You don’t have to struggle with the consequences of a dog bite injury on your own. Dog owners in Lexington, SC, have legal responsibilities. If you were bitten by someone else’s dog, an experienced Lexington dog bite lawyer at Jeffcoat Injury & Car Accident Lawyers can help you recover money for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other injury-related losses.
We know how a serious injury can disrupt your life. Our attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience and have secured more than $90 million for our clients since we were founded. We are confident that we can help you with your case, too.
Recovering from painful injuries can be a difficult process. Fortunately, getting the legal advice you deserve is easy. Just call our law offices in Lexington, South Carolina, or call directly at 803-373-1302 to schedule a free consultation today.
How Can Jeffcoat Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Help Me Recover Compensation After a Dog Bite Injury in Lexington?
Dog ownership is a serious responsibility. Of course, dog owners are responsible for caring for their animals. They’re also responsible for preventing them from harming others. If someone else’s dog injured you, you shouldn’t be left with the bill.
Our team at Jeffcoat Injury & Car Accident Lawyers can help you navigate the dog bite injury laws and fight for every dollar you deserve. Our Lexington personal injury lawyers have consistently gotten our clients winning results and will work hard to maximize the value of your claim.
When you trust us to handle your case, we will:
- Gather evidence to support your claim
- Identify all parties who are legally responsible
- Collect evidence to document your losses and establish your case value
- Work with medical experts and other specialists when needed
- Defend you from allegations that you provoked the animal attack
- Negotiate with the owner’s insurance company for a full settlement
Our lawyers can spot a lowball insurance deal from a mile away. We’re always ready to bring your case to trial if necessary. Contact us today to learn more about how we can use our skills to your advantage.
How Common Are Dog Bite Injuries?
Dog bite injuries are also extremely expensive–they cost over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts in 2022. At least 17,597 victims filed insurance claims in 2022.
One recent study found that at least 10 million Americans were bitten by dogs in 2022 alone. Unfortunately, about 1,000 Americans visit emergency rooms every day with serious dog bite injuries.
How Valuable is My Lexington Dog Bite Injury Case?
While there is no average settlement or verdict, some factors are relevant in nearly every case.
The most important considerations include:
- The severity of your injury
- The cost of your medical care to date
- Whether you lost wages during recovery and their value
- Whether you’ll need ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, or care
- How the trauma of the animal attack has impacted you
- Your age at the time of the attack
- Whether provocation is a valid defense in your case
Cases involving severe injuries tend to leave victims struggling with the highest expenses. Still, unique factors in your case can impact the amount of money you take home.
The best way to get a sense of your case value is to consult an experienced attorney. We offer free case reviews, so you can always call our lawyers in Lexington to discuss your case.
How Do I Establish Liability for Dog Bite Injuries in South Carolina?
Every state has its own set of laws that govern dog bite injuries. Some states follow one-bite rules. In these states, the owner isn’t liable for the dog’s first bite. In other states, dog owners are only liable when they’re negligent and allow their dog to injure someone.
South Carolina takes a different approach. In South Carolina, dog owners are strictly liable for dog bite injuries. That’s true even if the dog owner had no knowledge of the dog’s vicious tendencies.
To prove liability under South Carolina dog bite laws, you must prove:
- You were in a public place or lawfully on private property
- The dog bit or attacked you
- You suffered some type of damages
This is a fairly victim-friendly law. Unlike in other states, it applies regardless of whether the dog actually bites you. Even if you were injured because the dog knocked you to the ground, the owner is liable.
In other words, the dog’s owner is automatically presumed to be liable for damages when their animal bites or attacks someone.
Do Dog Owners in South Carolina Have Any Defenses to the Strict Liability Laws?
South Carolina specifically states one defense to its strict liability law. Dog owners are not strictly liable for damages if:
- The victim provoked the dog to bite or attack or harassed the dog in some way
- The provocation was the proximate cause of the bite or attack
It’s also possible that the dog’s owner could escape liability by claiming that you were trespassing on their premises at the time of the dog attack.
Can Negligence Theories Play a Role in My Dog Bite Injury Case?
Strict liability dog bite laws only apply to the dog’s owner.
Negligence theories may be relevant if:
- The dog owner has a successful defense to the strict liability law, or
- A third party is also responsible for the dog bite injuries
Negligence means:
- Someone owed you a legal duty of care
- They breached their duty
- The breach caused the dog bite or attack
- You sustained damages
For example, if you were injured while visiting a business, the business owner can be held liable for reasonably foreseeable dog bite attacks. Premises liability laws in South Carolina require property owners to take reasonable steps to keep invited guests and customers safe. Liability might be based on the fact that the owner allowed dogs on the premises without proper restraints.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Dog Bite Victims in Lexington?
Under South Carolina personal injury laws, dog bite victims have the opportunity to seek compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages. That means you can recover compensation both for your financial expenses and your pain, suffering, and trauma.
Common examples of damages include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Corrective surgeries
- Nursing care
- In-home assistance
- Rehabilitation and therapies
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning potential
- Psychological counseling
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Emotional distress
- Depression
- PTSD and fear
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of consortium
As the victim, it’s your responsibility to prove the level of damages you have suffered due to the bite. Our Lexington dog bite attorneys can help you document all of the losses caused by the ordeal.
How Much Do I Have To Pay To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Lexington?
Most personal injury victims decide to take legal action because they’re already struggling with injury-related expenses. We don’t want you to worry about having to shell out upfront legal fees.
Our fees at Jeffcoat Injury & Car Accident Lawyers are contingent on the outcome of your case. That means we’ll take a percentage of your settlement or verdict instead of charging a retainer or hourly rate. We only get paid for our legal services if we successfully handle your case.
Can Shared Fault Impact the Value of My Lexington Dog Bite Injury Claim?
Provocation is the most common defense in dog bite injury cases. The dog’s owner often tries to claim that the victim was responsible for their own injuries. If they have evidence to prove that you were also liable, you could lose your right to compensation.
South Carolina has modified comparative negligence laws. Once your share of fault exceeds 50%, you lose your right to damages. In cases where you share some fault, but to a lesser degree, your compensation is reduced by the degree of your responsibility.
Our Attorneys in Lexington Will Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Dog Bite Injuries
At Jeffcoat Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we handle injury claims involving all types of dog bite injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Eye injuries
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue damage, including damage to muscles, ligaments and tendons
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Knee and shoulder injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries and herniated discs
- Broken hips
- Amputations and other serious infection-related injuries
- Organ damage caused by sepsis and shock
- Wrongful death of a loved one
It’s important to get medical attention after you’ve been attacked by a dog. Even a relatively minor dog bite can have serious consequences if the dog wasn’t properly vaccinated.
How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Dog Bites Me in South Carolina?
The statute of limitations in South Carolina is three years. You have three years from the date of the animal attack to sue for damages. That three-year period applies regardless of whether you’re suing the owner or a third party for damages.
However, exceptions to the statute of limitations could change the filing time limit for your case. Contact our lawyers as soon as possible after a dog bite attack for help.
Reach Out to a Skilled Lexington Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
Recovering compensation after an animal attack isn’t always as simple as it might sound. At Jeffcoat Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we offer free case reviews so you can get the help you need. Contact us today to learn how a Lexington dog bite lawyer can help you prove your case.
