Do I Need A Dog Bite Lawyer in Charleston, SC?

The short answer is yes. You need a lawyer for a dog bite.

Liability

Who is held responsible in the event of a dog bite? Let’s examine South Carolina Statutes section 47-3-110.

SECTION 47-3-110. (A) If a person is bitten or otherwise attacked by a dog while the person is in a public place or is lawfully in a private place, including the property of the dog owner or person having the dog in the person’s care or keeping, 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.

(B) This section does not apply if, at the time the person is bitten or otherwise attacked:

(1) the person who was attacked provoked or harassed the dog and that provocation was the proximate cause of the attack

While this makes liability pretty cut and dry, what it does not make clear is where a recovery can actually be made to compensate you for the injuries you sustained.

There are questions still yet to be answered. Who actually owns the dog? Who owns the house where the dog bite took place? Were the dog owners renting the home where the dog bite took place? Did they have renter’s insurance? Has this dog bit someone previously? Was the dog that bit you on an excluded breed list? These are all questions an experienced dog bite attorney like the Thumbs Up Guys of Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward will investigate on your behalf with the resources you most likely do not have yourself.

You’ve Been Bit By a Dog. Now What?

The first thing to do after being bit by a dog is to receive medical treatment for the injuries you sustained. The likelihood of infection from a dog bite is extremely high. Dog bites can insert bacteria deep into tissue, thus the majority of dog bites get infected. The second thing to do is to call our Charleston, SC, dog bite lawyers. An attorney will be able to find and get in touch with the appropriate party to pursue a claim on your behalf. The dog’s owners most likely will not be very forthcoming with the information you would need to set up a claim on your own – routinely providing false information to avoid any real consequences from the actions of their pet.

Setting Up a Claim

If you have been able to get in touch with the dog’s owners and they promise to compensate you on their own, you need to ask some questions. Will they really be able to cover all of your:

• medical expenses
• lost wages
• pain and suffering

An experienced dog bite attorney will be able to investigate avenues in which to ensure all of your medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering will be compensated instead of accepting an empty promise. They will then negotiate on your behalf to make sure you walk away with the compensation you deserve.

Contact the Thumbs Up Guys

So, do you need a lawyer for a dog bite? In many cases, yes, especially if you suffered serious injuries and financial losses as a result of the incident.
If you’re in this situation, don’t leave the money you may be owed up to chance. Contact the Thumbs Up Guys, your local dog bite attorneys serving Charleston, SC, and surrounding communities.

We have the experience necessary to help you build the strongest case possible and fight for the full amount of compensation you deserve. Plus, we won’t charge you a penny unless we win! Call us at 843-885-8000, or fill out our online form to get your free case review today!