Over 45 percent of South Carolina households own dogs. While people love their pets, dogs are still animals, and even well-behaved dogs can behave unpredictably and bite if they feel threatened. A dog bite can cause severe injury, and a vicious attack can be fatal, particularly if the victim is a child or an elderly.
If you or a loved one have been attacked by a dog, South Carolina personal injury attorney Marc Brown can help answer any questions you have about reporting your South Carolina dog bite, filing a claim for compensation, and what a lawsuit entails.
Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Legal Rights After a Dog Attack
Dog attacks are terrifying and traumatic, causing serious physical and emotional trauma. In the worst cases, a dog attack can leave the victim incapacitated and unable to take any purposeful action while awaiting help. After the dog has been contained, if you’ve been bitten, you can take action. The following steps are beneficial to your physical and financial future.
- Call 911 if the injuries are severe and require an ambulance; otherwise, arrange transportation to a hospital
- Apply any necessary emergency first aid measures
- Use the phone’s camera to take photos of the dog, the scene of the attack, and your injuries
- Add the contact information of the dog’s owner if they are present
- Add the contact information of any eyewitnesses to the attack
Dog bite injuries require immediate medical attention, especially when the bites break the skin, leaving them prone to infection. Ask the medical provider for a detailed medical report listing the extent of the injuries and the prognosis for recovery.
Common Dog Attack Injuries
Dogs have both sharp teeth that cause puncture wounds and rear teeth meant for tearing, making them capable of causing severe trauma. Doctors and animal trainers measure dog bite injuries using the Dunbar Dog Bite Scale. The scale categorizes dog bites ranging from level one and two bites with tooth contact and mild abrasions, to levels five and six bites with open wounds, torn flesh, traumatic amputations, and consumed flesh or the attack victim’s death. Common injuries in South Carolina dog bite claims include the following:
- Puncture wounds, lacerations, and contusions
- Head, scalp, and facial injuries
- Neck and throat wounds
- Nerve injuries
- Fractures
- Traumatic amputation of fingers, toes, hands, or feet
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries (commonly from falls suffered during the attack)
- Wrongful death
Dog bites transmit diseases and infections. They often leave disfiguring scars that require reconstructive surgery. In addition, dog attacks often cause emotional trauma, leaving victims with PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and other effects that benefit from counseling and therapy.
If a dog attack results in fatality, the family of the victim can recover compensation and a sense of justice through a wrongful death lawsuit.
South Carolina’s Strict Liability Dog Bite Law
Some states have a “one-bite” rule for dog owners, requiring a bite victim to prove that negligence occurred and led to the bite, unless a dog has bitten at least once before, placing the owner under a strict liability law. On the other hand, South Carolina has a strict liability law for all dog owners from the moment they take ownership or control of a dog. This law is defined under South Carolina § 47-3-110 in the following way:
“If a person is bitten or otherwise attacked by a dog while the person is in a public place or is lawfully in a private place, including the property of the dog owner or person having the dog in the person’s care or keeping, the dog owner or person having the dog in the person’s care or keeping is liable for the damages suffered by the person bitten or otherwise attacked.”
In South Carolina dog bite cases, even if a dog has never shown aggression and has no history of biting, the dog’s owner is responsible for all damages caused by their pet, including personal injury damages for a victim after a dog attack. It isn’t necessary for a dog bite victim in South Carolina to prove that the dog owner was negligent in their ability or willingness to control the dog.
Damages You Can Seek in a Sumter Dog Bite Claim
Even the smallest dog bites often require stitches and a trip to the emergency room. Moderate dog bite injuries entail overnight stays at the hospital, lost time at work, and potential surgery. The most serious dog bites are life-threatening. In any of these cases, the victim will likely suffer extensive emotional trauma, high medical expenses, and pain and suffering. As such, damages in a dog bite claim often include compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
How Can a Dog Bite Injury Lawyer Help?
Our dog bite injury lawyers serve all of South Carolina, and our offices are based in Columbia and Sumter. At Marc Brown Law Firm, you can rely on experienced, local legal help in your South Carolina dog bite lawsuit. Here’s how we can help:
- No Upfront Costs*: Our dog bite injury attorneys typically work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay attorney fees if we win your case*. Our Sumter dog bite lawyers will evaluate your dog bite injury claim and circumstances to guide you toward fair compensation in Sumter County.
- Unbiased Legal Guidance: An experienced dog bite injury attorney from our firm can offer an impartial perspective on your claim, helping you make well-informed decisions in your best interest.
- Skilled Claim Management: Dog bite injury claims often involve intricate legal and medical issues. An experienced attorney like Marc Brown can effectively handle these complexities. If you’re experiencing medical complications after a dog bite in Richland County, reach out to our Columbia dog bite injury lawyers for assistance.
Call South Carolina Dog Bite Attorney Marc Brown
As a victim of a dog bite or attack, we urge you to call South Carolina dog bite attorney Marc Brown for legal assistance in filing a claim. Call (803) 848-0008 or contact us today to schedule a free consultation.