A dog attack can be both terrifying and traumatic. It’s not just about the physical pain. It’s the panic, the confusion, and the sudden need to figure out what to do next.

Here in South Carolina, the law is clear. If a dog bites you, the owner is responsible. South Carolina dog bite laws adhere to strict liability. That means even if the dog never bit anyone before, even if the owner didn’t think the dog was aggressive, they are still legally responsible for your injuries.

This applies whether you were on public property or lawfully on private property. The only exceptions are if you were trespassing or if you provoked the dog, like hitting it or doing something that would understandably make it react. But you don’t have to prove the dog had a history of being dangerous. That’s a huge deal. It makes it much easier to hold the owner accountable.

If you were working, e.g., delivering packages or doing maintenance on someone’s property, you’re still covered. In some cases, you may even be able to file for workers’ compensation in addition to a personal injury claim.

Steps to Take If a Dog Bites You

If a dog bites you, be it in South Carolina or anywhere else, endeavor to take the following steps to protect both your health and your rights:

Take care of the injuries immediately

The very first thing you need to do is deal with the wound. Even if the bite doesn’t look that serious at first, don’t take any chances. Dog bites can break the skin deeply, and those puncture wounds are where bacteria can settle in. Infections can spread fast. If the dog hasn’t been vaccinated, or you don’t know if it has, there’s also the risk of rabies, which is extremely serious.

Go to the emergency room or see a doctor as soon as possible, even if it feels a little dramatic. If you’re able, take photos of the injuries before you get them treated. These photos could become really important later on.

Also, from the very beginning, start saving every single receipt or bill, whether it’s a co-pay, a prescription, or anything else tied to the injury.

Collect information from the dog’s owner

Once your health is under control, or if someone is with you who can help, you need to get as much information as possible from the dog’s owner. Think of this like you would after a car accident.

You want their name, phone number, and address. If they have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, get that information too. Ask what kind of dog it is and whether the dog has had all its shots, especially rabies.

If the owner seems defensive or tries to walk away without giving details, stay calm but firm. If you feel unsafe, call the police to help you sort it out. And if the attack happened in a public place, you might also want to check if there’s security footage or someone else around who saw what happened.

Report the attack to animal control

Once you’ve taken care of your injuries and gathered the information, your next step should be to report the dog bite to animal control. Animal control keeps records of dog attacks. If this dog has done something similar before, it might already be on their radar.

Also, animal control might start an investigation, especially if the dog was off its leash or not restrained in a way it should’ve been. If local leash laws were broken, that strengthens your case even more. And if the dog isn’t up to date on its rabies shot, animal control will be able to follow up and get the dog tested or quarantined.

Talk to a dog bite attorney

Dog bite attorneys deal with these kinds of cases all the time, and they can help you, too. They know how to calculate what your claim is really worth, not just the hospital bills, but things like lost wages, emotional trauma, and the long-term impact the injury has on your life.

A good attorney will talk to the insurance company for you and stop them from pressuring you into a low offer. If the insurance won’t settle fairly, your lawyer will take it to court. And if time is running out to file a claim, they’ll make sure to act before the deadline passes.

Dog bite cases can get complicated fast. The best thing you can do is get advice early before you sign anything or accept any kind of payment.

You need someone who’s looking out for you, not just for what’s fair today, but for how this injury might affect you in the months or even years ahead.