A dog bite can lead to severe injuries and even death in some instances. If you or a loved one suffered physical injuries from a dog attack, contact the Oklahoma City injury attorneys of Abel Law Firm immediately. You might be entitled to financial compensation from the owner for the harm you endured. We can help you hold them liable and seek the justice you deserve.
Since 1976, our personal injury lawyers have been representing injured victims. You can depend on us to fight by your side until the very end. We will tirelessly work to reach a favorable outcome, so you can heal and move forward with your life. Call Abel Law Firm at (405) 239-7046 to learn about your legal options and how we can help.
Our team of dedicated and compassionate Oklahoma City dog bite attorneys has over 130 years of combined experience. We care about our clients and will treat you as a priority while we’re working on your case. We believe in transparent communication, so you understand what to expect of the legal road ahead and can be prepared for a range of possible outcomes.
A dog bite can lead to psychological damage that lasts long after the physical injuries heal. We know an incident like this can cause stress, fear, and uncertainty. Afterward, it’s a challenge to make the right decisions when you’re in pain and worried about the treatment you might need to recover. That’s why it’s critical that you hire us immediately after sustaining an injury. We can begin our work on your case so you can focus entirely on healing.
Our Oklahoma City dog bite attorneys have worked hard to earn an excellent reputation within our community. Multiple organizations have given us awards for our dedication to our clients and the successful case results we’ve achieved. We have also received a 10.0 rating from Avvo and an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
At Abel Law Firm, we aim to keep our community safe. We are active in our community and support local organizations, such as Living Faith Ministries, Living Hope Ministries, and Variety Care. We also provide pro bono legal services to children in need through the Oklahoma Lawyers for Children organization.
Though you’re certainly able to pursue a personal injury claim on your own, an experienced attorney will make the process more efficient and can probably get you compensation for your injury faster. A lawyer with experience in dog bite personal injury claims can take you through the entire claims process and help you be prepared for any obstacles that might arise. Reputation is important, and showing the insurance company that you’re taking your dog bite injury claim seriously by hiring an experienced, reputable attorney may prompt them to act more quickly in settling your claim.
An attorney from Abel Law Firm will know the legal loopholes, and our experience with personal injury case law will give us a unique perspective. Personal injury law varies from state to state, and knowledge of local statutes and previous cases in the area is key to effectively handling a personal injury claim.
We also know how to accurately calculate an amount of compensation that matches your injury and circumstances. The compensation you can potentially recover doesn’t just cover actual bills. Among other things, you might be eligible for compensation for pain and suffering after an accident. We can evaluate your case and circumstances and determine what amount of money would provide full and fair compensation for your injuries and what you’ve endured as a result of your accident.
It’s important to remember that in a personal injury claim, you’re an individual up against an insurance company. Their entire job is finding a reason to deny your claim and protect their customer’s liability. They will use every tool at their disposal to tie up your personal injury claim and delay any proceedings until you’re so desperate for funds that you’ll accept a settlement amount far below what you deserve. At Abel Law Firm, we know how to deal with these tactics.
If the insurance company does find a reason to deny your claim or offers a settlement below what we’ve determined is an appropriate value for your claim, filing suit against them in court is the next step. And again, although you can technically do this on your own, it would be extremely difficult without an attorney assisting you. Once a case goes to trial, any offer of a cash settlement is rescinded, and you are not guaranteed a positive outcome.
Having a lawyer to handle negotiations with insurance adjusters will take a substantial burden off your shoulders. Not only that but having the assistance of a good attorney can get you more compensation than you could get on your own. According to a study from the Insurance Research Council from 2004, personal injury victims that retained an attorney were able to obtain 3.5 times more compensation than those that didn’t. Having a good attorney pays off.
Calculating costs for hiring an attorney is difficult because each case is unique. Here at Abel Law Firm, we work on a contingency-fee basis. That means you won’t owe us any money upfront. We don’t get paid until you get paid. If we don’t earn a settlement agreement or an award in court for you, you won’t owe us anything.
Whether your dog bite injury involves a stray or someone’s pet, there are things you need to do immediately to protect your rights and ensure you can seek compensation for your losses. The time immediately after the accident won’t be your only concern, though. You must also focus on the weeks and months after the attack when you’ll obtain the evidence you need to build a strong case.
Right after the attack, you might need to call 911 or animal control, especially if the dog is a stray, to prevent it from attacking anyone else.
