In the First Hours
Doctors come first. A relative or friend can collect the rest while you're being treated.
- Get clear and get help. Put distance between you and the dog first. Deep wounds, bleeding that won't stop, bites to the face or hands and any rabies concern call for 911 or the ER. Show up for every dressing change and surgery.
- Identify the owner. Get the owner's name, address and phone, and ask for proof of the dog's shots.
- Report it. Contact animal control or the public health authority, ask about rabies records and any observation period, and keep a copy of the report.
- Photograph the bite. Do it right away and every few days after. Get the torn clothes, the spot and the dog, if that's safe.
- Get witnesses. Names and numbers for anyone who saw it.
- Bag the evidence. Keep ripped clothing or broken glasses, bills and any texts with the owner.
Dogs Around the Strand
Bites in Horry County happen in Carolina Forest and Socastee subdivisions, at vacation rentals in North Myrtle Beach and Garden City, on beach access paths and at apartment complexes. When you're visiting, you may not know the dog or the owner at all.
The Dog Bite Statute
A dog's owner, or the person keeping it, is generally liable when it bites or attacks someone in a public place or lawfully on private property, the owner's property included. No earlier bite, and no proof of what the owner knew, is generally needed.1
There are exceptions, including provocation that caused the attack. The statute covers attacks as well as bites, so a dog that knocks someone down may qualify even with no bite.1 For an older adult, being knocked down can mean a broken hip or a head injury.
Want someone to look at your situation?
Talk with our team about what happened and ask the questions on your mind.
Your Deadline
Most South Carolina injury lawsuits must be filed within three years.2 It's a court deadline, and an insurance claim leaves it running.3 A dog in a government agency's care brings its own deadline, which may be shorter.4
When the Person Bitten Is a Child
Take pictures of the bite on day one and keep going until it closes. Keep track of follow-ups and scar care, and note changes in sleep, school or fear of dogs. A child may get extra time to file, but it's limited, with exceptions.5 Don't count on waiting until your child grows up.
See our statewide dog bite page for more.
Talk With Us
Dog attacks can leave scars and a fear of dogs that lasts for years. We take both seriously, and when the owner is someone you know, we keep that in mind.
We take cases across South Carolina, including Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand. Our office is on King Street in Charleston. The first conversation can happen by phone.
For bites at a rental or business, see property injuries in Myrtle Beach. Tell us where it happened and whose dog it was.
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?
Generally the owner, or whoever had the dog in their care, when it bites or attacks someone in a public place or lawfully on private property. There's an exception when the person provoked the dog into the attack, and where it happened and who had the dog both matter.1
The dog didn't bite me, but it knocked me to the ground. Does the law cover that?
Possibly. The law isn't limited to bites; an attack that injures you may count too.1 A dog that jumps up playfully may be a different story, and other claims may still be available.
A dog bit my child at the beach. What should I do first?
Get medical care, keep the records, photograph the wound and get the owner's information. A child may have more time than an adult to file, but that extra time is limited and exceptions apply.5 Talk with a lawyer early rather than waiting years.
It was my neighbor's dog. Do I have to sue a friend?
No one has to decide anything on the first call. That worry is fair, and a lawyer can explain your options, including whether insurance may apply, before you choose a path.
Sources
This page is general information about South Carolina law, not legal advice for your situation. Every case depends on its own facts.
