Tulsa Dog Bite Lawyer

Tulsa Dog Bite and Animal Attack Attorney

Dogs are a common pet in Tulsa, OK and around the country, chosen for their energy, loyalty, and playfulness. For the most part, dogs are kind creatures that interact well with others. However, this is not the case for all canines. Some dogs, or dogs in some situations, can go from friendly to vicious very quickly.

If a dog bites you, it is important to understand your rights and responsibilities. You do not have to suffer alone. Also, you should not have to cover the expenses that result from a dog bite that was not your fault. Rather, you may be entitled to compensation from the dog owner and their insurance company.

All personal injury claims are complicated, but our team at 222 Injury Lawyers is here for you. As you recover from a traumatic experience, we can devote our time and attention to earning the support that you need to fully recover from the incident.

222 Injury Lawyers: Top Tulsa Dog Bite Attorneys

Our personal injury attorneys at 222 Injury Lawyers have helped numerous clients with complex dog bite cases. Our experience with bite claims makes us well-qualified to answer any questions that you have. After you tell us your story, we can build a strong case in your favor. We believe that attorneys should be relentless advocates for their clients. Our firm strives to bring a high level of care and concentration to each claim.

As you go through this difficult time, you need attorneys who have more than just experience. Our dog attack attorneys are proud to provide empathetic, focused legal counsel to all our clients. You are our top priority while you recover from your bite injury. Our firm can work tirelessly to earn the compensation that you deserve. If you do not receive any compensation, we will not charge you.

222 Injury Lawyers is here for you and your family when you need it most.

What Is a Dog Bite Claim?

Dog bite claims are a type of personal injury case. They hold a dog’s owner accountable for failing to control their pet. All dog owners have the obligation to follow certain laws to keep their dogs from harming others. If they fail in this responsibility, they are financially and legally responsible for the outcome.

By law, a dog may not bite someone if that person has a reasonable and lawful entitlement to be in a certain location. In other words, a dog cannot legally bite someone unless that person is trespassing. If a dog bites someone who is trespassing on their property, the victim does not have the right to file a personal injury claim against the dog’s owner.

The only other circumstance in which a dog can legally bite someone is if they are provoked by that person. For example, if a person hurts a dog in a public park, the dog can bite the person without a legal claim arising.

Why Do I Need an Attorney for a Dog Bite Claim?

If you are looking for compensation after a bite attack, it is important to have a personal injury attorney on your team for many reasons. These cases are complicated, and it can be extremely difficult to properly argue your case in court. Even if the scenario feels straightforward to you, the law requires a complex set of evidence to be able to hold a dog owner accountable for an injury.

Insurance companies are predatory toward their clients. They often try to negotiate lower settlements or avoid responsibility altogether. If the dog owner does not have insurance, their attorney will do this instead. In both situations, it is helpful to have your own attorney who can refute the claims against you. Having an attorney can also lead to higher settlements and benefits, so it is in your financial interest to hire representation.

Your health is the most important reason to get an attorney. Dog bites can cause serious damage, including broken bones, torn ligaments, and disease, aside from the damage to the skin and soft tissue. This type of injury can cause lasting damage if it does not heal properly. Representing yourself in a personal injury claim can add stress and anxiety to your case. Under these conditions, it is more likely that your injury will heal improperly and cause additional problems.

What to Do After a Dog Bite Attack

If you are attacked or bitten by a dog, it is important to know what to do. Being prepared may help you act quickly if you are ever bitten. It can preserve your right to compensation as well as your personal safety.

Regardless of the nature of the attack, your first priority is to get to safety. Once you are in a safe place, call 911.

When you can, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. A medical professional can identify and begin treating any problems that may have been caused by the dog bite. It will also create a clear path of evidence between the dog bite and any injuries you have sustained. Even with this evidence, the defense may still attempt to claim that you suffered the injury elsewhere and are blaming it on the dog. However, medical records give the jury a clear reason to doubt the defense’s argument.

When you are in stable condition, contact your attorney right away. Do not make statements to the insurance companies without a legal representative present. Our team at 222 Injury Lawyers is ready to help after a dog bite injury.

Personal Injury Law and Insurance Companies

Many people believe that insurance companies exist to help them. Although this is what these companies claim to do, their top priority is not their customers. Insurance companies will frequently put their clients at a disadvantage to preserve their own profits.

Insurance adjusters may ask leading or pointed questions to those making a claim. It may feel like a casual conversation or a typical business discussion. In reality, they are trying to get you to say anything that would excuse them from the obligation to pay for your medical bills. This could be a seemingly innocuous statement. However, their attorneys will use it in court to dismantle your prosecution argument, even if the claim is otherwise straightforward.

