Hilton Head Island Dog Bite and Animal Attack Lawyer

Hold a negligent pet owner responsible for your injuries by working with a Hilton Head Island dog bite and animal attack attorney.

If you sustained an injury from a dog bite or pet attack in the Hilton Head Island, SC area and it has left you or a family member struggling to recover, call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers today. Our dog bite and animal attack lawyers serving Hilton Head Island, SC, help residents and vacationers by recovering compensation for injuries caused by unruly pets.

Our Client-Focused Team

We regularly represent victims of pet attacks such as dog bites and maulings, but also have experience dealing with attacks inflicted by a wide variety of household pets. Our past results cannot predict future success, of course, because every animal attack has unique facts and circumstances.

We can promise, though, that our personal injury lawyers will provide intelligent, client-focused advice with the goal of achieving the most favorable outcome for your case.

Hilton Head Island Dog Bite and Animal Attack Lawyer Near Me(888) 612-7001

Briefing of South Carolina Dog Bite and Animal Attack Law

South Carolina statutes and local ordinances have established rules that help protect the public from harm caused by misbehaving pets. In addition to observing beach regulations, pet owners must comply with Beaufort County ordinances, which prohibit residents from owning pit bulls unless they follow detailed restrictions, and from owning dogs or other animals that habitually chase cars or harass pedestrians.

However, even when everyone follows the rules animal attacks still happen, which is why South Carolina law gives pet attack victims the right to seek compensation. You can do so by working with our dog bite and animal attack attorneys in Hilton Head Island.

Dog Bites: a Special Category of Injury in South Carolina

S.C. Code § 47-3-110 treats dog bites and maulings as a special category of injury. Whenever a dog attacks someone in a public place or on private property in the Palmetto State, “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.” There are three exceptions to this doctrine:

• The victim was a trespasser on the owner’s property at the time of the attack.
• The victim “provoked or harassed the dog and that provocation was the proximate cause of the attack.”
• The dog was a police canine acting on the lawful command of a law enforcement officer.

Hilton Head Island dog owners, particularly owners of dogs designated as “restricted” or “dangerous” under Beaufort County ordinances, may also face criminal prosecution for failing to abide by applicable dog laws.

Non-Dog Pet Attacks Involve “Premises Liability” and Owner “Negligence”

Attacks by any other pet can result in civil liability for damages under South Carolina’s legal principles of “premises liability” and negligence. Lawyers use the term “premises liability” to refer to the potential legal liability of a property owner for injuries a visitor sustains on his property.

When an animal attacks, a property owner need not be the owner of the animal to have an obligation to pay damages. A pet attack attorney can help a victim determine if the owner of the property where the attack happened owes the victim damages.

Pet owners, too, may also have legal liability to victims of pet attacks, regardless of where the attack happened. All residents and visitors to South Carolina have a duty to each other not to cause reasonably foreseeable harm, and that includes harm by their pets.

So, for example, if someone brings her pet ferret on vacation and fails to warn children who want to pet it that ferrets often attack unprovoked, she may have legal liability for injuries caused by the ferret.

Pursuing Legal Assistance From a Hilton Head Island, SC, Dog Bite/Animal Attack Lawyer

If a pet inflicts injury on you or a family member, your first priority should be to seek immediate medical attention. Bites that break the skin pose a high risk of infection. Dog bites can also wind up becoming more costly than you think. Victims should also report the attack immediately to animal control authorities, particularly if there is a concern about rabies.

We also encourage dog bite and pet attack victims to seek out an attorney to determine whether South Carolina law entitles them to compensation for their injuries. At George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers, the dog bite and animal attack lawyers serving Hilton Head Island, SC, have the resources to investigate and litigate pet attack matters in and out of Beaufort County courts.

Do not let a pet attack upend your life. Our knowledgeable personal injury lawyers may be able to help you recover substantial compensation. Contact us by phone or online to discuss your legal options for free at one of our offices around the state, your home, or the hospital.