Once you leave the scene of the incident, you’ll need to go to the hospital for initial treatment of the wound. They’ll evaluate the damage and might administer shots for tetanus and rabies. If the physician recommends surgery, physical therapy, or other medical care, you should follow their orders.
Insurance companies always look at the medical evidence provided to them during insurance claims. If there’s a gap in treatment or lack of sufficient proof of an injury, they could deny your claim or offer a low settlement. Maintain any documentation associated with your case, including medical records and receipts, so you can submit it as evidence.
It’s also vital that you hire an Oklahoma City dog bite lawyer to represent you. Abel Law Firm can take on the responsibility of your claim or lawsuit, so your main focus can be attending doctor’s appointments and recovering. We can investigate what happened, track down witnesses, and determine the appropriate compensation to pursue.
Be sure to continue with your regularly scheduled appointments until your medical providers inform you that you’ve made a full recovery or reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). MMI means further treatment likely won’t improve your condition. They might recommend that you follow up in the future if you experience any pain or other symptoms from your injury.
When we request medical records from them, we’ll also ask that they include an estimated cost for future treatment you might need so we can add it to the monetary value of your case.
Determining who should be financially responsible for your medical bills and other expenses is one of the most critical factors following a dog bite. According to Oklahoma statute § 42.1, the owner of a dog that bites someone without provocation becomes liable for the injured party’s expenses and intangible losses.
During our investigation, we will need to gather all the evidence we can find to prove that the dog’s owner was at fault for the injuries you suffered. The evidence we collect will depend on the circumstances of your case but could include:
The Oklahoma City dog bite attorneys of Abel Law Firm know how to prove the injuries you suffered were the result of someone else’s actions. You should not face the financial burden of medical bills, out-of-pocket costs, and other expenses when you didn’t cause the dog to bite you. We will aggressively pursue the maximum available compensation so you can afford your medical care.
Dogs have strong jaws and sharp teeth. They can cause significant damage when they clamp down on a person’s arm, leg, or other body part. Large and aggressive dogs can tear through the skin and cause trauma to the nerves, tendons, and muscles beneath.
The most common injuries dog bite victims suffer are:
When severe infections or sepsis occur, amputation of a limb might be necessary to prevent the infection from spreading to other areas of the body. Some people don’t fully recover from their injuries and develop a permanent disability. Severe physical and emotional harm can lead to a lifetime of pain, anxiety, and functional limitations. If you require ongoing treatment, it can affect your finances and lead to debt. Abel Law Firm will fight for the justice you deserve and work hard to secure a monetary award that can cover your future losses.
The value of the insurance settlement you receive will depend on multiple factors, including the amount of available coverage. You could file a claim with the dog owner’s homeowners insurance if the incident happened on their property. If you were in public, such as a restaurant or store, you might be able to file a claim with the property or business owner’s liability insurance company.
Whatever the source of compensation, the losses you can pursue may include:
Abel Law Firm will review your total losses and calculate the correct monetary value of your case to determine the compensation you deserve. Factors that might contribute to the settlement amount we demand on your behalf are:
Your Oklahoma City dog bite lawyer will aggressively negotiate for the maximum settlement you deserve. If the insurance company doesn’t agree to the amount we propose, we might need to file a lawsuit.
If you want to sue the dog’s owner for compensation for your losses, you must adhere to a statute of limitations. This is the timeframe for initiating a lawsuit in the civil court system. Oklahoma has a two-year statute of limitations, meaning you must file your lawsuit within two years of the date of the dog bite injury. Courts strictly enforce this deadline. If you attempt to file after the statute expires, they will likely dismiss your case before it ever gets started, and you’ll lose the ability to seek compensation through the courts.
Besides pursuing the monetary value of your medical bills, mental anguish, and other losses, you can also attempt to obtain punitive damages. These damages aren’t compensation. Instead, a punitive damages award punishes the wrongdoer for their actions. A jury will only issue this award if you can prove with clear and convincing evidence that the dog’s owner acted with reckless disregard for the rights of other people.
Comparative negligence is a law that could reduce your total losses based on the percentage of fault you share for the incident. If a jury finds that your actions partially contributed to your injury, they could diminish your financial award. For example, if your losses total $20,000 but the jury determines you were 20% at fault for the dog bite, you could only collect up to $16,000 in compensation. However, you wouldn’t be entitled to any amount of money if your percentage of assigned blame exceeds 50%.