Because of the high level of risk involved in speaking with insurance adjusters, it is important to allow your attorney to oversee or handle all communication with insurance companies. Our team at 222 Injury Lawyers has been fighting against insurance companies for many years. We fight for the little guy. We do not let large corporate insurance companies take advantage of individuals and families.

Compensation in a Dog Bite Claim

If you are seeking compensation through a personal injury claim, your attorney can help you determine how much your individual case is worth based on unique factors. However, there are some general costs that personal injury settlements account for.

Oklahoma law states that a dog owner is responsible for all damages associated with a dog bite. However, this only applies if the bite was unprovoked and occurred while the victim was behaving within their legal rights.

Potential compensation for a dog bite includes:

• Medical bills
• Ongoing medical care
• Lost income from time spent out of work
• Damages to the victim’s future career prospects
• Vocational retraining if the victim is unable to return to work

This is not an exhaustive list of the damages included in a dog bite settlement, but it does cover many of the common considerations.

Reporting a Dog Bite

Many people believe that if they report a dog bite, the owner will have to euthanize their pet. This is untrue. In most cases, the court will not require the dog to be euthanized. This is especially true if this is the dog’s first incident.

The term “personal injury” implies that the individual is the only victim. In reality, these kinds of cases can affect entire communities. If one person gets hurt because of another person’s negligence, failing to report the incident puts others at risk for the same fate. Personal injury laws do not only offer financial support for victims. They also help ensure that negligence does not happen again and that no one else gets hurt.

If you are unsure of how to proceed after a dog bite, talk to an attorney from 222 Injury Lawyers. We can help you determine how much your case may be worth. We can also answer other questions about potential consequences. With individual information at hand, we can more accurately assess the potential outcome of your claim.

Potential Evidence in a Dog Bite Claim

All dog bite cases will have different pieces of evidence that prove the prosecution’s case. This evidence must prove four main points. They include:

1. Duty of Care: In other words, the dog owner had the responsibility to keep their pet from hurting other people.
2. Breach of Duty: The dog owner failed to fulfill their responsibility to keep their pet from hurting other people.
3. Cause: The dog’s actions led to your injuries.
4. Damages: You have injuries resulting from the dog attack.

Some of these points are much simpler to prove than others. The pieces of evidence that your attorney uses to prove each point will depend on your unique situation. Common types of evidence include:

• Medical records
• Photos of the injury
• Eyewitness statements
• Video or CCTV footage of the attack

This is not an exhaustive list of potential evidence that may be available in your case. Do not discard any information surrounding the event without your lawyer’s permission.

FAQs About Tulsa, OK Dog Bite Laws

Can Someone Sue You If Your Dog Bites Them on Your Property in Oklahoma?

Sometimes. If you have invited someone over and your dog bites them, that person can sue because they were legally on your property. Your invitation to come to your home means that the individual was not trespassing. However, if the person who got bit had been trespassing, they would not be able to press charges. Please note that mail carriers and delivery drivers are not trespassing when they enter your property to make deliveries.

How Much Should I Get for a Dog Bite?

The average dog bite settlement is between $30,000 and $50,000, not including attorney fees and other costs. However, your settlement will depend on the severity of your injuries. If you sustain serious or life-threatening injuries, you can expect to receive more compensation than if you sustain minor or superficial ones. When an attorney reviews your case, we may be able to give you a more accurate estimate based on individual factors.

How Do I Report a Dog Bite in Tulsa, OK?

You will need to call the police non-emergency number to make your initial report. However, an attorney can help you file your claim when you seek compensation. The police report may be helpful for your case, so be sure to note the case number, officer number, and other key information about the situation. The process of filing a claim is more complicated than reporting the attack, and having an attorney is extremely helpful.

What Is the Law for Dog Bites in Oklahoma?

The law states that dog owners are responsible for keeping their dogs under control around other people. If a dog bites someone, the dog’s owner is financially liable for the damage that the dog caused. This includes medical bills, vocational retraining, compensation for time spent out of work, and more. A dog may only legally bite someone if the dog is provoked or if the victim is entering private property illegally.

Contact 222 Injury Lawyers

Our team at 222 Injury Lawyers is passionate about connecting with our clients to create reliable, strong arguments for their claims. We know that this is a dark time in your life, and we are here to help you through it. We have been in business for over 30 years because we care about our clients. Our firm works diligently to achieve what is rightfully theirs.

For more information, or to schedule a consultation with our attorneys, contact 222 Injury Lawyers.