Whether you were bitten while playing with a dog at a dog park or a dog chased you and caused you to fall and suffer injuries in Tuttle, OK, our law firm can help. After a dog bite incident, you may face health complications, resulting in expensive medical bills, missed time at work, and a loss of enjoyment of life. Dog bites can happen in less than a second, but they can carry a lifetime of trauma and physical damage.
Fortunately, dog owners can be held liable under strict liability laws. At Ylla | Gosney Attorneys at Law, we will use these laws to protect your right to compensation and protect you from liability. We specialize in helping dog bite victims get past this traumatic event in their lives by negotiating a fair settlement on their behalf, as well as building a strong case if the dog bite incident goes to trial.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to recover financial relief 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 Tuttle, OK, dog owners like to walk their dogs along the sidewalks or in Schrock Park. However, when a dog is in a new environment or around new people, and their owner does not have them properly restrained, they can bite and cause serious injuries. Fortunately, there are laws to protect dog bite victims.
According to the State of Oklahoma, it is unlawful for a dog to be “at large.” The term at large means when the dog is off-leash or not under the direct control of the owner. Direct control, according to statute 8-38 of Oklahoma’s Municipal Code, means immediate, continuous, and physical control of a dog at all times by means of a leash, cord, rope, or chain.
So, if a dog is not properly restrained (leash, fence, or rope) and causes you to suffer an injury, the law is on your side, and the owner can be held responsible for damages. At Ylla | Gosney, we understand how to utilize the law to protect dog bite victims in Tuttle, OK, and will ensure they are fully compensated for the following damages:
- Special Damages: medical bills, ongoing treatment, costs that accumulate when you’re unable to work, like rent or mortgage payments
- General Damages: these are non-economic hardships like pain and suffering, anxiety, depression, mental trauma
- Wrongful Death Damages: these damages may be sought by a spouse or close relative for funeral arrangements, burial expenses, and medical treatment before a loved one’s death
- Punitive Damages: these damages are rare, but if the dog owner engaged in reckless behavior with the intention of hurting you, such as training the dog to harm you or knowingly putting you in harm’s way, then you could sue for punitive damages
Steps You Should Take After Suffering a Dog Bite Injury
After suffering a dog bite injury, we recommend taking the following steps to ensure you have a strong case:
- Collect Medical Records: Even if your 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 your 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: Failing to alert the police does not help your case, especially if the case comes down to your word over the person responsible for your injuries. A police officer will file an incident report and assign blame based on their assessment. A police report 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 Tuttle, 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?
Dangers of Dog Bites
A dog bite injury can range from minor scratches to permanent damage. If a dog bite is deep enough, it can damage blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and bones. Deeper bites also carry the risk of infection, which can be detected by the following symptoms:
- Swelling and redness around the wound
- Pain that lasts longer than 24 hours
- Drainage from the wound
- Difficulty moving the affected body part
- Warm feeling around the wound
- Fever
- Shaking
- Night sweats
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 1 out of 5 dog bites requires medical attention. So, even the smallest cuts or scratches can lead to serious health complications. For that reason, it is recommended to seek immediate medical attention for even the slightest dog bite. If you need access to medical attention and need help pursuing compensation for treatment, missed time at work, or mental trauma, Ylla | Gosney Attorneys at Law can help. Call us today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Average Dog Bite Settlements
The settlement amount for a dog bite injury claim varies significantly on a case-by-case basis. However, there are various factors that can help determine the value of your case such as:
- Extent of damages
- Medical treatment needed
- Insurance coverage of the responsible party
- Determination of fault
When it comes to your dog bite settlement, the details of your case matter. For example, if you only sustained minor injuries from the attack or you were partially liable for the incident, your settlement could result in a lower amount. The best way to understand the value of your case and maximize compensation is to consult with a Dog Bite Lawyer at Ylla | Gosney.
Dog Bite Severity in Dog Bite Cases
Another factor that can help determine the value of a dog bite case, is the level of dog bite severity. Usually, the more severe a dog bite is, the higher the settlement. Dog bite severity is graded on the Dunbar Bite Scale, which includes the following levels:
- Level 1: Aggressive behavior, but no skin contact. This could mean the dog was growling, showing its teeth, or snapping at someone.
- Level 2: Teeth make contact with a victim but does not break their skin. A dog will typically do this when it is stressed or uncomfortable. The result is usually teeth marks on the victims without breaking the skin.
- Level 3: A single bite with shallow wounds. Level 3 dog bites are defined by the number of punctures from a shallow bite, with no bite going deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. For a level 3 dog bite to occur, a dog must move beyond warning behavior and inflict minor to moderate injury.
- Level 4: A single bite with deep wounds. A level 4 bite consists of one to four deep punctures of a person’s skin, with at least one puncture deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. These are dangerous bites, as the dog may shake its head while biting, refusing to let go.
- Level 5: Level five bites are similar to level four, only they have multiple bites that occur during the attack. Dogs responsible for level 5 bites are considered dangerous and may need rehabilitation.
- Level 6: This level results in the death of a victim, or flesh consumed. Dogs who commit level 6 bites are not safe to be around humans or other animals. In these rare cases, authorities will determine if euthanasia is necessary.
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 a Tuttle, OK, 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 Tuttle OK 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 Tuttle, OK, recover the compensation they need to put this traumatic event behind. 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.