7 Steps To Take After a Dog Bite in Charleston, South Carolina

Ramie Shalabi | August 1, 2024 | Dog Bites

Dogs are loyal creatures. When trained well and taken good care of, a dog truly conveys its status as a human’s best friend. Sadly, not all dogs end up with attentive owners. This situation can result in a dog who runs away from home. Things can also get dangerous. As Personal Injury Attorneys in Columbia and Charleston, we often see this danger become a reality when canines bite humans.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 4 million people are bitten by dogs yearly! This same data reported that 800,000 of these bites happen to children. Even if you’ve never had a dog bite you, being prepared for it is never a bad idea.

In this post, we’ll explain the steps to take after a dog bite in Charleston, South Carolina. This includes a quick breakdown of South Carolina dog bite laws and the statute of limitations.

1. Get to Safety

Regardless of their breed, any dog aggressive or threatened enough to bite can make anyone feel unsafe. And there’s nothing more crucial than your safety. So, long before contacting a Charleston dog bite lawyer, the first and most vital step to take after a dog bite is to get far away from the aggressive animal.

Your instincts may tell you to run. Avoid doing that. Speeding away from a dog only serves to cause its predator instincts to kick in and begin chasing you. Instead, walk away from a biting dog as slowly and safely as possible. Experts recommend going to higher ground if any exists. The vast majority of dogs aren’t skilled climbers.

If you’re having trouble getting away from a dog’s clamping teeth, try carefully moving a stick or anything similar near the animal. This strategy can distract the dog and cause it to focus on what you handed them. If that happens, begin slowly getting away immediately.

2. Look Over the Wound

After you’re away from a dog that bit you, it’s time to focus on your potential wounds. Sometimes, while extremely painful, dog bites can avoid puncturing human skin. This is a crucial step to take after a dog bite for the sake of your health.

It doesn’t matter whether your dog or a random dog bites you; any canine can potentially transmit infection-causing diseases such as rabies. But don’t panic if a dog bite causes broken skin and bleeding. We’ll cover what to do in our remaining steps to take after a dog bite.

3. Clean the Wounded Area

If you notice broken skin, cleaning these areas is your next step. Quickly cleaning and disinfecting a wound from an animal bite can stave off potential infections. Another complication from dog bites is excessive bleeding. Fortunately, you can prevent blood loss by applying significant pressure over bleeding wounds.

There’s no denying the importance of cleaning your wound after a dog bites you. However, if a dog’s teeth open your skin, the next step to take after a dog bite is to seek medical attention (preferably within 24 hours after the attack).

4. Have Professionals Treat Your Injuries

Getting medical attention is critical after more severe dog bites, including those that break the skin. A healthcare professional can stitch up particularly deep bite wounds. You can also receive antibiotics to help stop the spread of any potential infections. You may also require surgery to repair severe damage caused by a dog bite.

5. Document The Details of This Incident

Wanting to pursue a dog bite lawsuit after a dog attacks you is understandable. A critical component of taking this action is having evidence of what happened.

According to South Carolina dog bite statutes, evidence can include:

• Videos and photos of your bite
• Your written statement detailing the incident
• Statements from witnesses
• All bite-related medical records
• Additional bite-related expense documents

Sufficient evidence is also helpful if you decide to sue a dog bite lawsuit against a dog’s owner. A Charleston dog bite lawyer can help clients determine what serves as evidence.

6. Monitor Your Healing

After completing your initial medical appointments, the next step to take after a dog bite is to start healing at home. During this time, follow all instructions given to you by your medical care provider. If not, you could risk your bites getting infected.

Also, schedule and attend follow-up medical appointments. While they might be minor inconveniences, try not to miss these scheduled checkups. These visits help ensure you heal correctly. From a cosmetic point of view, letting a medical professional oversee your healing may reduce the visibility of scars or heal them completely.

You should continue following this step after a dog bite and amass official documentation about your treatments, appointments, and medical expenses from these ongoing commitments. This information strengthens your claim and the likelihood of covering your medical costs.

7, Understand South Carolina’s Dog Bite Laws

South Carolina requires dog bite victims to follow its state-specific laws and guidelines. One of the most critical aspects is understanding South Carolina’s dog bite statute of limitations. In this state, you have up to three years from when a dog bit you to file a valid claim.

Failure to follow this post-dog bite step can prevent you from filing a claim, which also means being potentially unable to claim damages and seek compensation.

Charleston Dog Bite Lawyer Offering Free Consultations

Knowing how to proceed after a dog bite is complex. We recommend scheduling a free consultation with a Charleston, SC, dog bite lawyer at Dayson Shalabi Burkett Law Firm, LLC.

We always recommend avoiding an aggressive animal at all costs. While they can’t speak, dogs can communicate feelings of aggression, which everyone should learn about and remember. These signs include showing their teeth, growling, barking, and wrinkling their muzzles. If a dog exhibits these behaviors or actions, slowly get away from this animal. By doing so, you can prevent having to complete any steps required after a dog bite.