What Injuries Can Dog Bites Cause?

Dog bite injuries range from minor to severe, requiring extensive medical care for victims. Common injuries seen in dog attack cases include:

• Deep puncture wounds and skin tears
• Nerve damage
• Facial injuries
• Permanent scarring and skin damage
• Infections, including staph infections
• Bone fractures
• Head injuries
• Emotional distress and trauma

Your arms, legs, and head are common areas for injuries. If you’re bitten by a dog, your first reaction might be to pull away or hurt the dog. Don’t do this because it could provoke the dog to bite harder. Instead, see if you can find an object that you can put in the dog’s mouth. Your goal is to use the object to make the dog have a gag reflex and let go of you.

Aside from physical injuries, the emotionally traumatic experience of a dog attack can cause PTSD, where the victim needs counseling after the dog bite. You shouldn’t have to pay for this and other medical bills out of pocket. Set up a free consultation with a law firm in Columbia that has dog bite lawyers who can advise you of your legal rights after the animal attack.

Who Is Held Liable for a Dog Attack in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, the owner of a dog is responsible for the actions of the animal. Dog owners have a legal responsibility to keep their dogs under control. Unfortunately, due to their size and inexperience in dealing with animals, small children tend to receive the most serious injuries when a dog attacks or bites.

In South Carolina, whether the dog attacks in a public or private place, the dog’s owner is liable for the injuries. While some states have a policy that gives the dog a pass on their first bite if they haven’t had any issues before, South Carolina doesn’t have that law.

In fact, in South Carolina, dog owners are responsible each time their dog attacks someone, except under specific circumstances. If the victim provoked the dog, and that’s the reason the dog bit them, then the victim’s case won’t be as strong. Their claim will also be affected if the victim was trespassing on the dog owner’s property.

Since cases like this can be complicated, dog bite victims should always schedule a free consultation with an experienced dog bite attorney to discuss their legal options. The right South Carolina law firm can help victims determine what kind of financial compensation to seek to help pay medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses related to the animal attack.

How Can You Prevent Dog Bites?

The CDC has helpful tips for things you should do and not do that will help prevent dog bites.

If an unknown dog approaches you:

• Don’t move. They use the phrase “Be like a tree.” Don’t face the dog straight on or look into its eyes. The dog could perceive this as a challenge.
• If you’re knocked over, curl into a ball and tuck your head in. Cover your ears and neck with your hands.
• After the dog is gone, tell someone that there’s a stray dog or there is a dog that’s behaving strangely.

When you’re around an unfamiliar dog, don’t:

• Approach them.
• Runaway or make loud, panicked noises.
• Go up to a dog that’s asleep, eating, or taking care of puppies
• Start petting a dog without it seeing you and sniffing you first.
• Allow your dog to play aggressively.
• Let children play with a dog without supervision.

Do You Need a Columbia, SC Dog Bite Lawyer?

If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog and its owner didn’t have a proper handle on it, you might be able to file a dog bite claim against them. Dog bite cases can be tricky if the dog belongs to a family member, friend, or neighbor, but you don’t deserve to shoulder the responsibility of an attack when they should have controlled their dog.

Call Solomon Law Group, LLC today at 803-219-8870 to talk about your case with a dog bite lawyer.