Understanding Premises Liability in Dog Bite Cases
Dog bites can cause significant physical bodily harm, and they can be terrifying for a victim. There are close to 1,000 dog bite incidents a day in the United States that require victims to seek emergency treatment for their injuries. Injuries, including broken skin, infection, broken bones, and death, can all result after being attacked by a dog.
Oklahoma’s dog bite laws indicate that dog owners are strictly liable after an attack. This means that if you were bitten by a dog, the owner would typically be responsible for paying for your damages. However, there are other situations where liability could extend to other parties. For example, a landlord that allowed a dangerous dog on their premises could be liable to a dog bite victim. Businesses that had a dangerous dog who attacked can be liable. Or your partner can be liable if they own a dangerous dog that hurts you.
Determining liability is not always straightforward and can be complex. An attorney can advise you of your rights and examine your dog bite experience to help you hold those who are liable accountable to pay for your damages. The Oklahoma City personal injury attorneys at the Putnam Law Office can meet with you and discuss your case and what path you have for obtaining compensation.
Liability After a Dog Bite Incident in Oklahoma
A property owner has a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. When they fail to do this, and another party is harmed, they can be responsible for paying for the losses that the injured party suffered. For example, a business should make sure that there are no hazards that would cause their customers to trip and fall or otherwise sustain harm. This could be through cleaning up spills, maintaining the building and fixing floors or handrails that may be broken, or even making certain that there is enough lighting to see. It can also include keeping a dangerous dog properly restrained or away from others, especially when it is known that the dog has the potential to hurt others.
Strict liability in dog bite attacks essentially says that when a dog attacks, a victim must identify ownership, may not have provoked the dog, sustained injuries, and had a lawful presence on a property where they were attacked. When all of these elements exist, then an owner can be held liable. It does not matter if the owner knew that the dog would attack or not; strict liability still applies. As a result, a victim of a dog attack does not have to prove that an owner knows their dog is dangerous to recover compensation.
One exception to strict liability is location. If a dog bite incident takes place in a rural area, common law negligence would be used to determine if a dog’s owner is responsible for paying for a victim’s damages. In this situation, it would be necessary to prove that the dog’s owner knew that their pet could be aggressive and attacked.
Speak to an Attorney at the Putnam Law Office Today
Dog bite incidents can inflict physical bodily harm and also cause extreme mental distress. For help with a dog bite injury claim, you are welcome to call (405) 849-9149 to speak with an experienced attorney at the Putnam Law Office.
