Dog Bites and Personal Injury Claims
If you have been attacked by a dog, then you will need a personal injury lawyer. The personal injury lawyers at Clekis Law Firm can help explain your legal rights and assist you with your personal injury case against the dog owner and/or caregiver. South Carolina favors the dog bite victim. Unlike other states that have a “one bite” law, South Carolina does not allow for a “one bite.” In “one bite” states, the dog owner is not liable if it was the dog’s first attack and the dog has not previously shown signs of aggression.
The dog bite liablity applies to situations in which a person is bitten by a dog as well as in situations in which a person is “otherwise attacked.” For example, if a person is walking down the sidewalk and a dog runs out and jumps on the person, knocking her down and causing injuries. The injured person can seek compensation from the dog’s owner under South Carolina’s dog bite law. In South Carolina, a person has three years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit in the state’s civil court system. This threee year statute of limitations applies to all personal injury cases in SC. If the threee year deadline passes, the court will usually throw the case out. Therefore, if you feel you have a personal injury case against the dog owner, it is crucial to contact a personal injury lawyer immediately.
South Carolina Code of Laws section 47-3-110 is the section that covers dog bites and other dog-related injuries. A dog owner may be held liable for injuries caused by the animal if:
*the injuries are caused when the owner’s dog bites or “otherwise attacks” another person
*the injured person was in a public place or was lawfully in a private place
*the injured person did not provoke the dog
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite or attack, give the personal injury lawyers at Clekis Law Firm a call.
