Dog Bite Lawyer in Lancaster, SC

An attack by a dangerous dog can be a traumatic and life-changing experience. Victims may require immediate medical attention, including reconstructive surgery, and could face long-term emotional distress, potentially needing therapy. In South Carolina, dog owners are legally liable for injuries their pets cause. If you or a loved one has been bitten or attacked by a dog in Lancaster or surrounding areas, it’s essential to know your rights. Speak with a Lancaster dog bite lawyer to understand if the dog owner can be held accountable for your injuries and whether you are entitled to compensation for medical expenses and other costs associated with the attack.

Dog bite attorney David Blackwell and his dedicated team at David Blackwell Law have years of experience advocating for victims of dog attacks and other personal injury cases. We recognize the severe physical and emotional harm a dog bite can cause, as well as the disruption it brings to your life. Our legal team stands by individuals who have suffered due to another party’s negligence, and we offer unwavering support from the immediate aftermath of the attack through the entire legal process and beyond.

If you or someone you love has been attacked by a dog, you may be entitled to compensation under South Carolina law. Contact a trusted Lancaster dog bite attorney at (803) 232-7274 or reach out online for a free consultation. We will review the details of your case, assess the circumstances of the dog attack, and advise whether pursuing a personal injury lawsuit is the right course of action. If so, we will work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay any legal fees unless we successfully obtain compensation for you.

We proudly serve clients throughout South Carolina, including communities like Indian Land, Fort Mill, and Rock Hill.

What Should I Do if a Dog Bites Me?

If a dog bites or scratches you, you should try to remain calm.
Notify the owner of the dog bite promptly. The dog owner or keeper of the dog should confine the dog.
If the dog bite wound is bleeding, apply direct pressure to the wound with a dry cloth until it stops.
Once the bleeding stops, wash the wound with warm, soapy water for several minutes. Dog saliva contains many contaminants that can lead to an infection. Apply first aid to the wound. Apply antibiotic ointment and dress the wound with a sterile bandage.
Contact your doctor and follow the guidance they provide. You should seek medical advice even if the bite appears minor.
Obtain the owner’s insurance information and contact information.
Ask the dog owner for a copy of the dog’s rabies vaccination records and the name of the dog’s veterinarian.
Contact the local animal county office and provide a description of the dog, the location where the attack occurred and the owner’s name, if you have it. Reporting the dog to the proper authorities can help to identify aggressive dogs and rabid dogs and prevent other people from being injured.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control will investigate and make a determination whether the dog needs to be quarantined for observation. Pets and stray dogs that have never been vaccinated will need to be tested for rabies.
You should use your camera to take photos of your injuries. Photos will document your injuries and may be useful as evidence if you file a dog bite lawsuit.
You should contact an attorney who handles dog bite cases for an evaluation of your injury and discussion of your legal options. Taking advantage of a free consultation is a good way to inform yourself of your legal rights.

Can I Sue for a Dog Bite in South Carolina?

South Carolina law states that if an individual is bitten or attacked by a dog while the individual is in a public place or lawfully on private property, the dog owner is liable for the injuries.

The dog owner may be held legally responsible even if the owner was unaware of the dog’s viciousness or propensity to bite.

If a person taunts or provokes a dog into biting, then the dog owner or person in control of the dog is not liable.

The liability law does not apply to the owners of police dogs that bite or attack command in the performance of the dog’s duties

What Types of Compensation Can a Dog Bite Lawsuit Provide?

South Carolina law allows the victim of a dog bite or attack to seek compensation from the dog owner who is liable for the injury. Through a personal injury lawsuit, the dog bite victim may seek compensation for:

Doctor and hospital bills
Physical therapy
Pain and suffering, emotional trauma
Counseling

Permanent disability
Lost income while you are out of work
Future lost wages if you cannot return to work
Property damage such as torn clothing

If you file a dog bite lawsuit against a dog owner whose dog bit you, the dog owner’s insurance company typically pays any monetary compensation. Homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies generally cover dog bite liability expenses. The settlement of a dog bite claim can provide money to pay your medical bills and replace your lost wages if you have been unable to work.

Dog attacks and other dog-related injuries represented more than a third of all homeowners’ liability insurance claims in 2016, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). The average cost of a dog bite claim was $33,320, according to the institute.

The average cost of a settlement has increased more than 70 percent since 2003 due to increases in medical care costs and increases in the sizes of settlements and jury awards.

Dog Bite Injury Statistics

Approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year and 800,000 people require hospital treatment for injuries inflicted by dogs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than half of dog attacks and bites occur at home and involve familiar animals such as family pets.

