Whether you were bitten while playing with a dog on someone else’s property, or a dog chased you while making a USPS delivery, and caused you to fall and suffer injuries, the law office of Ylla | Gosney can help you take legal action to recover damages.
At Ylla | Gosney, we specialize in getting injured USPS drivers like yourself immediate medical care and legal representation to get you back to living your regular life after a traumatic dog bite incident. Don’t wait until it’s too late to recover compensation for your dog bite injuries. Contact us today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Dog Bite in Oklahoma City?
Dog bite incidents for USPS delivery drivers happen more often than you might think. In fact, the USPS has started multiple campaigns to make dog owners aware of their liability if they fail to secure their dog properly, and a delivery person gets injured. According to the United States Postal Service, over 6,000 delivery drivers suffered a dog bite injury in 2024 alone, making it a common occurrence.
Unfortunately, what most USPS delivery drivers are not aware of is that dog owners who fail to keep others safe around their dog can be legally held responsible for compensating them for their damages. But that’s where Ylla | Gosney Attorneys at Law can help.
To recover the full extent of your damages, it is recommended to take legal action through one of our attorneys. Taking legal action in a dog bite incident seems like it would only complicate an already stressful situation, but not with Ylla | Gosney. Our team will ensure you are fully compensated for the following damages after suffering a dog bite injury:
- Present and future medical expenses
- Loss of income, as well as the reduction in your earning capacity that you’ve suffered from your injuries
- Cost of living with your injury, such as making your home disability accessible, purchasing a wheelchair or crutches, hiring a nurse or housekeeper
- Damage done to your property during the accident
- Pain and suffering caused by your injuries
- Stress and anxiety due to the nature of your accident
- Your mental state after a life-changing accident
How Do I Know if I Have a Dog Bite Case?
It is important to know that, in Oklahoma City, a dog does not get “one free bite” without the owner being liable. Also, it does not matter if the dog has shown prior aggressive behavior. If a dog bites someone, then the owner is liable. So, you have a legitimate dog bite case if a dog bites you. This is known as strict liability law, and the owner can be held responsible, even if there is no proof that the owner was negligent.
Exceptions to this strict liability would mean the owner is not responsible if you provoked the dog into biting you, or you were unlawfully trespassing onto someone else’s property and got bitten. A person is not trespassing if they are lawfully on the property of the owner of the dog either expressly or implied. In the case of a USPS driver, they are given “implied” permission to be on the property because they are delivering a package to someone who ordered something.
Legal Steps to Take After a Dog Bite Incident:
To take the appropriate legal action and begin building your case after a dog bite incident, you should:
- Document the incident: take photos and write down details of your injuries, the dog, and your surroundings.
- Exchange information with the dog owner: get the owner’s name, address, phone number, and insurance info. If any witnesses are on the scene, collect their contact information and record their testimony if possible.
- Seek immediate medical attention: go to the nearest emergency room or see your primary care physician as soon as possible. Dog bites can lead to dangerous infections. Also, any delay in medical treatment could be harmful to your personal injury case.
- Report the incident to Animal Control: contact your local animal control agency and report the bite. An investigation by animal control will not only be helpful to your case but can also prevent future injuries.
- Speak to an attorney: discuss your legal options with an experienced Dog Bite Attorney by contacting Ylla Gosney.
What You Need for an Initial Consultation With a Dog Bite Lawyer
Most personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations. Personal injuries typically encompass injuries from car accidents, slip-and-falls, dog bites, bicycle injuries, and pedestrian injuries. 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?
What is the Statute of Limitations for a Dog Bite Incident?
A dog bite case falls under personal injury law. So, much like all personal injury cases, the victim of the injury has two years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury claim. The two-year statute of limitation is covered in Oklahoma Statute Title 12-95, which states:
“Within two (2) years: An action for trespass upon real property; an action for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery of personal property; an action for injury to the rights of another, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated; an action for relief on the ground of fraud – the cause of action in such case shall not be deemed to have accrued until the discovery of the fraud.”
Common USPS Dog Bite Incidents:
The types of dog bite cases we typically see in Oklahoma City include:
- Dog bite injury cases involving pit bulls, rottweilers, dobermans, chow chows, german shepherds, and large breeds known for aggressive behavior
- Small breed dog attacks can still cause serious injury, such as a scratched retina or permanent scarring. These breeds often include terriers, chihuahuas, and dachshunds.
- Dog bite injury cases where the dog is not properly enclosed in a fenced yard and escapes.
- Dog bite cases where a dog has bitten someone before, and the proper precautions were not taken to prevent them from biting someone else.
When is a Dog Owner NOT Liable for Their Dog Biting Someone?
If someone is bitten while lawfully on another person’s property or in a public space, they can take legal action against the dog owner. However, there are exceptions when dog bite victims are not entitled to compensation. These exceptions apply if:
- The victim was trespassing or was not legally permitted to enter the property: trespassers may not be entitled to compensation for a dog bite, but the owner may still be at fault if they failed to restrain the dog or provide proper warning, even for trespassers.
- The victim provoked the attack: victims who are bitten due to harassing, striking, or annoying the animal may not be entitled to full compensation.
- The victims knew there was a risk of being bitten: veterinarians, kennel workers, and other dog-care professionals may not be entitled to compensation after a dog bite because they assume the risk by working in that specific field.
- The dog was a law enforcement dog: dogs operating at a crime scene or helping law enforcement are considered government entities and are protected from personal injury lawsuits. Unless the victim was an innocent bystander, it will be difficult to receive compensation for a dog bite from a government dog.
Contact Ylla | Gosney Oklahoma City 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 Norman, OK, 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. Don’t waste another second wondering if you should take legal action for a dog bite incident. Contact Ylla Gosney Attorneys at Law today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.