Suffered an Injury? Max can Help

Charleston Dog Bite Injury Attorney

If a dog bite has seriously injured you in Charleston then you can pursue a personal injury lawsuit under South Carolina law. The accomplished Charleston dog bite injury attorneys at the Max Sparwasser Law Firm, LLC can help you with a free, no-obligation legal consultation. In South Carolina, dog attacks fall under “strict liability,” which means that you don’t have to prove negligence on the part of the dog owner.

Dog Bites Cause Serious Injuries

Dog attacks can cause serious injuries to a person. Nerve and tissue damage, concussions, lacerations, and facial injuries are common results. Dogs can also carry infections, such as rabies.

Additional dog bite injuries include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, or death. It is possible that the person who sustained the bite could need plastic surgery. They may also suffer from anxiety or PTSD after the attack. if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, reach out to a Charleston dog bite lawyer for help. They will tell you whether or not you have a case.

To learn more about traumatic brain injuries, speak to a traumatic brain injury lawyer in Charleston today.

If a dog bites you, you need immediate medical treatment. The sooner you get treatment for your injuries the more likely you are to make a full recovery. You also need to report the incident to SCDHEC (South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control).

Dog Bite Resources

What Should I Do After A Dog Bites Me?

Sustaining a dog bite injury can be very traumatic. Because of this, many people don’t know what to do after getting injured and what evidence they need to collect in order to file a claim. Here are the steps you should take after getting a dog bite injury.

Get Medical Attention Right Away. Dog bites can be very serious. Regardless of the size of the bite, you should go to a doctor right away. Any puncture wounds need to be cleaned and stitched or bandaged up. If you only received a small wound, you should still see a doctor so that they can give you medication for any possible infections. Early treatment will prevent further pain and scarring.
Regularly Clean Your Wound. Your doctor will provide you with instructions on how to clean and care for your dog bite injury. Don’t stray away from these instructions as it could lengthen your healing process or cause infections to form.
Report the Event to DHEC. Contact the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and inform them of the incident. They will then conduct an investigation on the animal. They will check if the dog is up to date on its vaccinations and is properly secured in their home. They will also help you identify who the true owner of the dog is, allowing you to hold them responsible for your injury. Keep a copy of their report for reference when you file your claim with a Charleston dog bite injury lawyer.
Collect Witness Information. After the accident, try to collect the names and phone numbers of bystanders who saw the dog attack you. You might need them to share what they saw happen. If anyone mentions to you that the dog has a violent history and has attacked other people before, collect their information as well.
Take Photos of the Injury. Document your wound by taking photos of it when it is still new. You want to capture it as early as possible. If you notice that the injury will leave scars or evidence of the injury, take photos of that as well. This will help prove the extent of the damage and harm that you went through.
Contact a Charleston dog bite attorney. After collecting all this information, get in contact with a personal injury lawyer in Charleston, SC. They will give you advice and legal guidance on what your next steps should be. They will explain the complexities of the case to you and help you file your claim.

Information That You Need to Collect After a Dog Attack

You are most likely to receive compensation for injuries sustained if you can collect some or all the following information:

Photo documentation of the injuries sustained
Medical documentation for the care received
A copy of the police or SCDHEC report filed or the report numbers
Pictures of the location of the attack
Names and phone numbers of any witnesses to the attack
Any information that is known about the dog and the dog’s owner, especially the dog owner’s address

An experienced Charleston dog bite injury lawyer, such as Max Sparwasser, can help you gather the information needed to build a solid case.

Determining Liability for the Attack

South Carolina dog owners bear strict liability for their dogs and any attacks perpetrated by the dog. Unless the owner can prove the victim provoked the dog, the owner will be responsible for their dog’s actions.

Compensation You Can Receive After A Dog Bite in Charleston

When someone else’s negligence causes an injury, the negligent party can owe the injured party compensation for physical, financial, and emotional damages incurred. Damages resulting from a dog bite can include:

Earning capacity. Lost wages due to time off work because of the injury as well as future lost wages if the injuries continue to impact employment.
Medical care. Emergency room treatment, pain medications, imaging and laboratory tests, and medications, as well as future medical expenses.
Pain and suffering. It’s hard to put a dollar amount on pain and suffering incurred as the result of a dog attack, but the law accommodates for this.
Therapy. Recovering from the trauma of an attack can include emotional and psychological damage that requires the services of a mental health professional.

Are you currently experiencing any of these outcomes as a result of an injury? Reach out to a Charleston dog bite lawyer to get the full compensation that you deserve.

Dog Bite Statistics in the U.S.

Dog bites occur more often than people think. Take a look at these surprising numbers:

Roughly 4.5 million dog bites occur every year. 1 out of 5 of these gets infected.
In 2017, one-third of all homeowner liability claims were due to dog bites or dog-related injuries. The total amount came out to nearly $700 million.
From 2003 to 2017, people have seen a 90% increase in the average cost per claim due to increased medical costs and the size of settlements, judgments and jury awards.

South Carolina Statute of Limitations

The term “statute of limitations” refers to the deadline for filing a lawsuit. The statute of limitations on dog bites is three years in the state of South Carolina.

Legal Representation Protects Victims

Sometimes a person’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy will pay off the damages in a dog bite case. In many cases, the insurance company will try to find a loophole to keep from paying the claim. This is called insurance bad faith. A skilled Charleston dog bite injury attorney, such as Max Sparwasser, will know how to keep the insurance companies from avoiding compensating the victim.

Find Proper Representation

Dog owners are responsible for keeping the public safe from their dogs. If a dog attacks you and you suffered injuries, then you deserve to receive compensation. The right Charleston dog bite injury lawyer can make the difference between receiving fair compensation or not. The Max Sparwasser Law Firm, LLC has a proven track record of successful litigation and we want to help you. Call today and set up a no-cost evaluation of your case.

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