Available 24/7Over four million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. Thankfully, some of these attacks are minor. Others are far more serious, requiring immediate medical care and extensive follow-up treatment.
Dog Bite Attorney in Aiken, SC
If you have been bitten or injured by a dog, South Carolina law is favorable to you. The law allows victims to recover full compensation for dog bite and attack injuries in nearly all circumstances. The Law Office of Taylor S. Braithwaite can work to get you the most possible money for your dog bite injuries. Call us today to learn more.
South Carolina Dog Bite Laws
Under South Carolina law, if someone is bitten or attacked by a dog when they are in a public place or lawfully on private property,
“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.”
This law is called strict liability. It does not automatically mean that you will receive financial compensation for a dog bite. It does mean that if you can prove that you were bitten, the burden would then shift to the animal’s owner to show why you should not get compensation. For example, the dog’s owner could argue that you were trespassing or provoked the dog.
South Carolina law treats injuries from bites and attacks the exact same. If you were hurt when you were trying to escape a charging job or injured when the animal jumped on top of you, the owner would be liable.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
The severity of dog bite injuries may vary. On average, small children tend to suffer the most serious injuries from dog bites because dogs tend to attack them in their head and neck areas. Adults may also be severely injured when they are attacked by a vicious and dangerous breed of dog.
Dog bite victims can suffer:
- Cuts and lacerations
- Nerve damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Eye injuries
- Broken bones
The Serious Complications of Dog Bites
In some cases, the most serious effects of a dog bite injury occur in the hours or days afterward. Here are some severe complications that people suffer that may even put their life in danger:
- Infections and sepsis: There is a bacteria that grows in a dog’s mouth that can cause a rare but very serious infection called Capnocytophaga. Dog bite victims can begin to experience serious symptoms within hours of the bite. If it happens, they should seek immediate treatment. Some infections can progress to the point of sepsis, which is when the body fights the infection too aggressively. Sepsis can even lead to death.
- Rabies: The dog’s saliva can cause a bite victim to develop an aggressive viral infection that will lead to death if it is not treated. Rabies can quickly attack the central nervous system. If you are bitten by a dog, you would need rabies treatments unless the dog’s owner is able to prove that the animal is vaccinated. Rabies treatments are expensive, and they are often not fully covered by your health insurance.
- Tetanus: When your skin is punctured by an object that is contaminated, you could develop a serious reaction. Tetanus would require a hospital stay while you are given the necessary treatment.
Dog bite victims may suffer from other types of infections that are equally dangerous. You need to be vigilant in the days after the attack to look for any symptoms that would require you to take immediate action.
A Dog Owner’s Liability in South Carolina
The dog’s owner has the legal obligation to fully compensate you for your damages. The dog would be covered under their homeowner’s insurance policy. In most cases, you would begin the legal process by filing a claim against the insurance policy and then negotiate a settlement.
However, you may also choose to sue the owner directly in court. If the homeowner’s insurance coverage is not enough to pay for your injuries, the dog’s owner would be personally liable in a civil judgment.
Compensation for Your Dog Bite Injuries
The costs associated with dog bite injuries have grown in recent years. State Farm reports that the average dog bite settlement that it paid in 2022 is over $64,000. Your payment depends on your own unique and specific injuries. Your compensation would include payment for the following:
- Medical costs to treat the injury, including any reconstructive surgery necessary to rebuild the injured are of the body
- Lost wages for the time missed from work or any reduction in your earnings capacity
- Pain and suffering for the physical and emotional discomfort
- Emotional distress, including the PTSD, that the victim may suffer from the vicious attack
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Embarrassment and humiliation
Damages may be even higher when a small child is attacked by a dog. They will need to live the rest of their life with the physical and emotional scars from the attack.
As a parent, you can file a claim on behalf of your minor child. You have an obligation to fight on their behalf for every dollar that you can get. Settlements on behalf of minors are subject to the rules of probate courts.
Contact Our Aiken Dog Bite Attorney Today
At TSB Injury Law, we understand that your family wants answers and justice when you or your child has been injured by a dog. We commit to doing everything in our power on your behalf so that you can receive the full compensation you deserve, whether it is negotiating extensively with the insurance company or filing a lawsuit on your behalf.
We will be your guide to the legal process and your advocate throughout it. Our team knows that you have placed your trust in us, and we will work to deliver results.
You can schedule a free initial consultation by filling out an online contact form or by calling us today at (803) 220-0000. We can even visit your home if you prefer to meet in person there.
