How Do I Recover Damages For Dog Attacks in Oklahoma?

To recover damages for dog attacks in Oklahoma there are certain things that you must show. An animal attack can be a traumatic experience. Many people suffer from severe injuries after being bitten by a dog. Sometimes, people will suffer permanent injuries like scarring, torn ligaments and muscles, and post-traumatic stress disorder. If you have been seriously injured in a dog attack, by law, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. You do not have to go through this alone, though. The best course of action is to contact an experienced Oklahoma dog bite attorney who has successfully managed many of these cases in the past.

Type Of Damages For Dog Attacks

Under Oklahoma law, you are entitled to receive compensation for the injuries you suffered in a dog attack as long as you have not provoked the dog, and the dog attacks you in a place that you have the right to be (e.g. a public park). In fact, Oklahoma dog owners are strictly liable to victims. It does not matter whether the owner acted carelessly or whether the dog has a dangerous history of being violent.

Some dog bites are minor (e.g. the victim only suffers from a few puncture wounds that heal quickly). However, there have been some dog attack cases where people died from wounds they sustained in the attack. The injuries that a dog can inflict can be severe and permanent. This can cover the following:

• All medical bills – This amount includes past medical bills and any future medical expenses for treatment. In some instances, people who have experienced severe dog bite injuries need future surgeries. This may include cosmetic surgeries, to lessen visible scars. The cost of these surgeries and treatments would be included in any kind of settlement amount or jury award.
• Lost wages – If you have lost work due to the injuries you are be entitled to recover lost wages. This also includes any future lost wages or future lost earning that you may experience due to an ongoing disability. For example, let’s say that the dog attack caused severe and permanent muscle damage in your leg. And, this damages prevents you from standing in one place for any length of time. This would restrict you from doing specific jobs where you must stand. This future lost earning capacity would be calculated and added to any settlement amount or jury award.
• Pain and suffering – This is a more complex category of damages to calculate because there is no set formula to add up this amount. Every case is different, and every injured victim is different. Pain and suffering damages are designed to compensate you for the actual pain and suffering that you experienced during and after the dog attack. The more severe the attack and injuries, the more severe the pain and suffering likely is. Victims of dog attacks who suffered from permanent injuries, such as physical disabilities and unsightly scarring, typically stand to receive higher amounts of money damages for pain and suffering.
• Loss of life’s pleasures – This is another category where it’s difficult to pin down a number. This category compensates for how the injury affected your daily life, such as the inability to work, spend time with your family, and do things that you enjoy (e.g. hobbies) that you cannot now do because of your injuries.

How To Win Damages In A Dog Bite Case

The bottom line: to be fairly and fully compensated for your injuries, you will want expert legal representation. It would be a mistake to believe that you could manage a case like this yourself. The insurance company that represents the dog owner will have a small army of adjusters, investigators, and attorneys fighting to give you the least amount of money possible. To be successful in your case and win the most money legally possible, you will want a team of experienced attorneys on your side who have successfully handled these types of cases. A good dog bite lawyer will fully investigate the matter and develop a strategy to win your case.

Tulsa Oklahoma Dog Bite Lawyer

To the extent that you have been attacked by a dog and have sustained personal injuries, you should seek medical attention first. Next, contact a personal injury attorney who can bring a lawsuit against all of those responsible for causing your injuries. Our Tulsa attorneys have extensive experience in protecting the rights of our Oklahoma clients who have been injured in dog attacks. For a free consultation, reach out to Kania Law Office today by calling (918) 743-2233 or contacting us online.