Dog bites and animal attacks can happen suddenly and without provocation in Charleston, SC. If a dog or other animal bit you or a loved one in a place where you had a legal right to be, the pet’s owner will likely need to compensate you for medical costs, lost pay, pain and suffering, and other costs of a dog bite.
After an unexpected dog bite, you’ll need to know what your legal rights and options are. Our Charleston dog bite lawyer at Ty Robinson Law Firm knows the state-specific laws in South Carolina that apply to your situation and your right to financial recovery. In South Carolina, an animal’s owner can be held strictly liable for injuries even if a dog had never bitten others before or was known to be dangerous. While some states follow a “one bite rule” that prevents liability for a dog’s first attack, South Carolina does not follow that rule.
Below, we’ll discuss how dog bite laws work in South Carolina and how our Charleston dog bite lawyers can help. Contact us today at (843) 278-2222 to get your free initial consultation.
How Ty Robinson Law Firm Can Help After a Dog Bite in Charleston, SC
Dog bites can happen almost anywhere and without warning. Unrestrained dogs are a common sight in Charleston, SC, and people can be bitten even by “friendly” dogs. Once bitten, dog bite victims can suffer serious injuries and illnesses. Over 20% of dog bites require medical treatment for bite victims, according to the Centers for Disease Control. An estimated 15% of home insurance claims are related to dog bites on the property, as well.
Over 4 million dog bites happen each year across the United States, leading to surprise medical bills, missed work, long-term disability, and other losses stemming from an animal attack. If you were hurt, you should not have to bear the burden of financial costs from a dog bite incident. An experienced lawyer can help you recover damages from the dog’s owner.
Our personal injury attorney will take action for you every step of the way. When you hire the Ty Robinson Law Firm, you can expect:
- Free Initial Consultation: Schedule a free, no-risk consultation to talk about your case, potential value of the claim, and legal options.
- Detailed Case Evaluation: Our attorney will carefully gather evidence, establish the facts of the case, and develop a strong case strategy to move forward.
- Negotiation and Advocacy: Our law firm will handle communications with the other party’s attorney, negotiate aggressively with insurance companies, and tirelessly advocate for your rights to fair compensation after a serious animal attack.
- Trial Representation: If your case proceeds to court, our seasoned trial attorneys will represent you passionately, leveraging our extensive courtroom experience to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
Our Charleston personal injury attorneys at Ty Robinson Law Firm will use all resources available to make your voice heard.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Lawyer in a Charleston Dog Bite Claim?
In personal injury cases, lawyers – like ours – will work under contingency fee agreements. In a contingent fee arrangement, you do not pay legal fees unless you win your case. You owe no upfront or monthly legal fees while your case proceeds. At the end of a winning claim, your dog bite lawyer would then receive an agreed-upon percentage of the total financial award.
You risk nothing financially by consulting with an experienced Charleston dog bite lawyer. If you were injured in any way, schedule a no-obligation consultation with our firm to learn about what your next steps might be.
How Do Dog Bites Happen?
Any dog can bite. Even dogs with no known history of bites or dangerous behavior can bite and cause serious injuries. Statistics show that a person is bitten by a dog every 75 seconds in the United States. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to dog bites and animal attacks. Over half of dog attacks nationwide involve children, tragically.
Dogs have tendencies to bite in any of the following situations:
- When stressed
- When in defense mode
- When scared or upset
- When feeling threatened
- When protecting food
- When sick or injured
- When at play
The easiest way for owners to prevent dog bites is to keep dogs restrained when outside the home. This is easier said than done for many dog owners, however. Despite all common sense precautions, dogs roam loose every day and injure people.
Common Injuries in South Carolina Dog Bite Cases
Dog bites can range from minor to severe to fatal in some devastating cases. Common injuries seen in dog attacks include:
- Puncture wounds
- Torn muscles or tendons
- Lacerations
- Nerve damage
- Infection from the bite location (including rabies, tetanus, and MRSA)
- Neck and back injuries due to falls
- Loss of limbs, fingers, toes, and other bodily appendages
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Emotional distress
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Loss of companionship with a loved one
- Reduced quality of life
- Wrongful death.
Dog bites can create long-lasting injuries and permanent disability in some situations. If your injuries diminished your family life, ability to work, and ability to enjoy doing things you once loved, our Charleston dog bite lawyer will work hard for the financial recovery you deserve.
Damages in a Dog Bite Case
Monetary damages in dog bite accident claims include both economic damages and non-economic damages. An experienced South Carolina dog bite attorney can usually estimate the potential value of a claim, given the facts and evidence involved. Key factors in assessing damages can include the severity of the injuries and any long-term effects.
Economic damages include the “dollars and cents” items involved with your case, such as:
- Medical bills
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earnings due to the incident
- Costs of ongoing and future medical treatment.
Non-economic damages cover the losses that don’t easily equate to numbers on a spreadsheet. Non-economic damages include:
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- PTSD
- Loss of companionship
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Depression and anxiety.
Non-economic damages are usually calculated as a “multiplier” of economic damages. That is, courts and insurance companies will review your total economic damages, then multiply that figure by anywhere from 1.5 to 5 to arrive at non-economic damages. The stress and trauma you’ve gone through play a big role when looking at non-economic damages.
Who Is Liable for My Damages in a South Carolina Dog Bite Case?
Personal injury claims involve the legal theory of negligence. In negligence claims, plaintiffs have to prove the other person’s breach of duty caused their injuries. South Carolina’s dog bite law does not require proof of negligence when dogs attack.
In South Carolina, if a person is in a public place or legally in a private place – including the dog owner’s property – they can sue if they are bitten or “otherwise attacked” by a dog. The dog’s owner or individual with control of the dog would then be liable for damages resulting from the dog bite.
Not all dog attacks lead to legal liability, however. If the dog bite victim provoked or harassed the dog in question, causing the attack, they may not be able to turn around and sue the dog’s owner. Also, if a dog was working with law enforcement, its actions as part of those duties would not lead to civil liability in most situations.
Can I File a Claim if I Was Partially at Fault for a Dog Bite in South Carolina?
South Carolina law allows accident victims to claim damages even if they share a portion of the blame for an accident. South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence permits accident victims to file lawsuits and collect damages if they were under 51% at fault for the accident. If they were found to be 51% responsible or more, their claim can be defeated.
A victim sharing blame can see their share of the financial award reduced in connection with their responsibility, however. For example, if a claimant was considered 25% at fault for a claim worth $100,000, they would only collect $75,000 in the end.
What is the Deadline to File in a South Carolina Dog Bite Case?
The statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in South Carolina is three years in most cases. The deadline to file usually originates from the date of the incident or the date of death in a wrongful death claim. A Charleston dog bite lawyer will make sure your personal injury claim is well-prepared and filed before the deadline.
Contact a Charleston Dog Bite Lawyer Today
Dog bite injuries in Charleston, South Carolina, can have traumatic – and expensive – consequences. Our knowledgeable Charleston dog bite lawyers at Ty Robinson Law Firm understands the challenges you face and will fight for fair financial compensation at every step in your case. Call our law office today to schedule a free consultation.
