If you were bitten by a dog, you have enough to worry about without the concern of how you will pay for legal assistance from an Ardmore dog bite lawyer. That’s why Oklahoma Injury Law offers our legal services on a contingency fee basis. Under this fee agreement, you do not have to pay us anything upfront or anything at all – unless we recover compensation for you. We get paid when you get paid. We also offer free consultations to all new clients, so you can learn more about your legal rights and options at no risk or obligation to you.
Is Oklahoma a One-Bite State?
Most states use either a one-bite rule or a strict liability law when confronting incidents involving dogs that bite others. In a one-bite state, the rationale is that a dog owner may not know that their dog has a propensity for violence until it has bitten someone.
Oklahoma is not a one-bite state. Our state better protects dog bite victims by applying strict liability. If you were bitten or injured by a dog while you were lawfully on the property and did not provoke the dog, you have the right to recover compensation. This standard applies whether the dog bit you or injured you in some other way, such as jumping on you and causing you to fall.
What Do I Have to Prove to Win My Dog Bite Lawsuit in Ardmore?
Under strict liability, you do not have to prove the dog owner knew their dog was violent or even that they were negligent in allowing the bite to happen. Instead, most cases involve arguments regarding the following:
- Ownership of the dog – Ownership of the dog might be established with licensing and vaccination records.
- Legal status on the property – Oklahoma’s strict liability law only applies when you are lawfully on the property. This could mean that you were lawfully on public property, at a store, or at a friend’s house with permission.
- Whether the dog bit you – The defendant might try to claim that their dog did not bite or attack you. You may be able to establish this legal element by presenting medical records, photos or videos of the attack, witness statements, or other evidence.
- You did not provoke the dog – You will need to be able to show that you did not antagonize the dog before the incident to recover compensation under the strict liability law.
- Your damages – You may have suffered various economic and non-economic damages in the attack, including medical expenses and lost wages.
An experienced Ardmore personal injury attorney can help you gather the evidence necessary to substantiate your claim.
What Compensation Can I Recover in a Dog Bite Claim in Ardmore?
If you were bitten by a dog under the circumstances outlined above, you may be able to recover monetary compensation for the economic and non-economic damages you sustained, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Costs of rehabilitation and occupational therapy
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental distress
- Emotional trauma
- Disfigurement and scarring
The dog owner’s insurance coverage may be able to provide compensation for these and other losses you suffered because of the animal attack.
Contact Our Dog Bite Lawyers for a Free Case Review
Oklahoma Injury Law wants to help you hold irresponsible dog owners accountable for your harm. Contact or call us today at (405) 310-8800 for a free, no-obligation case review with our Ardmore dog bit injury lawyers.