About one of every five dog bites requires medical attention.

Children account for more than half of dog bite injury victims. They are more than three times as likely to be bitten as adults and are more likely to be severely injured by an aggressive dog. Children are naturally curious, and many young children will try to pet or hug a dog, even if the animal is unfamiliar. Some dogs may tolerate being hugged, but others may feel anxious and uncomfortable.

A young child approaching a dog may not understand the warning signs that a dog feels agitated or threatened such as growling, raised hair, or bared teeth.

Senior citizens and mail carriers also are frequent victims of dog bites. The U.S. Postal Services says that more than 5,500 mail carriers suffered dog bites in a recent year.

What Are Common Dog Bite Injuries?

child with dog The most common physical injuries from dog attacks are injuries to the arms and hands. These include:

Deep puncture wounds
Scrapes
Torn flesh
Damage to muscles and nerves

Facial lacerations
Sprains
Infections

Young children, because of their height, are more likely to sustain bite wounds to the face, head, and neck. Dog attacks occur more frequently in the summer months when children are playing outside.

After a severe dog attack, a child may have a loss of facial tissue and need multiple reconstructive surgeries over a period of years to address disfiguring scarring and restore a normal facial appearance. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, approximately 27,000 reconstructive surgeries were performed in a recent year to repair the damage of dog bites.

The intense experience of a dog attack and the resulting scars and disfigurement may cause emotional trauma and psychological injury, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

A dog attack victim who feared for his or her life may relive the terrifying experience in recurring thoughts or nightmares and feel depression or alienation. The victim of a dog attack may need psychological counseling afterward to address the psychological scars of an attack.

dog bite A severe dog attack or mauling may cause fatal injuries and lead to a child’s death.

If you or your family member was injured in an unprovoked attack by someone else’s dog in Lancaster, SC due to a dog owner’s negligence, you should not have to shoulder the costs of the medical bills. The dog owner or keeper of the dog should be held accountable if his or her carelessness allowed the dog attack to happen.

You will need a determined and experienced dog injury lawyer on your side to pursue full compensation including compensation for your future medical bills. Attorney David Blackwell will investigate the circumstances of your injury and identify the parties who should be held accountable.

What Dog Breeds Most Frequently Bite?

Any dog may bite, even a family pet, if the canine feels threatened.

According to an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) study, the dog breeds found to be prominently represented in dog bites and dog attacks are:

German Shepherd
Pit bull type
Mixed breed
Rottweiler
Chow Chow

Collie
Spaniel
Saint Bernard
Labrador Retriever

Pit bull-type dogs are often associated with more severe injuries and fatal dog attacks, the AVMA said.

Unneutered male dogs are involved in 70 percent or more of dog bite incidents and are more than twice as likely to bite as neutered dogs.

South Carolina Dog Injury Laws

South Carolina law provides victims protection for all types of injuries from dogs. For example, if a dog jumps on you and causes you to fall in a way that results in injury, the dog owner may be held responsible.

In the state of South Carolina, a dog’s owner is liable for injuries caused by the dog if:

the injured person did not provoke the dog
the injured person was in a public place or lawfully in a private place

In addition, South Carolina dog bite laws include:

A strict liability law, meaning the owner of the dog is liable even if the owner did not know and could not have known the dog would attack or bite.
A three-year statute of limitations. Victims have three years from the date of a dog bite or other injury to file a lawsuit.

What Clients Say

“To know them is to love them. From website to final documents, they were outstanding. I appreciated the way they assisted my family and cooperated with all parties involved.”

- Marco Lusk

“Getting into an accident is always an unfortunate event but having a great team like this on your side will make a huge difference. I could have never received what I did alone.”

- John Coy

“David Blackwell Law is very effective. They are courteous, easy to talk to, and easy to get along with.”

- Glen Crawford

“I have had the privilege to work with David Blackwell at David Blackwell Law on a number of matters. He is dedicated to the well-being of his clients. He views clients as the most important asset of the firm.”

- Paul Reeves, Local Attorney

“David Blackwell is a compassionate, hardworking lawyer who will listen to your concerns and make your needs his number one priority.”

- Dana Courtney

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Schedule a Legal Consultation with Our Lancaster Dog Bite Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been attacked or injured by a dog, contact the offices of David Blackwell Law for a review of your specific case. We will explore the types of claims that apply to you and possible types of compensation you may receive from an insurance company or property owner. Call (803) 232-7274 to schedule your consultation with our personal injury attorneys today.

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