What to Do After a Dog Bite in South Carolina
Medical care comes first. Someone close to you can take care of the rest while doctors treat you.
- Get prompt medical care. Get away from the dog. Deep wounds, uncontrolled bleeding, bites to the face or hands and possible rabies exposure need urgent evaluation, so call 911 or go to the ER for those. Keep every follow-up, wound care and surgery appointment.
- Find out who owns the dog. You or someone with you should get the owner's name, address and phone number. Ask whether the dog's shots are up to date, and for any paperwork showing it.
- Report the bite. Contact local animal control or the appropriate public health authority. Provide information about the dog, its owner and the incident. Ask about rabies vaccination records and any required observation or quarantine procedures, and keep a copy of the report.
- Take photos. Photograph the wound right away and every few days as it heals. Photograph torn clothing, the place it happened and the dog, if you can do so safely.
- Collect names. Get names and phone numbers of anyone who saw what happened.
- Keep everything. Save medical bills, prescription receipts and any messages with the owner. Keep damaged clothing or glasses in a bag.
- Get answers before you sign anything. Many people talk to a lawyer first.
South Carolina's Dog Bite Law
South Carolina generally holds a dog's owner, or the person who has the dog in their care or keeping, liable when the dog bites or otherwise attacks someone who is in a public place or lawfully on private property, including the owner's property. You generally do not have to prove the dog previously bit someone or that the owner knew it was dangerous.1
The statute has exceptions. One applies when the injured person provoked the dog and that provocation was the proximate cause of the attack. Where you were and why you were there can also matter, because the statute covers people in a public place or lawfully on private property.1
The statute covers attacks, not only bites. A dog that attacks someone and knocks them down may fall within it even without a bite, while an accidental collision with a playful dog may not.1 Other legal claims may still be available. Falls can cause broken bones and head injuries, especially for older adults.
Your Deadline
Most personal injury claims in South Carolina must be filed within three years.2 The deadline means filing a lawsuit in court, and an insurance claim does not pause it.3 If a government agency is responsible for the dog, the claim has its own filing deadline, which can be shorter.4
A lawyer can explain how this works for you.
Want someone to look at your situation?
Talk with our team about what happened and ask the questions on your mind.
When a Child Is Bitten
- Photograph the wound often, from the first day through healing.
- Keep track of follow-up visits and any scar treatment.
- Note changes in sleep, school or comfort around dogs.
South Carolina law may give an injured child more time to file, but that extra time is limited and exceptions apply.5 Claims involving a government agency or other special circumstances need a closer look. Seek legal advice early rather than counting on extra time until your child is grown.
Talk With Us
Many people live with scars after a dog attack, and some live with a fear of dogs for years. We take both seriously. We start by hearing what happened, step by step. When the owner is someone you know, we keep that relationship in mind and talk honestly with you about your options.
We're based in Charleston, and we take dog bite cases from across South Carolina. Serious bites can change daily life for the long term; see our page on catastrophic injury claims. If a dog bit you while you were working, see our page on workers' compensation claims.
Tell us where it happened, whose dog it was and how you were hurt.
South Carolina Law on This
- Under South Carolina law, a dog's owner or keeper is generally liable, even without proof they knew the dog was dangerous, when it bites or attacks someone in a public place or lawfully on private property, unless the person provoked or harassed the dog into the attack.1
- Most personal injury claims in South Carolina must be filed within three years.2
- South Carolina's statute of limitations generally sets the deadline for filing a lawsuit in court. Simply opening a claim with an insurance company or negotiating with an insurance adjuster does not stop the statute of limitations from running.3
- Claims against a South Carolina state or local government agency have their own filing deadline, which can be shorter, and there could be caps on damages under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act, depending on the facts of the case.4
- Under South Carolina law, children may have more time than adults to file personal injury claims. However, that additional time is limited, and certain exceptions may apply.5
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible when a dog bites someone in South Carolina?
South Carolina law generally makes a dog owner or person responsible for keeping a dog liable when the dog bites or otherwise attacks someone in a public place or lawfully on private property. The law includes an exception when the injured person provoked the dog and that provocation was the proximate cause of the attack. Whether the statute applies depends on the circumstances, including where the incident happened and who was responsible for the dog.1
I wasn't bitten, but a dog knocked me down. Is that covered?
Possibly. South Carolina's dog bite statute covers dogs that bite or otherwise attack someone, so an injury caused by a dog attack may qualify even without a bite.1 Whether a dog jumping on or knocking someone over qualifies depends on the circumstances. Other legal claims may also be available. Get medical care and preserve information about what happened.
My child was bitten. What should I do first?
Get medical attention promptly and keep records of treatment, photographs of the injuries and information about the dog and its owner. South Carolina law may extend the filing deadline for an injured child, but special rules and exceptions apply.5 Parents should seek legal advice early rather than assume they can wait until the child is grown.
What if the dog belongs to a friend or family member?
Many people worry about hurting a relationship, and that worry is fair. A lawyer can help you understand your options, including whether any insurance may apply, before you decide anything. You can ask questions without committing to a claim.
Sources
This page is general information about South Carolina law, not legal advice for your situation. Every case depends on its own facts.
