Suing For A Dog Bite That Happened On Public Property
Posted December 02, 2025 in Personal Injury
South Carolina has specific laws about dog bites, and they’re actually pretty favorable to victims. Our state uses what’s called a “strict liability” rule. Under South Carolina Code Section 47-3-110, if someone’s dog bites you, that owner is liable. Period. It doesn’t matter if the dog never showed aggression before or if the owner swears their pet is “usually so sweet.” This law covers you when you’re in public spaces or lawfully on private property. Public property means parks, sidewalks, streets, hiking trails, and anywhere else the community can access.
When Dog Owners Are Liable On Public Property
Let’s say you’re jogging on a public sidewalk and a dog breaks away from its owner and attacks you. That owner is responsible for your injuries. At Woron and Dhillon, LLC, we’ve represented plenty of clients in exactly these situations. Strict liability makes these cases more straightforward than typical personal injury claims, where you’d need to prove someone was careless. You just need to show:
- This person owned the dog
- Their dog bit you
- You were in a public place or somewhere you had a right to be
- You got hurt and have damage
Exceptions To The Strict Liability Rule
Now, South Carolina’s law isn’t completely one-sided. There are exceptions. You can’t recover compensation if you were trespassing when the bite happened. The same goes if you were provoking the dog or trying to commit a crime.
Provocation is something dog owners love to claim as a defense. They’ll argue you teased their pet or acted aggressively toward it. But here’s what provocation actually means. It’s hitting the dog, pulling its tail, or genuinely antagonizing the animal. Walking past a dog? Not provocation. Reaching out to pet it? Still not provocation in most cases. There’s also an exception for working dogs. If a police dog bites you during lawful law enforcement activities, different rules apply.
What About Leash Law Violations
Many cities and towns in South Carolina require dogs to be on leashes in public. Columbia has leash laws for most public areas. When an owner ignores these rules and their unleashed dog bites someone, it makes your case even stronger. A leash law violation proves negligence on top of the strict liability that already exists. This matters when you’re dealing with insurance companies looking for any reason to pay you less than you deserve. A Columbia dog bite lawyer can use these violations to build a more compelling case.
Types Of Compensation Available
Dog bites aren’t minor injuries. They can be absolutely devastating, especially for children who often get bitten on the face and neck. You can pursue compensation for:
- Emergency room visits and hospital stays
- Surgery and reconstructive procedures
- Medications and follow-up care
- Physical therapy
- Counseling for trauma or PTSD
- Money you lost from missing work
- Permanent scars or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
Some victims need multiple surgeries over the years to repair damage from a single attack. Children might face a lifetime of revision surgeries as they grow.
Proving Your Public Property Dog Bite Case
Documentation is everything after a dog attack. You need to act quickly while the evidence is still fresh. Get medical help immediately, even if the bite seems minor. Infections from dog bites are common and can become serious fast. Keep every medical record, bill, and receipt.
Report what happened to animal control or the police right away. Take photos of your injuries, the location, and anything else relevant to the incident. If anyone saw the attack, get their contact information before they leave. You’ll also need the dog owner’s name, address, and insurance details. Animal control reports are gold for your case. They create an official record and often reveal if this dog has bitten people before. That history can significantly impact your compensation.
Time Limits For Filing Your Claim
South Carolina gives you three years from the bite date to file a lawsuit. Three years sounds like forever, but time moves faster than you’d think when you’re recovering from an injury and trying to get your life back to normal. Waiting hurts your case. Witnesses forget details. Evidence gets lost. Insurance companies become less willing to negotiate fairly. We’ve seen it happen too many times. Contact a Columbia dog bite lawyer soon after your injury. Getting legal help early protects your rights and preserves the evidence you’ll need.
We’ve helped dog bite victims throughout South Carolina to hold negligent owners accountable. Our team investigates what happened, negotiates with insurance companies, and takes cases to court when that’s what it takes to get you fair compensation. If you’ve been bitten by a dog in a public space, reach out to us. We’ll discuss what happened and explain your legal options moving forward.