Did you or your child recently suffer traumatic injuries after being attacked by a dog? Have your injuries significantly affected your life? Holding the dog’s owner accountable should be a top priority.
With help from a compassionate and experienced South Carolina dog bites lawyer at Shelly Leeke Law Firm advocating for you, you can devote more of your time towards healing while we work on gathering the evidence we need to prove the dog owner is liable for your losses.
Contact our personal injury team for a 100% free, no-obligation consultation today and learn more. We can educate and guide you on how the dog bites insurance and civil claims process works, the value of your losses, and the steps you should take to make the at-fault party pay.
Common Dog Bite Injuries in Cayce
Dog attacks and bites have been known to cause life-threatening and debilitating injuries. It is important to remember that it is not the diagnosed injury that determines whether you have grounds for a claim. The impact your dog bite injuries have had on your life determines whether you or your child is entitled to compensation.
With that in mind, some of the most common types of injuries seen in Cayce dog bite cases include:
- Amputation
- Back injuries
- Broken and fractured bones
- Internal bleeding
- Neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Organ failure
- Puncture wounds
- Sepsis from deep lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
If you are dealing with another type of injury caused by a dog bite or attack, and you do not know where to turn for your health, be sure to connect with a Cayce dog bite attorney. They can give you comprehensive advice regarding what your next steps should be.
When to Sue for Damages
You can fight for the compensation you are owed after a dog attack in several ways. The first is filing a claim with a dog owner’s renters or homeowners insurance policy.
Most dog owners will have some type of insurance coverage that protects them. However, there may be instances in which dog owners do not have coverage because their policies exclude their dog breeds. This often occurs when dog owners do not ask questions to ensure their policy covers their dog breeds.
If you cannot file a claim with the insurance company, your next option may be to file a lawsuit against the dog’s owner. When you file a dog bite lawsuit, you can recoup your losses in full. Instead of facing the limitations you do by filing an insurance claim, you can recover every loss you experienced if your claim is successful in civil court.
South Carolina Dog Bite Laws
Some states follow the one-bite rule. This rule allows dog owners to avoid liability for their dog’s actions if the animal has not previously attacked or bit. However, South Carolina is not a one-bite rule state.
South Carolina law follows strict liability for dog bites. This means dog owners are held strictly liable for the actions of their pets whether or not the animal has previously shown a propensity towards violence or aggression.
Dog Owner Fault Exclusions in Cayce
In several situations, dog owners may be able to avoid liability for their dog’s actions. First, you may have difficulty holding the dog’s owner accountable if you trespassed during the accident. Many dog owners have pets to reduce the likelihood of trespassing and criminal activity.
If you were committing a crime or on the dog owner’s property without consent, recovering compensation may be challenging. You may also have trouble holding the dog’s owner accountable if you or your child provoked the dog into acting aggressively. Acts of provocation can include a wide array of behaviors, such as:
- Hitting
- Kicking
- Punching
- Slapping
- Taunting
- Throwing objects
- Yelling
If an injury victim provoked a dog to ask aggressively, the dog’s owner may not be responsible for the victim’s damages. However, since this is one of the top ways dog owners can avoid liability, do not be surprised if the defense argues that you provoked the animal when you did not. For this reason, having a dog bites attorney in Cayce, SC, on your side may be the best way to ensure fault is correctly assessed in your case.
Compensation for Dog Bite Victims
Whether you are filing a claim with the insurance company or bringing your case to court, with help from a dog bites lawyer, you can seek reimbursement for every loss.
Economic Damages
Economic damages describe your monetary losses. Any out-of-pocket expenses, bills, and other financial costs can be recovered through your civil claim or the insurance company. Some examples of economic damages could include:
- Ambulance expenses
- Diminished earning capacity
- Loss of employer-provided benefits
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
- Mental health counseling costs
- Personal property losses
Non-Economic Damages
You may also be entitled to compensation for your non-economic damages. These losses describe how your entire life has been affected by the dog attack and the injuries you suffered. Examples of potentially recoverable damages in a dog bite claim include:
- Disfigurement
- Fear, shock, and embarrassment
- Inconvenience
- Loss of love and companionship
- Permanent disability
- Physical pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Reputational damages
- Shame and indignity
- Skin scarring
Punitive damages could also be included in your dog bite claim. However, this is generally only done when the dog owner’s actions were intentionally harmful, reprehensible, grossly negligent, or malicious. Punitive damages are not an entitlement. They are a way for the South Carolina civil court system to punish the defendant beyond your compensatory losses.
Connect with a Dog Bites Lawyer in Cayce, SC, Today
Getting legal help to hold the dog’s owner accountable for your emotional trauma, physical injuries, and financial losses should not be challenging. You should be able to heal from your injuries while your personal injury lawyer fights for the compensation you are owed.
Start working on your homeowner’s insurance claims and civil lawsuits when you meet with a dedicated Cayce dog bites lawyer at the Shelly Leeke Law Firm. Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation when you call our office or fill out our confidential contact form.With help from a compassionate and experienced Cayce dog bites lawyer at Shelly Leeke Law Firm advocating for you, you can devote more of your time towards healing while we work on gathering the evidence we need to prove the dog owner is liable for your losses.
Contact our personal injury team for a 100% free, no-obligation consultation today and learn more. We can educate and guide you on how the dog bites insurance and civil claims process works, the value of your losses, and the steps you should take to make the at-fault party pay.
