subject: Am I Responsible For A Dog Bite If It's Not My Dog? [print this page] In South Carolina, the laws are pretty clear when it comes to dog bites. Basically, if you are a dog owner or are watching someone else's dog, you are the one who is responsible for the dog's actions if it happens to attack and injure someone. The only instance in which you would not be held responsible for the dog's actions would be if the person who was bitten or attacked was provoking your dog in some way before it attacked.
If you have been injured in any way, such as bitten or scratched, by an unprovoked dog, you should go to see a doctor as soon as possible. It is also recommended that you consult an attorney who has dealt with dog bites before so that they can help to protect your legal rights.
When determining who is responsible for the dog and paying for the injuries sustained from the dog bite attack, it is important to ask:
Who seemed to be the person who was in charge of taking care of the dog when the bite happened? You may not think that you are responsible for paying for the damages caused by a dog if that dog was not your own and you were just taking care of it for someone else. However, it is considered to be your job as a secondary caretaker of the dog to make sure that you maintain restraint on the dog and supervise it at all times to ensure that it does not harm other people.
Where did the dog bite occur? Whose property were you on when it took place? Was it on your property that the bite happened? Do you own or rent that property? All of the answers to these questions can help determine who is liable for the damages of the dog bite, according to South Carolina dog bite laws.
Was the person who was bitten by the dog invited to come onto your property, such as a repairman or a friend? If not, then the person is considered to have been trespassing on your property, which means that you are not responsible for the injuries that they sustained while they were trespassing. As a result, you would have had to legally permit the person to be on your property for you to be liable for their dog bite injuries.
Was the person who was bitten a worker of the state or federal government, such as a meter reader or mailman? If so, they would not be considered to be a trespasser. You should always make sure that your dog is tied up or restrained whenever an electrician, postal worker, or other government worker comes onto your property.
Was the person provoking the dog before it attacked them? If the victim terrorized the dog in any way that would instigate an attack, then you are not responsible for what happened. The person's reckless and ignorant behavior is what caused your dog's behavior to change, so the incident is not your fault.
If you have been injured by a dog, it may be difficult to determine who is responsible for your injuries, especially considering more than one person could be responsible. For this reason, it is best to consult with an attorney who can help to sort out of the legal factors associated with a dog bite attack.
