Everyone loves dogs. Even cat people. But sometimes, those lovable fur babies can become serious legal headaches. As a dog bite lawyer Tulsa, OK trusts like our friends at Wandres Law can explain, a precious pooch can become a liability faster than you can say “sic em” – especially when that precious pooch is hanging out in the office.
According to the ASPCA, nearly 1 in every 5 households adopted a dog during the COVID pandemic. That comes out to more than 23 million new dogs. Of course, offices had to be flexible about their pet policies once people headed back to the workplace, and it’s opened up a whole new world of dog bite litigation. Read on to learn more about how a dog bite can affect you, and what you should do if you’ve been bit at work.
Imagine this: It’s 2020, during the peak of the pandemic. You can’t see your friends or family, and you’re all alone at your home or apartment. How do you keep yourself occupied? You rescue a dog.
Heartwarming, sure, but during the pandemic, not a lot of these dogs got the socialization they needed. Loving owners and lovable pooches got along just fine – until the human in the house had to go out for groceries, or needed to come back to the office. Suddenly, it’s all chewed furniture, neurotic barking, and unfortunate accidents that nobody wants to deal with. The solution? Bring the dog everywhere – including work.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the best idea. A poorly-socialized pup can wreak havoc in all sorts of environments, such as offices, grocery stores, and even the great outdoors. And if an owner needs to take their dog with them everywhere, they’re just opening themselves up for an unpleasant and expensive lawsuit. Better shell out for doggie day care, or proper training.
A dog bite is no laughing matter. Aside from the initial pain and panic, these bites can require serious medical attention.
If you were bitten by a dog at work, you should report your injury immediately. You may be able to collect workers’ compensation in the event of a dog bite on the job, and every workers’ comp claim starts with a detailed injury report. Dog bites may require stitches, or even surgery – and there’s no telling how long the trauma of your dog attack will stay with you.
In other cases, you may have no choice but to file a lawsuit. It’s painful to see a dog punished, but you need to remember that you’re not actually punishing the dog. You’re holding an irresponsible and compulsive dog owner responsible for their actions. A dog doesn’t bite for no reason. It may be scared, angry, or just plain poorly-trained. What matters is that the human responsible for their dangerous dog is held accountable for his or her failure to keep others safe.
You shouldn’t feel ashamed or guilty for seeking compensation for a dog bite. You may like dogs just as much as anyone else, but a dangerous bite deserves a financial payout. After all, when you team up with a skilled dog bite lawyer, you’re not punishing a dog – you’re making sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else, and you’re making sure the dog’s owner isn’t allowed to neglect or abuse a perfectly innocent animal anymore.
Don’t hesitate. Get in touch with a dog bite lawyer today.