It can be terrifying and traumatic when a dog bites a person. Dog bites can cause severe physical injuries, emotional trauma, and permanent scars. An experienced dog bite lawyer can help a person who was attacked by a dog by making a claim on their behalf and guiding them step by step through the process.
You should take the following steps if a dog attacks or bites you:
- Call 911 if you need immediate medical attention and to report the dog attack.
- Obtain the name of the dog owner and anyone who had control over the dog.
- Take photographs of the dog involved and your injuries. Later on take additional photographs of any permanent scars.
- Obtain names and phone numbers of any witnesses.
- Ask if the dog owner has homeowners' insurance and if so, obtain the name of the homeowners' insurance company.
- Ask if the premises where the attack occurred has liability insurance and if so, obtain the name of the insurance company.
- Report the incident to local animal control and/or SC DHEC.
- Do not agree to give a recorded statement to any insurance company.
- Call an experienced Dog Bite lawyer licensed to practice law in South Carolina.
- Find out the breed of the dog.
Follow these steps after you've been injured by a dog bite or attack in Myrtle Beach.
There are many situations that can involve an injury caused by a dog. For example, dog injuries can occur involving delivery persons getting bit or attacked while working, children bitten by dogs, dogs being walked on the beach, dogs being walked at the beach or mall, and even a dog of a neighbor or at a social gathering. Dog injury claims are not limited to only dog bites and attacks. For example, if a dog jumps on you and knocks you over sustaining injuries then you could have dog injury claim entitling you to compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and lost wages.
How can a person injured by a dog under the control or ownership of someone else obtain compensation? Usually the dog owner's homeowners insurance policy will provide insurance coverage for an injury, bite or attack caused by a dog owned by the homeowner regardless of where the injury occurred. Typically, a dog bite does not have to occur at the house where the dog lives for the homeowners insurance to apply. For example, if a dog bites you on the beach, the dog's owner who has homeowners insurance will usually be covered by the homeowners insurance policy to provide compensation for the person injured even though it did not occur at the dog owner's house. An experienced dog bite attorney can help you make a claim for compensation. Many lawyers, including Wright Injury Law, will represent you in your dog bite claim with no attorney fee paid unless the attorney wins for you. At Wright Injury Law, you don’t pay any attorney fee unless we obtain a settlement, judgment or winning result at trial for you! (Attorney fees are computed before deducting expenses from recovery.)
Does the dog require a history of past attacks or prior bites for the injured person to receive compensation? NO. South Carolina has strict liability law regarding dog bites which can hold the owner of the dog responsible if their dog injures a person even if the dog has never attacked anyone before. However, if the injured person provoked the dog into attacking or biting him or her, then the owner of the dog usually will not be liable.
