Dog bites are unfortunately common and can result in severe injuries, emotional trauma, and significant financial burdens. In Hilton Head, victims of dog attacks can find support and legal representation through our Hilton Head dog bite lawyers.
Our experienced legal professionals specialize in dog bite cases, advocating for victims’ rights and securing the compensation they deserve.
This content will highlight the vital role of our Hilton Head personal injury lawyers and discuss the various cases we handle. If you have been bitten or attacked by a dog, the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is here to defend your rights and hold the responsible party accountable.
How Can Our Hilton Head Dog Bite Accident Attorneys Help Your Financial Recovery?
The State of South Carolina has strict liability laws for dog bite and attack cases. These statutes allow our Hilton Head personal injury attorneys in Hilton Head to hold the dog’s owner financially responsible, even if the dog has never shown previous signs of aggression.
This is important because dog bites can result in significant financial burdens, including medical care, lost wages, and additional costs such as reconstructive surgery, infection treatments, and potentially lifelong scarring or disfigurement.
Dog bite-related hospital stays are roughly 50% higher than average injury stays. Although the total number of dog bite injuries decreased last year to 17,297 nationwide, the cost per claim increased by over 5%, averaging just over $39,000.
Homeowners’ insurance policies in the United States paid nearly $700 million in liability claims for dog bite injuries last year.
This compensation can cover various expenses, including but not limited to:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Past and future lost wages
- Lifetime injuries, including lost mobility, scarring, or disfigurement
At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, our dog bite lawyers in Hilton Head are committed to pursuing the maximum financial recovery for your injuries. We strive to ensure you receive the care you deserve, now and in the future, without bearing the financial burden alone.
How Can Our Hilton Head Dog Bite Accident Law Firm Support You in Your Case?
Managing a dog bite claim or lawsuit can be overwhelming, and you might consider having one of our lawyers handle your case. While you rest and recover, our injury lawyer on our team will gather evidence to establish liability.
When you bring a dog bite case against a careless dog owner, you must demonstrate their negligence. They owed you a duty of care, failed to uphold this duty, and their dog bit you, causing severe injury.
The evidence we can use to support this claim may include an incident report of the bite attack, relevant laws, photos of the dog, your injuries, the location of the incident, video footage capturing the dog bite, witness statements, and your related medical records.
If the liable dog owner’s insurance representative contacts you, refer them to our personal injury attorney. Insurance companies often use tactics to protect their bottom line, such as claiming you provoked the dog or failed to notice “Beware of Dog” signs.
Our experienced bite injury law firm is familiar with these strategies and knows how to counter them. Keeping track of emails and phone calls can become enormous, so you can rely on our firm to have an experienced lawyer manage all correspondence related to your case.
After reviewing your case and quantifying your losses, we demand that the liable insurer pay that amount. It is common for insurers to offer a lowball settlement initially, so we are prepared to negotiate until we are satisfied.
If a settlement isn’t possible, we will continue the fight for compensation in front of a jury.
What Happens When a Dog Bites a Person?
When a dog bites a person, it often leads to feelings of surprise and shock. Serious wounds will need immediate attention from a medical professional, but it’s important not to underestimate the emotional impact that dog bites can have.
This kind of trauma can persist long after the physical wounds have healed.
Here are some common psychological and emotional reactions dog bite victims experience:
- Fear of animals (especially dogs)
- Nightmares (which may or may not involve the attack)
- Changes in appetite
- Weight gain or loss
- Difficulty sleeping
- Speech defects (such as stuttering)
- Other fears or phobias, such as going outside or meeting people
- Personality changes
- Outbursts of anger, sadness, or crying for no apparent reason
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
These emotional and psychological changes can occur immediately after the attack or take days, weeks, or months to appear. You may need a doctor or psychologist to help you work through these feelings, which can be an additional cost.
Children often struggle the most with recovering from a dog attack. They may feel they did something wrong and that the bite was a punishment.
This mindset can lead to even more negative thoughts and significantly change a child’s behavior.
Suppose you file a dog bite claim for yourself or on behalf of your child. In that case, our Hilton Head personal injury attorney will consider all economic and non-economic damages when valuing your case.
Be sure to share the financial costs incurred and the feelings or fears that have developed due to the accident. Our dog bite attorney in Hilton Head will work hard to make sure you get just recompense for the emotional, psychological, physical, and financial harm you suffered.
How Many Dog Bites Occur Each Year in the United States?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, nearly 77 million pet dogs live in just over 38% of U.S. households. Nearly five million dog bites occur each year in various locations, such as homes, dog parks, streets, trails, and during unsupervised outings due to open doors or gates.
This translates to one dog bite every 75 seconds, every day.
Statistics reveal that over 1,000 people are treated in hospital emergency departments for dog bites daily in the U.S., with 27,000 individuals requiring reconstructive surgery annually for their injuries.
