North Augusta Dog Bite and Animal Attack Lawyer

When a dog bite or pet attack leaves you injured, the law lets you seek payment for damages.

If you or your child has suffered an injury in a pet attack on someone else’s property, call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers today. Our dog bite and animal attack lawyers serving North Augusta, South Carolina, help Greater Augusta-area victims of dog bites and other animal attacks obtain compensation for their injuries in and out of court.

A Compassionate and Dedicated Firm

While we cannot promise a result in any case, we can give our word that the North Augusta, SC, dog bite and animal attack attorneys at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers will treat every pet attack victim they represent with compassion in order to secure the best possible outcome for our client.

North Augusta Dog Bite and Animal Attack Lawyer Near Me(888) 612-7001

Local Dog Bite and Animal Attack Laws of South Carolina

The statutes and the ordinances of many towns in South Carolina contain rules for pet owners to follow in order to keep the public safe from dog bites and other domestic animal attacks.

For instance, North Augusta ordinances require dogs off of their owners’ properties to be kept on a leash, while dangerous dogs must be securely muzzled. Unfortunately, even with these rules in place, dog bites and other animal attacks still injure North Augusta residents.

Dog Bites: A Common Injury and a “Strict Liability” Law

Under S.C. Code § 47-3-110, dog owners have “strict liability” to the victim when their dog injures someone in a public place or on private property. Simply put, “strict liability” means it doesn’t matter if the owner was negligent in failing to prevent the dog attack. This rule applies unless:

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

When a dog attacks someone, the dog owner is subject not only to civil liability but criminal prosecution as well.

Non-Dog Animal Attacks and the Owner Responsibility

South Carolina leaves attacks by animals other than dogs to the more general “common law” principles of “premises liability” and negligence. When any animal other than a dog attacks a visitor on someone else’s property, the property owner may have liability to the visitor for any resulting injuries depending on the visitor’s legal status on the property. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help determine the extent of the owner’s liability.

Pet owners have a legal duty to tend to their non-canine pets in such a manner as to keep others reasonably safe from harm. For example, the owner of a pet iguana must take reasonable care not to allow the iguana to bite a child who reaches out to touch the lizard not knowing how it might react. This is a generalized standard of “negligence” that applies to all South Carolinians.

Pursuing Legal Assistance for Your Dog Bite/Animal Attack Case

If you suffered an injury from a dog bite or any other animal attack, it is necessary to seek immediate medical attention. You should also (and may be legally required to) report the bite to animal control as soon as possible. Treat every animal-related injury as potentially severe. The risk of infection is too high to be complacent.

After a dog bite, seek prompt and appropriate medical attention. Then, consult with an attorney to learn about your rights. Victims of dog bites and animal attacks, especially children, may suffer tremendous emotional and physical trauma for which they are eligible to receive compensation from the pet or property owner directly or through an applicable insurance policy.

Contact the personal injury attorneys at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers by phone or online to schedule a free case evaluation. A North Augusta, SC dog bite and animal attack lawyer will meet at the location most convenient for you, whether that’s our nearby office, your home, or the hospital where you choose to recover from your injury.