Dog attacks are some of the most traumatizing events you can experience. The severe emotional trauma, debilitating physical injuries, and extensive financial losses may turn your life upside down. However, when you have a Walterboro dog bites attorney at Shelly Leeke Law Firm working for you, you can focus on healing.
Our firm will fight to ensure the dog’s owner is held accountable for their negligent actions and ensure you are compensated fairly for your damages. Find out more about how the dog bite claims process works in Walterboro when you contact our office for a free consultation.
Common Types of Dog Bite Injuries You Could Sue For
After being attacked by a dog, you may be ready to hold the dog’s owner accountable for their negligent actions. However, you may have concerns that you will not be taken seriously or that your injuries are not debilitating enough to pursue legal action. The good news is there is no specific type of injury you must have been diagnosed with to pursue a dog bite injury claim.
The extent of the injury will determine whether you have the right to compensation for your losses. Your dog bites lawyer in Walterboro, SC, will need to go over the various ways your life has been influenced by the injuries you sustained and the dog attack itself to determine how much your claim is worth.
With that in mind, there are some types of injuries we see more often than others in dog bite injury claims. These include:
- Lacerations that cause sepsis
- Lacerations that lead to disfiguring skin scars
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Broken and fractured bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries and traumatic brain damage
- Internal injuries, such as organ punctures
- The development of serious illnesses, such as rabies
These are only a few of the different types of injuries dog bite victims may experience. The more significantly your injuries have affected your life, the more you can expect to be awarded. Your dog bites attorney will go over all of the ways you have been affected by your injuries in the incident itself to ensure you are compensated fairly for your suffering.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Walterboro, call 1-844-736-8342
How South Carolina Dog Bite Laws Work
The state of South Carolina handles dog bites on a strict liability basis. Your dog bites attorney in Walterboro, SC, will have a clear understanding of how these laws work and recognize the steps that need to be taken to hold the dog owner accountable. Strict liability means the dog’s owner should be held accountable for your damages no matter what.
The law does not require the dog to have previously shown a predisposition towards violence or aggression for your claim to be successful. Dogs who have never attacked or bitten before may still be a threat due to the unpredictable nature of animals. The dog’s owner has an obligation to keep others safe from their pet by restraining them and maintaining control of the animal at all times.
Any failure to do so could be considered negligence. Your lawyer will need to show that the defendant breached their duty of care and caused you significant damages or injuries to prove liability in your dog bite injury claim.
Walterboro Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me 1-844-736-8342
What to Expect from the Walterboro Dog Bite Claims Process
The claims process can often be overwhelming when you are struggling to cope with the physical consequences of your injuries. However, once you know what to expect, you may feel more confident.
It is important to note that every person’s case is different. What is successful for one dog bite victim may not be successful for another. It will be up to your dog bite lawyer to carefully analyze the details of your case and the evidence obtained to figure out how to best approach proving liability.
With that in mind, here is a general idea of how the dog bites claims process works in Walterboro:
- Your lawyer begins by conducting an investigation and gathering evidence that can be used to prove negligence and establish liability.
- Your attorney will then go over all of your damages with you to calculate the value of your claim and figure out how much to seek through your insurance claim or civil lawsuit.
- Next, we determine whether you have the opportunity to file a claim with the dog owner’s renter’s insurance or homeowner’s insurance policy.
- Negotiations with the insurance company will commence, and your lawyer will prepare to bring your dog bite injury claim to court in order to maximize the amount of compensation you are awarded.
- At trial, we will present the evidence we have gathered to prove the defendant’s liability and negligence so you can recover every loss.
Along the way, you can rely on your dog bites lawyer to keep you updated, be available to answer your questions and concerns, and take steps to protect you from being taken advantage of by the insurance company or the dog’s owner.
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Your Dog Bite Claim Must Be Filed Before the Deadline
It is imperative that you get your dog bite injury claim filed before the statute of limitations expires. If your attack occurred in Walterboro, you will have only three years under the South Carolina Code of Laws §15-3-530(5) before this deadline passes.
If your claim is not filed in time, the court system will have no other choice but to refuse to hear your case. The sooner you get your dog bite attorney working on your case, the better. This way, you can avoid putting your case at risk.
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Reach Out to a Walterboro Dog Bites Lawyer for Help Today
Your dog bite injuries could significantly alter the course of your life. The dog’s owner or other liable parties should be ordered to compensate you for your damages accordingly.
When you need help making them pay, having an experienced Walterboro dog bites attorney at Shelly Leeke Law Firm working for you could make all the difference in the outcome of your case. When you are ready to fight for the compensation you are entitled to, fill out our online contact form or call our office.
Call or text 1-844-736-8342 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
