Edmond Dog Bite Lawyer

Dogs are called man’s best friend but can also be man’s worst enemy.  When powerful, aggressive dogs aren’t properly leashed and restrained by their owners, they can maul children and inflict devastating, sometimes disfiguring, or fatal injuries.

If you or your child was attacked or bitten by a dog in Oklahoma City, the owner could be responsible for the resulting injuries, expenses, and losses.  The experienced Oklahoma dog bite lawyers of Hasbrook & Hasbrook may be able to recover compensation for you. 

Strict Liability: When Pet Owners Are Liable for Animal Attacks

After an Oklahoma City dog attack occurs, one of the first questions to address is whether the dog’s owner is liable for the victim’s injuries.  The answer lies in Oklahoma’s dog bite liability statute, 4 O.S. § 42.1, which provides the following:

“The owner or owners of any dog shall be liable for damages to the full amount of any damages sustained when his [or her] dog, without provocation, bites or injures any person while such person is in or on a place where he [or she] has a lawful right to be.”

In other words, dog owners are liable for bite injuries as long as:

1. The victim was not trespassing or burglarizing a property.
2. The victim did nothing to tease, goad, abuse, or otherwise provoke the dog into biting.

This is known as “strict liability,” which exists even without finding fault on the owner’s behalf.  Many states have strict liability laws for dog bites.

Additionally, 4 O.S. § 42.4 makes it unlawful for dog owners to let a dog “run at large” (i.e., off a leash) if it has a history of biting without provocation.  Furthermore, 4 O.S. § 43 makes it unlawful for any dogs, even those without a history of biting, to run at large in counties with populations exceeding 200,000.  This includes Oklahoma County, whose population exceeds 755,000.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, act now.

Call: 405-605-2426

Which Dog Breeds Cause the Most Injuries?

Any dog, even tiny toy dogs like Chihuahuas or Yorkshire Terriers, can inflict injuries.  However, some breeds have gained notoriety for causing serious bites and mauling attacks.  While pit bulls have received most of the media attention for bite injuries lately, many other breeds are just as powerful and, with poor training, just as dangerous.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the dog breeds that cause the most bites include:

• Chow Chows
• Collies (e.g., Border Collies, Bearded Collies)
• German Shepherds
• Jack Russell Terriers
• Labrador Retrievers (e.g., Chocolate Labs, Yellow Labs)
• Mutts/Mixed Breeds
• Rottweilers
• Siberian Huskies
• Spaniels (e.g., Cocker Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels)
• St. Bernards

What to Do After A Dog Bites You

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 4.5 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs every year.  About one in five of these bites – roughly 900,000 injuries – become infected because over 60 types of bacteria live inside a dog’s mouth.

Because dog bites can become infected so quickly, it is critical to follow three steps recommended by the CDC after being bitten:

1. Thoroughly wash the wound out with soap and water.
2. Apply a layer of antibiotic ointment over the bite.
3. Cover the bite with clean, sterile gauze, even if the bleeding has stopped.

You should also seek prompt medical attention, even if the bite appears minor.  What starts as a tiny puncture or laceration can quickly develop into a serious, even life-threatening injury if infection sets in due to care delays.  Symptoms of a bacterial infection include warmth, redness, swelling, and pus/discharge around the injury site.  Developing a fever is another warning sign of infection.

In addition to seeking medical help, you should report the bite to Oklahoma City Animal Welfare by calling (405) 297-3100.  Officers will temporarily quarantine and observe the animal to ensure it doesn’t have rabies.

At Hasbrook & Hasbrook, our personal injury attorneys go above and beyond for our clients.

Free Case Consultation

Free Consultation with Our Oklahoma City Personal Injury Attorney

If you or one of your family members was bitten by a dog in Oklahoma City, you may be able to recover compensation by filing a lawsuit or personal injury claim.  Some common dog bite injuries we handle include:

• Broken Bones
• Eye Injuries
• Facial Injuries
• Finger Amputations
• Lacerations
• Neck Injuries
• Nerve Damage
• Permanent Scarring and Disfigurement
• Puncture Wounds
• Thumb Amputations

Don’t wait to review your claim with our friendly and knowledgeable personal injury attorneys.  Call the law offices of Hasbrook & Hasbrook at (405) 605-2426 right away to set up a free and confidential legal consultation.  You won’t be charged any fees unless we recover compensation for you.