Dog Bite Lawyer in Spartanburg, South Carolina 

Dogs are loyal companions and a source of joy for people, nevertheless one cannot always foresee how a dog will act or what it is going to do next. Dog attacks can be quite painful, causing serious injuries, psychological trauma, and even financial losses. 

If one has been bitten by a dog in Spartanburg or a loved one has been attacked, you need to know your rights. The state of South Carolina recognizes a legal principle known as ‘Strict Liability’, which states that dog owners will always be held responsible for the harm that their dogs cause to other people regardless of whether or not they failed to exercise reasonable care. 

In the same state of South Carolina, 45% of households keep at least one dog, it is therefore likely that you or someone you know has been through a dog bite or attack. It is not easy to handle the legal processes that come with the case of a dog bite. 

If you familiarize yourself with the details of the South Carolina laws on dog bites, then the outcome of your case will vastly differ. No matter if one has to negotiate with the insurance service providers or one has to find ways to pay medical bills, knowledge, and assistance play a vital role. 

At Max Hyde Law Firm, we have specialist dog bite lawyers ready to assist you throughout the whole process. The goal of our team is to be helpful and professional in handling your case so as to make sure that you get the right compensation and justice. It is our pleasure to deal with the legal issues while you concentrate on rehabilitation. Call today at (864) 804-6330 to schedule a free consultation with one of our dog bite lawyers at our firm.

Dog Bite Laws You Should Know About in Spartanburg, SC

The citizens of Spartanburg, SC as well as dog owners need to know the laws that relate to dog bites. These laws define who is to be held responsible and state the legal rights of the dog owners that assists the victims in claiming compensation for the injuries. 

Strict Liability For Dog Bites 

South Carolina has what is known as a strict liability law when it comes to dog bites under SC Code § 47-3-110. [1] This means that the person who owns a dog is responsible for the injury or harm caused to a person or any individual who has been bitten or attacked by the dog whether in a public place or a place where the individual was lawfully present even if the owner was unaware of the dog’s propensity for being dangerous or failed to exercise reasonable care. 

The key points of the strict liability law are: 

• One does not necessarily have to be bitten – any attack that results in some sort of injury is deemed a bite attack, for example where the dog knocks down the victim, or merely scratches him. 
• There is no defense of the so-called “one bite rule” – the owner is responsible even for the first aggression. 
• Repeat offenders can be prosecuted and owners can be fined up to $10,000 and jailed. 
• The victims have the right to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, physical suffering and any other loss. 

This law applies if the victim is in a public place or ‘lawfully in a private place’ means either on the dog owner’s property or on property where the dog is being kept. This is in situations where the victim is on the premises in the discharge of his/her tasks or where the owner invites the victim. 

Statute of Limitations For Dog Bites in Spartanburg 

South Carolina also has a time limit on filing a case that is three years from the date of the attack by the dog. This deadline is provided by law and is referred to as the Statute of Limitations, which spans all kinds of personal injury cases in South Carolina. [2] 

Preventing Dog Bites 

Dog owners have the civil liability to ensure that they do all they can to avoid their dogs causing harm to other people. It is crucial to learn these responsibilities and follow them to reduce the occurrence of accidents and protect the members of society. 

These responsibilities include: 

• Dogs should be properly handled especially in public places and on private property. 
• The dog owners should socialize their dogs and also take time to teach the dogs manners.