At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, our dog bite attorneys in Hilton Head understand that these injuries can be significant and may necessitate long-term medical care, which can be financially important.
The Centers for Disease Control warns dog bite victims of potential infections such as tetanus, MRSA, and rabies, which can require extensive medical care. With 1 in 5 dog bites becoming infected and an average of two fatalities caused by rabies each year, these warnings should not be taken lightly.
Dog bites, even those from a dog you know or are familiar with, can lead to severe injuries requiring professional medical care, time away from work, and extended monitoring to ensure full recovery.
This is where our Hilton Head dog bite lawyers can assist. We will pursue the dog owner’s insurance coverage for your financial recovery so you can receive the care you need without bearing the expenses out of pocket.
Recovering Compensation for Your Losses
If you’ve experienced a dog bite incident, you may be entitled to various compensation to cover your losses and suffering. Our experienced attorneys are here to help you pursue the following forms of compensation:
- Medical Expenses: This includes emergency medical treatment, surgeries, prescription medications, hospital stays, and therapy for physical and psychological injuries resulting from the dog bite.
- Lost Wages: If your injuries have caused you to miss work, you may be entitled to compensation for past and future lost earnings, especially if the injuries result in long-term or permanent disability.
- Pain and Suffering: Non-economic damages, such as pain, emotional distress, and a diminished quality of life, are often awarded to dog bite victims to acknowledge the intangible harm they have endured.
- Disfigurement and Disability: Compensation may be sought for any permanent scarring, disfigurement, or disability resulting from the dog bite, which can have lasting physical and psychological effects on the victim.
Our dedicated dog bite lawyers in Hilton Head will thoroughly assess the full extent of your damages and pursue fair compensation through negotiation or litigation. We aim to ensure you receive the financial support necessary to recover and move forward with your life.
What Types of Injuries Occur From Dog Bites?
Recent surveys show that over 63 million households in the United States own at least one dog. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that over 4.5 million people experience dog bites each year in the United States, with about half being children.
According to State Farm, Hilton Head, SC ranked No. 21 in dog bite injuries, with 62 insurance claims and $1.7 million paid in one year alone. Thousands of dog bite victims require reconstructive surgery and long-term psychological support.
However, the number of claims and settlements represents only a fraction of the dog bites in South Carolina each year.
According to American Humane, two-thirds of the injuries occurring in children four years or younger are to the head or neck region. Children and infants account for a high percentage of dog bite fatalities.
For victims of all ages, some of the common injuries include:
- Puncture wounds
- Soft tissue injuries
- Cuts, bruises, and abrasions
- Lacerations
- Permanent scarring (children often have facial scarring)
- Fractures and broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Emotional distress
Along with physical injuries, there is a significant risk of serious infections caused by the bite’s germs and bacteria. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infections occur in 10 to 15 percent of dog bite injuries.
The bites can lead to infections such as:
- Rabies: A rare but serious disease affecting the brain, spread through direct contact with nervous system tissue or saliva from an infected animal. Once symptoms appear, it is almost always fatal. Domestic dogs are the source of up to 99% of human rabies cases. Immediate medical care is essential if a dog has bitten you.
- Tetanus: A dog bite may result in rigid paralysis due to this bacterial infection.
- MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus): A dangerous, antibiotic-resistant staph infection. Dogs and other animals may carry MRSA without symptoms, but it is life-threatening for humans, potentially affecting the heart, lungs, bones, joints, urinary tract, and bloodstream.
- Pasteurella Multocida: Found in more than 50 percent of dog bite wound infections. This bacteria can cause joint pain, swollen glands, and limited mobility, posing a significant risk for those with weakened immune systems and potentially leading to chronic local infections of deep tissues and osteomyelitis.
- Capnocytophaga bacteria: Lives in the mouths of people, dogs, and cats. It can spread to people through bites or scratches, particularly affecting those with weakened immune systems and leading to severe illness.
If a dog has bitten you or a loved one, it is essential to seek immediate medical attention to address both the physical injuries and potential infections.
Call Our Hilton Head Dog Bite Accident Lawyers Now!
If a dog bite has injured you, you have the right to claim monetary compensation. However, having the legal right alone doesn’t guarantee a payout.
To receive financial compensation, you must file a claim and prove your right to it, which involves navigating numerous steps.
Our dog bite lawyers in Hilton Head provide full-service representation to help victims secure fair compensation. At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, we have experienced injury lawyers dedicated to handling claims affecting individuals.
We are currently accepting cases throughout South Carolina. Don’t endure the aftermath of a dog bite without seeking the compensation you deserve. Contact our lawyers to discuss the potential value of your case and the process involved in pursuing it.
We can begin working for you immediately. For the legal support you need, contact our Hilton Head Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at (864) 664-3865.
