol that informs children of the presence of a dangerous dog.
  • Dangerous dog owners must maintain liability insurance or a surety bond of at least $50,000, insuring the owner for any personal injuries inflicted by the dangerous dog.

A skilled Oklahoma dog bite lawyers recognizes the necessity of providing the best legal counsel to you, your child, or any other family member. While Oklahoma dog bite laws mandate strict culpability for dogs that bite, establishing carelessness can be difficult.

Our top Oklahoma dog bite lawyers at Dakota Low Law know how important it is to gather evidence, speak with specialists, and assess the long-term effects of a dog bite on the victim and their family.

Attorneys for dog bites in Oklahoma

Please do not hesitate to call our group of top-ranked Oklahoma dog bite lawyers if you have been bitten by one of these breeds or any other dog in Oklahoma. When owners have permitted hazardous canines to attack you, your child, or a loved one, we’re ready to fight for your rights and ensure you receive maximum compensation.

Injuries caused by dog attacks

It’s critical to find an Oklahoma Dog Bite Lawyer who has handled dog bite cases before. mauling’s and other attacks have the potential to be destructive. An expert Oklahoma dog bite lawyer can ensure that you, your kid, or a member of your family receives adequate compensation from the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance, allowing you to obtain the necessary medical treatment.

Victims of dog bites frequently require plastic surgery. Skin grafts and comprehensive reconstructive operations are examples of these procedures.

Our dog bite lawyers in Oklahoma City and Tulsa understand the psychological impact of dog bites, and we’re ready to demand compensation for counseling to assist Oklahoma dog bite victims cope with their injuries.

NEED HELP? Schedule a consultation with Oklahoma Dog Bite Lawyer team at Dakota Low today. Call 405.601.8899.

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