Dog attacks can result in severe physical and emotional trauma. Oklahoma law holds dog owners strictly liable for injuries caused by their animals. If a dog attack has injured you, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages. An experienced Edmond dog bite lawyer from Warhawk Legal can protect your rights and help you secure the full value of your Edmond injury claim.
Call (405) 397-1717 or complete the short form on our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
Why Clients Trust Warhawk Legal
- We have a proven record of securing maximum compensation for our clients.
- We understand that dog attacks can be as emotionally traumatic as they are physically damaging.
- Our Edmond dog bite lawyer will handle your claim on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid when we recover compensation for you.
- We genuinely care about your well-being and helping you get back on track after a traumatic dog attack.
Oklahoma’s Dog Bite Strict Liability Law
Oklahoma law establishes strict liability for dog owners in most circumstances. If a dog or other animal attacks, attempts to attack, or injures you without provocation while you are peaceably conducting yourself in a place you have the legal right to be, the owner of the dog is liable for your damages.
This means that you do not need to prove that the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous. You only have to prove that the dog bit you without provocation, you had a legal right to be at the scene of the attack, and you were peaceably conducting yourself at the time of the attack.
Insurance companies will work hard to avoid liability. They may argue that you provoked the dog, were trespassing at the time of the attack, or that you were not peaceably conducting yourself when the dog bit you. At Warhawk Legal, we know how to combat those arguments and hold the insurance company accountable for paying the full value of your claim.
Injuries Sustained in a Dog Bite Attack
Dog bites can result in various injuries, including:
- Puncture wounds
- Lacerations
- Avulsion
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Abrasions
- Facial injuries
- Bites to the neck and throat
- Nerve damage
- Loss of limbs
- Soft tissue injuries
- Infections
- Rabies
- Tetanus
- Crushing injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Damages Recoverable in an Edmond Dog Bite Claim
In a successful Edmond animal attack claim, you should be able to recover economic and non-economic damages for the dog bite, such as:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Current and future lost wages
- Other financial losses and expenses incurred
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional and mental distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Other intangible losses incurred due to the attack
Before accepting a settlement offer, ensure that you have identified all your economic and non-economic damages and know the accurate value. At Warhawk Legal, we often work with medical and economic experts to establish and calculate your damages so you know what a fair settlement of your claim would be.
What to Do After a Dog Attack
Taking the following steps after a dog bite can help protect you:
- Call for emergency medical help if needed.
- Report the incident to animal control. It is essential to file a report to have a written record of the incident.
- Clean the wound with soap and water.
- If you do not go to the hospital by ambulance, promptly seek a thorough medical evaluation. Not all injuries are immediately apparent. Being evaluated by a medical professional can protect your health and your right to recover compensation for your damages.
- Obtain the dog owner’s contact information if they are present.
- Ask the dog owner for proof of the dog’s vaccinations.
- Obtain the names and contact information of any witnesses to the attack.
- Document the incident. Take photographs of the dog, the area where the attack occurred, your injuries, and anything else that seems relevant.
- Continue to take photographs of your wounds as they heal.
- Consult an experienced Edmond dog bite lawyer and learn how to file a dog bite claim. Once you retain an attorney to represent you, allow them to handle all communications with the defendant and their insurer. Follow their advice about what you should and should not do while your claim is pending.
Statute of Limitations for Edmond Dog Bite Claims
A statute of limitations is the law that sets a deadline for filing an injury claim to recover compensation in a personal injury case. If you miss your filing deadline, you will not be able to recover any compensation.
The statute of limitations for dog bite claims in Oklahoma is typically two years. That means you must file your claim within two years of the attack. However, there are some exceptions to the two-year rule. So, you must promptly consult an experienced Edmond dog bite lawyer to determine your filing deadline.
How an Edmond Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help You
An experienced Edmond dog bite lawyer can carefully investigate your dog attack and gather vital evidence to prove what happened. They can also help establish the damages you have sustained from the attack.
Your Edmond dog attack attorney can handle all communications with the insurance company and hold them accountable for your damages.
They can negotiate a fair settlement, and if one is not reached, they can take your case to trial to demand payment of the full value of your claim. Your chances of a successful outcome are much greater when an experienced Edmond dog bite lawyer represents you.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Warhawk Legal Today
If you have been attacked by a dog in Edmond, you may be entitled to recover significant compensation for your damages. Do not accept the insurance company’s low-ball settlement offer. Consult an experienced Edmond dog bite lawyer to protect your rights and help you secure the full compensation you are entitled to.
At Warhawk Legal, our dog bite attorneys have the experience, skills, and resources to build your strongest case and help you secure maximum compensation for your claim. Call (405) 397-1717 or visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation.