Animal Attack Attorneys
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in an Animal Attack, you need to have someone working on the case immediately. The Animal Attack Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm can ensure that your personal injury claim is timely initiated, preserved, and filed to seek the compensation you deserve.
According to the center for the American Humane Association, an estimated 4.7 million dog bites occur in the U.S. each year. Nearly 800,000 of those require medical care. When an attacking dog bites someone, it is a traumatic event, especially when a child is involved. Sometimes, the incident even results in a serious personal injury, such as permanent scarring, nerve damage, and even a claim for wrongful death. If you or someone you loved suffered a serious personal injury after a dog bite, you could be entitled to compensation. Give us a call today for a free consultation.
Dog Bite Injuries
Many dog bite injuries are not serious. However, thousands of bites every year result in medical bills, pain, suffering, and time lost from work or school. The most common injuries include:
- Nerve Damage
- Broken Bones
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Lacerations
- Emotional trauma, and sometimes
- Wrongful Death
If you suffered one of the above injuries, the animal owners need to be held liable for your damages.
Dog Bite Statistics
Dog Bite Statistics illustrate the frequency and seriousness of these events:
- Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States seeks medical attention for a dog bite-related injury
- It is estimated that for every dog bite that is reported, three go unreported.
- More than half of all dog bite victims are children.
- Approximately two-thirds of bites occurred on or near the victim’s property, and most victims knew the dog.
Holding Pet Owners Accountable for Attacks by Their Animals
Under South Carolina law, dog owners are generally strictly liable for injuries caused by their dogs. This means that even if the dog has never bitten anyone before, and even if the owner did not know that his or her dog was vicious, the owner would still be responsible for the victim’s harm.
In bringing a claim against the owner, a plaintiff must prove that the dog was owned by the defendant, the victim was on public property or lawfully on private property, the victim was bitten by the dog, and the victim suffered injuries. Trespassers and those who are illegally on private property when bitten by a dog, therefore, may not seek compensation under this statute.
Keepers, handlers, or others in control of an animal may be deemed liable under the law as well. However, they are not held to the strict liability standard of owners and must have had knowledge of the dog’s vicious propensities, such as a previous attack, before they can be found liable to a dog bite victim. A negligence claim may also be brought against non-owners who were not reasonably careful in controlling a dog under the surrounding circumstances if their carelessness caused harm to the victim. An example could be a dog walker who illegally allows a dog to run off-leash close to a public playground.
Call Today for a Free Consultation with one of our Animal Attack Lawyers.
Dog bite attacks are serious, often causing scarring, broken bones, and other devastating injuries. In most situations, you have the right to pursue damages against the pet owner. Discussing the details of your case with an experienced lawyer can help you understand the law as well as your options to recover compensation for your harm.
At Strom Law Firm, LLC, our Animal Attack Lawyers are committed to securing fair compensation for your injuries. While you focus on getting better, we will focus on protecting your rights. Call 803.252.4800 Today for a free dog bite injury consultation.
