Spartanburg Dog Bite Lawyer

A Spartanburg dog bite incident can cause serious injuries. Victims of these incidents have legal rights. If you or a loved one suffered injuries from a dog bite or attack, you can likely build a case against the dog’s owner or handler. Compensation is available for your medical bills and other expenses.

South Carolina has dog bite laws that protect victims. A Hammack Law Firm Spartanburg dog bite lawyer represents these victims and helps them seek justice. We will review your dog bite claim today for free.

Recovering Compensation and Holding the Liable Party Accountable

Our team files insurance claims and civil lawsuits to recover compensation for our clients. We believe victims should not have to worry about paying the bills they incurred because a dog bit them. They should not have these bills, but the dog’s owner or handlers acted negligently and allowed the attack to occur.

For example, imagine you were running in Cleveland Park when a dog chased and attacked you. You suffered puncture wounds to your hand and arm. As a result, you missed several weeks of work. When you returned, it was in a different position. Despite undergoing surgery to repair tendons, you have lasting damage to the function in your hand.

In this case, we would seek damages that include:

• Medical care and treatment
• Future needs, such as surgery for disfiguring scars
• Wages lost when you missed work
• Diminished earning capacity for long-term injuries
• Miscellaneous expenses
• Pain and suffering losses

In some cases, dog attacks can cause significant trauma, bleeding, and other significant injuries. Local and systemic infections are also a concern. Especially when they involve children or the elderly, these attacks may be fatal. If you lost a loved one, S.C. Ann. § 15-51-10 will allow certain family members to recover wrongful death damages.

We represent families in these claims, seeking damages including:

• Medical bills
• Other outstanding economic losses
• Lost income the decedent would have earned
• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of services
• Loss of companionship and care, and other intangible losses suffered by survivors

Our Dog Bite Attorneys Will Fight for Justice for Injured Victims

We offer a big firm experience with a small firm feel. We treat every client like a close friend or family member. We give each one a great deal of time and attention, carefully building their case while offering warm, compassionate support. We also have the necessary resources and network of experts to develop a solid claim and demand a fair payout.

Our mission is always to build personal relationships with clients and make South Carolina a safer place for everyone. We work hard for our clients, seeking to hold those at fault accountable and recover financial compensation for the losses endured. We believe this is the best way to get justice in any personal injury case.

Most cases do not go to trial. They settle outside of court. However, we treat every case like it will go before a judge and jury. Advantages of this include:

• It gives us a stronger argument during settlement negotiations
• We are ready if we do need to sue to force a larger offer from the insurance company

Hammack Law Firm is a contingency fee firm. We handle these cases without any upfront fees. Our attorneys get paid only after securing a settlement for the client.

Our recent results include a $250,000 settlement for a client who suffered a laceration and fractured femur in an incident when a dog attacked and knocked her to the ground.

Proving Negligence and Liability Against the Dog’s Owner or Handler in South Carolina

South Carolina has dog bite laws that protect victims’ rights. This is somewhat unusual. Many states enforce the “one bite rule.” This law allows a dog to have a free bite without consequences. The dog’s owner is not liable for injuries the dog causes unless they know the dog has a vicious nature.

In South Carolina, under S.C. Ann. § 47-3-110, the dog’s owner or handler is liable for the first bite. This is known as strict liability. The person in control of the dog is responsible for any injuries they cause, regardless of previous behavior.

At our law firm, we know how to prove these cases. They generally require evidence of three things:

• An attack occurred
• It happened in a public place or lawfully in a private place
• The victim did not provoke the attack

In these cases, we generally negotiate a settlement, but we may have up to three years to sue the dog’s owner in civil court per S.C. Ann. § 15-3-530. This could be important if the dog’s owner accuses our client of provoking the attack or argues they were not legally on their property when the attack occurred. These are two common defenses to these accusations, and we sometimes need to sue to prove what happened to the judge and jury.

If necessary, we may also be able to prove negligence in these cases based on local laws. For example, according to Spartanburg County Ordinance 0-12-01 section 6-17, all dogs must be on the owner’s property or a leash when off the property. Violating this law could allow an attack to occur.

Dog owners could also face criminal penalties in these cases. WSPA reported on the 2019 case of a woman who allowed five dogs to roam free and attack another woman in Spartanburg. She faced criminal charges and likely a civil suit as well.

We Provide Complimentary Consultations to Dog Bite Victims in Spartanburg

Hammack Law Firm offers free case reviews for injured victims. We will discuss your injuries, rights, and options with you and talk about how a dog bite attorney can help you hold the dog’s owner or handler accountable. We will also answer your questions about this type of claim and how they work.

Call (864) 326-3333(864) 326-3333 to get started with your free consultation today.