Dogs are popular pets in South Carolina and throughout the US. Many people enjoy the Spencer Dog Park in Rock Hill and regularly have positive interactions with dogs, but a dog can unexpectedly attack a person and cause severe injuries. If this has happened to you or a family member, a Rock Hill dog bite lawyer can explain South Carolina’s dog bite laws and your legal options for recovering compensation for your damages.
The team at Axelrod & Associates, P.A. has successfully handled many personal injury cases for clients in Rock Hill and throughout York County, including dog bite claims. South Carolina enforces a strict liability law for dog attacks, meaning that a dog’s owner is strictly liable for the harm their pet causes to others, regardless of whether the owner was negligent in their handling of the dog or if the dog has any known history of attacking others.
The American Veterinary Medical Association reported that as of 2023, there were roughly 90 million dogs in the US, and on average, about 4.5 million people nationwide experience dog bites each year. Children are the most likely victims of dog attacks, and in 2023, insurers in the US paid out roughly $1.2 billion in compensation to dog bite victims across the country. Dog bite claims nationwide increased almost 10% from 2022 to 2023.
If you or a family member is bitten by a dog, you need to know your legal options for holding the owner accountable. Under the strict liability rule, the only defenses for the dog’s owner would be trespassing or provocation. As long as you were lawfully present wherever the attack occurred and you did not provoke the dog in any way, strict liability will likely apply, and a Rock Hill dog bite attorney can help you claim compensation for the damages you suffered.
If the matter is serious, your counsel should be exceptional.
The goal of any personal injury case is for the injured victim to prove fault for the damages they suffered and obtain the compensation needed to recover. A Rock Hill dog bite lawyer can assist you with establishing liability and then accurately determine the full extent of the damages you can claim from the defendant. In most dog bite claims, injured plaintiffs can claim compensation for:
Resolving the legal aftermath of a dog attack can be challenging, but you have a better chance of reaching a favorable conclusion to your case with a Rock Hill dog bite lawyer representing you. Your attorney can verify whether strict liability applies, address accusations of provocation or other comparative fault from the defendant, and explain what you can expect as your case unfolds.
You have a short time to build a personal injury case after another party has injured you in South Carolina. The team at Axelrod & Associates, P.A., can provide compassionate legal counsel when you need it most for a dog bite claim. Reach out to our firm at your first opportunity to learn how a Rock Hill dog bite attorney can assist you with your claim.
After a dog bites someone in South Carolina, the Department of Health and Environmental Control requires a mandatory quarantine at the owner’s expense. Veterinary professionals examine and observe the dog, checking for infectious diseases like rabies and assessing the dog’s temperament. After the quarantine, the dog is released back to its owner, but if the assessment concludes the dog is a public safety threat, the court may order it to be euthanized.
The only viable defenses against strict liability for a dog bite are trespassing or provocation. The victim must have been legally present at the location where the attack occurred, and they must not have provoked the dog in any way for strict liability to apply to the dog’s owner.
In Rock Hill, the amount of compensation you can claim for a dog bite depends on the overall severity of the injuries you suffered. Once you establish strict liability, you can claim compensation for medical bills, lost income, and the pain and suffering you experienced. You are more likely to secure acceptable compensation for your damages when you hire a dog bite lawyer to represent you.
You should hire a dog bite lawyer in Rock Hill to have a better chance of not only holding the dog’s owner accountable, but also of securing appropriate compensation for the damages you suffered. You can rely on your attorney to help you establish strict liability, meet all procedural deadlines for your case, and accurately determine the full scope of damages you are eligible to claim from the defendant.
The team at Axelrod & Associates, P.A., has helped many injured dog bite victims in Rock Hill and throughout York County with their personal injury cases, and we are prepared to leverage this experience in your case. If you believe you have grounds to claim compensation from a dog owner after an attack, contact us today to schedule your consultation with an experienced Rock Hill dog bite lawyer you can trust.
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