Are You a Victim of a Dog Bite Injury in South Carolina?
Our experienced dog bite attorneys in South Carolina understand the challenges that bite victims face during their treatment and healing process, especially when they have acquired an infection or require reconstructive surgery because of a dog attack.
We also know that dogs do not have to be vicious to bite or attack someone. They also do not have to be strange dogs that the victims have never met. In fact, most dog bites occur with a known pet. This can make holding the dog’s owner liable for your injuries difficult, because no one wants to sue a friend or family member, potentially jeopardizing their relationship going forward.
We can help.
When pursuing a dog bite claim, our personal injury lawyers in South Carolina will focus our recovery strategy on the dog owner’s insurance coverage, so he or she is not personally liable for paying for the damages out of their own pocket. This strategy is two-fold: Our clients get the full compensation they are entitled to and preserve their personal relationships going forward.
If you or someone you love has been bitten by a dog, contact our skilled dog bite attorneys in South Carolina for a consultation today to discuss your legal options, so you can get the medical care and time away from work you need to fully heal.
How Many Dog Bites Occur Throughout the United States Each Year?
Dog bites are often identified by the number of insurance claims that are filed against the owners.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog bites cost homeowner’s insurance companies nearly $854 million last year alone.
That included:
- Nearly 17,000 total claims were filed throughout the U.S., down 4.6% from the previous year
- Average claim payouts of $50,245 each, up 12.3% from the previous year
- The average cost per claim nationally has risen 162% in just over 15 years
Contact our skilled dog bite attorneys in South Carolina today if you have been bitten by a dog and suffered serious injuries because of the attack to discuss your legal options, so we may help you pursue the financial outcome you are entitled to for your damages.
Our South Carolina personal injury lawyers represent individuals and families who have been hurt or have lost a loved one in:
- Auto Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Boat Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Negligent Security
- Nursing Home Negligence
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Sexual Abuse
- Slip and Fall Injuries
- Truck Accidents
- Workers’ Compensation
- Wrongful Death
How Can I Hold the Dog Owner Responsible for My Injuries?
Our South Carolina dog bite statute allows any person bitten or attacked by a dog in a public or private place — where he or she was lawfully allowed — to pursue the dog’s owner, or the person caring for the dog at the time of the bite, for financial recovery.
Unlike many other states, our South Carolina residents do not have to prove that the dog was dangerous or had ever previously acted aggressively to hold the owner liable for the damages they suffered.
If you were bitten by a dog even if the owner is a friend or family member our South Carolina personal injury lawyers will pursue their insurance coverage for your full financial recovery needs, so your personal relationship is unharmed by your pursuit for compensation.
One important part of your case will include that, legally, dog owners are not liable for a bite if the animal is harassed, teased, or provoked before the bite occurs.
How Can I Prove I Did Not Tease or Provoke the Dog Before Being Bitten?
In short, the best way to gather evidence to prove you were not liable through provocation or teasing for the dog bite or attack is to hire an experienced personal injury attorney in South Carolina.
We will help build your case for success by investigating the incident, interviewing witnesses, and understanding the complete circumstances surrounding your dog bite case, so we have more than just your word against the dog owner’s account.
A successful dog bite case in South Carolina requires proof that:
- The dog was not a trained police animal
- The dog bite happened either in a public place or on private property where you had the right to be at the time of the incident
- The victim was not harassing or antagonizing the dog before the bite or attack occurred
After a dog bite occurs, seek medical care right away to ensure your complete injuries are documented and a treatment plan is immediately in place, so you understand the extent of your current and future care needs. Next, contact our skilled South Carolina dog bite attorneys to ensure your best interests are protected going forward, so together we can pursue the dog’s owner for your complete financial recovery.
Common Injuries and Damages Caused by Dog Bites in South Carolina
All dog bite cases are unique, which is why it is important to speak with a personal injury attorney about your physical and emotional needs, so your well-being is the priority.
At the David W. Martin Accident and Injury Lawyers, our dog bite lawyers in South Carolina know some dog bites result in only minor abrasions or puncture wounds when the victim All dog bite cases are unique, which is why it is important to speak with a personal injury attorney about your physical and emotional needs, so your well-being is the priority. m can escape quickly. Other dog bites or attacks can lead to permanent injuries, scarring and disfigurement, and in severe and tragic cases, death.
Commonly reported physical and emotional dog bite injuries may include:
- Lacerations and abrasions
- Complex bruising
- Tearing of the muscle and skin
- Puncture wounds
- Dislocations
- Bone fractures
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Infections, including rabies, MRSA, and tetanus
- Depression or anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
The expenses associated with dog bites can require multiple appointments with physicians and specialists, beginning with a trip to the emergency room, follow-up doctor visits, surgeries, and physical therapy that may require time away from work that can quickly complicate your livelihood.
We can help you pursue the financial recovery you are entitled to for your specific dog bite injuries, starting with a consultation to discuss your case today.
What Type of Financial Compensation Can I Pursue a South Carolina Dog Bite Injury?
Our South Carolina dog bite injury attorney will outline your unique personal injury case to determine the full financial compensation required to get your life back on track no matter how long it takes for you to fully heal.
That may include pursuing the dog owner’s insurance coverage for:
- All current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Property damage
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering related to your attack
- Disfigurement and disability
- Wrongful death
Contact Our Skilled South Carolina Dog Bite Injury Attorneys at David W. Martin Accident and Injury Lawyers Today
If you or someone you love whether it was a child, parent, or another family member was bitten by a dog and suffered severe injuries, contact our experienced dog bite attorneys in South Carolina at the David W. Martin Accident and Injury Lawyers today.
We offer more than consultations to personal injury victims throughout South Carolina. We provide legal representation on a contingency basis, so if we do not obtain a positive outcome for your dog bite case, you do not pay our legal fees.