South Carolina Dog Bite Attorneys
All types of dogs have the ability to bite, and even the most docile or cuddly family pet may bite a person without warning.
Regardless of the circumstances, a serious dog bite can cause pain and serious injury, as well as fear and shock.
The victim of a serious dog bite will need medical care, which may include hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation and, in some cases, psychological counseling.
In addition to medical help, anyone who has been seriously injured by a dog should obtain legal help. The victim of a dog bite may be eligible for compensation from the dog owner’s insurance to pay medical expenses and other costs associated with the attack.
Just Call Joye Law Firm now or fill out our online contact form to discuss your dog-bite claim with a lawyer at Joye Law Firm. The consultation is free and comes with no further obligations.
What Makes Dogs Bite or Attack?
Dogs bite because, no matter how well-trained they are, they are dogs. Aggression is the most common and most serious behavior problem in dogs. Aggression encompasses a range of behaviors that usually begins with warnings and may or may not culminate in an attack.
When dogs bite it is in reaction to something, the American Veterinary Medical Association says. Dogs bite:
- Because they are stressed, scared or startled
- Because they feel threatened
- To defend themselves or their territory
- To protect something valuable to them, such as their puppies, food or a toy
- Because they are sore due to injury or illness
- As part of play
In most cases of play, “mouthing” is normal dog behavior, the ASPCA says. But adult dogs can inadvertently cause injury with this kind of play.
The consequences of a dog bite can be serious. Common dog bite injuries include:
- Puncture wounds and deep, tearing lacerations (cuts)
- Broken bones
- Dislocated joints
- Disfigurement
In addition to the primary injuries caused by a dog attack, the victim may suffer additional injuries from falling, such as broken bones or head injury (traumatic brain injury or TBI), loss of blood, shock and infection, including rabies in rare cases. A dog attack or mauling may also cause psychological injuries, such as post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).
Which Dogs Bite?
All dogs bite, and in South Carolina, a dog is not considered legally dangerous simply because of its breed. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) studied breeds involved in fatal human attacks over 20 years and found that “pit bull-type dogs” and Rottweilers were involved in more than half of fatal dog attacks.
The study’s list of dog breeds involved in “human dog bite-related fatalities” in the U.S. over the course of the study included:
- Chow Chow
- Doberman Pinscher
- German Shepherd
- Great Dane
- Husky-type
- Malamute
- Mixed breed
- Pitt bull-type
- Rottweiler
- Saint Bernard
- Wolf-Dog hybrid
Contact Our South Carolina Dog Bite Attorneys
If you or a loved one of yours has been seriously injured by a biting or attacking dog, the South Carolina dog bite lawyers at Joye Law Firm want to help you obtain compensation for medical bills and other losses, including your pain and suffering.
We can fully investigate your dog bite case to calculate your losses, identify the liable dog owner, and help you recover the financial assistance you deserve through the dog owner’s insurance or other sources of coverage.
Call Joye Law Firm now or contact us online today for a free review of your injuries and legal options.
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