South Carolina Dog Bite Lawyer

If you have been attacked by a dog, a South Carolina dog bite lawyer from George Sink, P.A.

South Carolina dog owners are responsible for their pets. If a dog attacks a visitor or a passerby because the owner was not acting responsibly, the owner should be held liable for the victim’s injuries. Dog attacks in South Carolina can be traumatizing and cause serious scarring and injury.

If you or someone you know suffered a dog bite, a dog bite lawyer serving South Carolina from George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers can help file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against the owner.

Pursuing Damages After a Dog Bite Incident in South Carolina

Dog owners are responsible for keeping their dogs restrained on public premises and their own private property. Because South Carolina is a strict liability state (per S.C. Ann § 47-3-110), the owner of the dog that bit you is responsible for your damages.

The types and amount of compensation you can recover will depend on the facts of your case. Typical damages you may be entitled to collect include:

• Medical bills for past and future care
• Lost income
• Lost future earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement
• Mental anguish

If your loved one passed away from their dog bite injuries, you can collect damages for their funeral and burial costs, medical bills, and your loss of support, consortium, and/or service.

South Carolina Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me(888) 612-7001

How a Dog Bite Lawyer With Our South Carolina Firm Can Champion Your Case

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the details that come with managing a dog bite claim or lawsuit. You may want to consider having one of our lawyers take on your case.

While you rest and recover, an injury lawyer on our team will:

Gather Evidence to Establish Liability

When you bring a dog bite case against a careless dog owner, you must show that they acted negligently. As such, they owed you a duty of care and failed to carry out this duty, which resulted in their dog biting you and causing your damages.

The evidence we can use to supplement this claim may include:

• An incident report
• Relevant laws
• Photos of the dog, your injuries, and the location of the incident
• Video footage capturing the dog bite
• Witness statements
• Your related medical records

Speak to the Other Party’s Insurer

If the liable dog owner’s insurance representative calls you, refer them to your lawyer. Insurance companies are known for using tactics that protect their bottom line. For example, in dog bite cases, they may try to claim that you provoked the dog or failed to notice the “Beware of Dog” signs. Our attorneys are familiar with these ways and know how to fight them.

Keeping track of emails and phone calls can quickly become overwhelming, too. You can leave it to our firm to handle all correspondence with those involved in your case.

Negotiate a Settlement That Covers Your Medical Expenses and Other Damages

After we review your case and quantify your losses, we will demand that the liable insurer pay that amount. It is common for them to offer a lowball settlement at first, so we are prepared to negotiate until we are satisfied.

If a settlement isn’t possible, we will continue the fight for compensation in front of a jury.

George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers’ Services Are Available For a Contingency Fee

When you enlist our injury lawyers’ help after a dog bite incident, we will not require any fees:

• By the hour
• Out of pocket
• Starting up

Your lawyer’s payment will be deducted from the settlement or verdict they achieve for you. In the event they cannot secure a financial outcome, we will still not take a dime for you. This fee arrangement allows you to focus on your recovery without added financial tension.

What to Do After a Dog Bite in South Carolina

After suffering a dog bite, there are a handful of things you can do to protect your health, as well as your case.

Obtain Medical Treatment

Just as with any accident or injury, it is best for your own safety to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Dog bites can result in serious infections, and some dogs may transmit diseases. Common infections resulting from poorly treated or untreated dog bites include:

• Tetanus
• Staph Infections
• Sepsis (blood poisoning)
• Rabies

You may also suffer from facial injuries, broken or fractured bones, and soft tissue injuries.

Identify the Dog and Its Owner

Depending on the situation, it may be difficult to determine to whom a dog may belong. Be careful when attempting to identify a dog, especially after an attack. If you don’t know the dog or its owner, you can ask neighbors, witnesses, and other bystanders if they have seen the dog before or if they know the owner.

Otherwise, our lawyers can further investigate the incident to name who should be held responsible.

Relevant Information and Evidence – Including Photos

Collect the information of the dog owner, information about the dog, and contact information from any witnesses who may have seen the attack. You can also take pictures or videos of the dog, the scene, and any visible injuries.

File a Report

If you can, file a report with law enforcement or your local animal control. The report will help provide further evidence of your attack and will include information recorded by a neutral third party.

Get Started on Your Case Right Away

Time is of the essence in this sort of case. Preserving evidence, finding the dog’s owner, and getting witness statements are best done immediately. Let our experience, legal knowledge, and investigative resources help you while you recover from your injuries.

What Other South Carolina Clients Have Said About Partnering With Us

Over the last 40+ years, we have resolved more than 50,000 injury cases1. Here are just a couple examples of what those clients have said about retaining our legal aid:

• “They handled everything extremely fast. I had bills piling up every day, and George Sink, Sr. just made them go away. The day I got my check I was so relieved. Everything was finally taken care of; they helped me get back to my normal life.” – Tiffany A.

• “It felt really good to know someone else was taking care of me. Once we tried to get some information from the insurance company, they didn’t want to cooperate. After we turned everything over to George Sink, Sr., we didn’t have any more problems!” – Sherri S.

Just like with our other clients, we will give our full attention and dedication to recovering as much as possible for your case.

Connect with George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers After a Dog Bite in South Carolina

Whether you suffered a dog bite at NOMA Bark Park, a state park (e.g., Lake Warren State Park), or a friend’s house, our lawyers can identify who is liable and hold them responsible for your injuries.

Call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation. You can reach us at (888) 612-7001.