The process of receiving compensation for your dog bite injury in Oklahoma starts with retaining good legal representation. An experienced personal injury law firm, like Abel Law Firm, will walk you through the process, which can be lengthy and complex.
We’ll start with an interview so we can get your side of what the story about happened before, during, and after the incident in question. We’ll ask loads of questions, including:
If the dog that bit you was the pet of a friend, it may be comforting for you to know that their homeowner’s policy may provide coverage for the misbehavior of their dog. You won’t actually be going after money from your friend but from their insurance company.
After that, we can begin an investigation into what happened, as mentioned above. The purpose of this investigation is to gather enough evidence to support your claim that the liable party’s insurance company has little choice but to agree that you’re owed a settlement.
Once the investigation is complete, we’ll assess the value of your claim. Then we’ll present a settlement demand to the at-fault party’s insurance company.
After receiving your claim, the insurance company may conduct their own investigation into the dog bite injury to determine if your claim holds merit.
When and if the insurance company responds to your claim for damages, they will do so in one of a few ways. They can deny your claim outright, meaning that they don’t believe your claim will stand up in court. They can approve your claim, meaning that they agree with the evidence you’ve presented and will pay out the damages you’ve requested. They can also offer a settlement.
A settlement is a cash amount that is offered when the insurance company finds some validity in your claim but doesn’t believe the amount of money you’ve requested is necessary to cover the actual losses from your injury. It’s usually substantially lower than the requested amount but is offered as a kind of compromise.
If you and your attorney decide to accept the settlement offer, the case does not go to court, and you agree not to pursue any further compensation for your injury. A settlement offer can sometimes be a very good thing because it is available immediately to cover costs like medical bills or other losses, and it eliminates the large amount of time and cost that would be required to take your case to trial.
If you and your attorney decide to reject the settlement offer, the final step is to file a lawsuit. Your attorney will argue in court that you deserve the full damages requested in your claim and that the settlement offer was insufficient. A judge or jury will decide whether they agree and issue a ruling. The benefit of going to trial is that you have the chance of getting the entire amount of compensatory damages requested. The danger is that you could lose your case and receive nothing.
Here are some facts and figures related to personal injury claims for dog bites:
The best way to avoid dealing with a dog bite personal injury claim in Oklahoma is to not be bitten. Here are some tips to help you or your family stay safe around dogs:
At Abel Law Firm, we receive various questions from clients about what they should and shouldn’t do after a dog attack and how much money they might receive from a claim. We answer the most commonly asked questions below so you can prepare yourself for what comes next. If you want to discuss your case in detail, you should contact us for a free consultation.
Besides following specific steps after you suffer injuries from a dog bite, there are some things you should avoid doing.
A common problem dog bite victims face is getting hurt on a rental property. State laws don’t require tenants to purchase renter’s insurance, and there isn’t a homeowners policy because they don’t own their apartment or house. If you own your home, you could review your policy to determine if your insurance company covers dog bites on another person’s property. You could also check with your auto insurance. There might be coverage for dog bite injuries. Every insurance company has different coverage options and requirements. Your attorney can request all available policies to explore the choices you have for seeking compensation.
Yes, but only to obtain specific information, such as their name, contact information, and details about their dog. However, you shouldn’t get into a long discussion with them. You could inadvertently say something that hurts your case. For example, they seem visibly upset about their dog injuring you, and as a way to make them feel better, you tell them it’s “not a big deal.” Their defense attorney could use your words against you later to minimize the severity of your injury. Let your attorney communicate with all parties involved in the case.
Oklahomans across the state have recognized the Abel Law Firm's unique heritage as a statewide institution. Founded by Ed Abel, and today led by his son, Luke Abel, our personal injury law firm has become synonymous with empathy, compassion, and the highest professional performance serving our neighbors. Our family has sought to leave a profound impact upon the State of Oklahoma. We appreciate that former Governor Mary Fallin recognized that dedication when she declared May 1st "Ed Abel Day."
To be named Oklahoma's Best Personal Injury Law Firm is humbling. We are grateful to have won this prestigious honor. We work every day to earn the trust of those we serve: Oklahoma families who are facing some of the most difficulty days of their lives due to the negligence of others. It is our intention and resolve to continue to be deserving of the faith Oklahomans have placed in our family's law firm. Thank you!
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