Ylla | Gosney Attorneys at Law supports the families of children involved in a dog bite incident in Oklahoma. Our firm understands that there is nothing more important than your children, and it is devastating when any of them, unfortunately, suffers a traumatic dog bite incident. Fortunately, there are legal avenues available to help you and your child recover from this horrific event.
The Dog Bite Lawyers at Ylla | Gosney can help your child recover compensation for medical bills, ongoing medical care, and mental trauma. Contact us today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Do I Need a Lawyer if My Child Suffers a Dog Bite?
When a child is bitten by a dog, it is advisable to reach out to one of our attorneys at Ylla | Gosney. Children’s bodies are more fragile than adults, and are far more susceptible to serious and long-term injuries. For a child, being attacked by a dog can also be a traumatic event, and the negative mental effects may not manifest themselves until years later.
For these reasons, it is critical to ensure you receive compensation for yourself and especially your kids in case additional problems arise from a dog bite incident. In Oklahoma, a child cannot file a personal injury claim for themselves until they are 18 years old. This means, as an adult, it is up to you to make sure your child is fully compensated if they’ve suffered a dog bite injury. With Ylla | Gosney, we’ll ensure you follow all the necessary legal steps and ensure your child receives compensation for the following damages:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Transportation
- Reduced quality of life
- Pain and suffering
Oklahoma Law for Dog Bites Involving Children
According to Title 12. Civil Procedure 12-2025.1, parents have the right to recover compensation on behalf of their child if they have suffered injuries from a dog bite. The parent or parents can recover damages for an injury to a minor child and may assign their child the right to those damages. The minor injury claim process is overseen by Oklahoma State Laws for these reasons:
- To appoint a guardian
- To provide access to the settlement amount
- To ensure that all money is received by the time the minor has reached adulthood
- To ensure a fair settlement for the minor
If your child has been bitten by a dog in Oklahoma, don’t rely on the insurance company to give them a fair settlement. Unfortunately, they will do everything they can to reduce your child’s settlement, and may even place blame on your child. At Ylla | Gosney we can protect your child from liability and ensure they are fairly compensated. Contact us today for a free case review.
Steps You Should Take After Your Child Suffers a Dog Bite Injury
After suffering a dog bite injury, we recommend taking the following steps with your child to ensure they have a strong case:
- Collect Medical Records: Even if their injuries seem minor, they can manifest into something much worse weeks later. So, it is recommended to check in with a doctor and get a record of their injury. An MRI or an X-ray can reveal substantial damage that you might not be aware of. These documents will be essential to building a strong case.
- Get a Police Report or Incident Report from Animal Control: Failing to alert the police, or animal control after a dog bite injury does not help your case, especially if the case comes down to your word over the person responsible for your injuries. A police officer, or animal control employee will file an incident report and assign blame based on their assessment. A report of any kind is critical evidence in any claim and will play a key role in ensuring you are fully compensated.
- Gather Evidence: You should document the dog bite as thoroughly as possible. Take pictures of the property where the accident occurred. Take a video of yourself recounting the accident while it is still fresh in your mind.
- Collect Eye Witness Statements: if there are any eyewitnesses, try and get a statement from them. Or, at least, get their names and numbers, as they can testify on your behalf or provide a statement to corroborate your story later.
- Collect General Information: Exchange insurance information with the party responsible for your injuries, and be sure to get their name, phone number, and contact information.
- Contact Ylla | Gosney: Our firm is standing by to help dog bite accident victims in Choctaw, OK, physically and financially recover. Call, text, or email. Our door is always open to the community, and we’d love to help you through this difficult time.
What You Need for an Initial Consultation With a Personal Injury Lawyer
Most personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations. During an initial consultation, you are under no obligation to hire the attorney or pay them a fee for their services. In the same breath, an attorney is under no obligation to represent you in your personal injury case. Before your first meeting with a potential lawyer, you should be prepared. You can present your case to a lawyer in a professional manner by:
- Jotting down the key points in your case to share with them, or give them a written copy
- Bring the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of everyone connected with the case
- Bring all papers related to the case as they might be helpful for the lawyer to review
- Prepare questions for the lawyer such as:
- Have they handled similar cases to yours?
- Did they settle or go to trial?
- How many clients have they represented in court?
- How many trial cases have they won?
Where Do Dog Bites Occur in Oklahoma?
Dog bite incidents in the state of Oklahoma are most common in off-leash dog parks. These parks often feature no-leash areas surrounded by fencing, but are large enough to allow even the most energetic dogs to run around to their heart’s content. Unfortunately, some dogs can get overstimulated around different people or areas where they have more freedom and end up biting someone. In these situations, the dog owner is liable for damages caused by their dog, not the dog park. The following are places where dog bites most commonly occur:
- City Parks and Recreation areas: Parks are high foot traffic areas, increasing bite risk, especially for small children.
- Neighborhood Sidewalks and Streets: Dogs can get loose or escape their yards, making strangers seem like trespassers to a dog’s perceived “territory,” resulting in a dog bite.
- Private Residences: Guests who have been invited to another person’s house could set off a dog that is not used to “strangers.”
FAQ
Q: What is the Dog Bite Statute of Limitations in Oklahoma?
A: In Oklahoma, the statute of limitations for dog bite lawsuits is two years. A person has two years from the date the incident occurred to file a lawsuit against the owner.
Q: Does strict liability apply to all animals?
A: No, strict liability is limited to certain domestic animals like dogs.
Q: How does “duty of care” apply to an Oklahoma dog bite incident?
A: Dog owners must exercise a “duty of care” to take reasonable steps to maintain their dog, prevent their dog from escaping, and warn visitors if their dog is inclined to bite people.
Q: How many dog bite injury cases end up going to trial?
A: Very few dog bite injury cases go to trial. If there is an unwillingness to settle, then you will go to trial. However, 95% of civil cases will end up settling out of court.
Contact Ylla | Gosney Oklahoma Dog Bite Lawyers
Dog bites can be extremely traumatic and costly. By law, injured dog bite victims have the right to hold dog owners responsible for damages done to their lives through a lawsuit. The word “lawsuit” tends to have a negative connotation, implying years of legal battles and financially going after other individuals. But at Ylla | Gosney, it’s different.
Our firm is here to help injured dog bite victims in Oklahoma recover the compensation they need to put this traumatic event behind them. We have the legal resources to get your case resolved and get the financial results you need quickly and efficiently. Contact Ylla Gosney Attorneys at Law today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.