Lexington Dog Bite Accident Lawyer
Legally Reviewed by Stephen Vicari: Mar 20, 2026
A dog attack can happen without warning and leave lasting physical and emotional scars. What may seem like an ordinary day, walking through your neighborhood, visiting a friend, or spending time outdoors, can quickly turn into a painful and overwhelming situation.
If you have been bitten by a dog in Lexington, South Carolina, you may have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries. Dog owners are expected to keep others safe, and when they fail to do so, the consequences can be serious for victims and their families.
Lexington continues to grow as a busy community in Lexington County, with popular areas like Main Street, Sunset Boulevard, and nearby access points to Lake Murray bringing residents and visitors together. Unfortunately, these same areas can also be where preventable dog-bite incidents occur. Our legal team includes Stephen Vicari, a South Carolina Bar-licensed attorney with more than a decade of experience helping injured individuals across Lexington County. He works closely with clients to understand their situation, answer questions clearly, and provide guidance every step of the way. When you reach out to our firm, you receive personal attention from attorneys who are committed to helping you move forward after a serious injury.
The Financial and Human Cost of Dog Bites
Dog bite cases involve specific legal considerations that make them different from other personal injury claims. South Carolina law often allows victims to pursue compensation without proving that the dog had a history of aggression.
The financial costs match the human suffering. In 2024, homeowners’ insurance companies paid $1.56 billion in liability claims for dog bites and dog-related injuries nationwide, with 22,658 claims filed. The average insurance payout per dog bite claim reached $69,272 in 2024, an 18% increase from 2023. The average cost per claim has risen by 174.7% from 2015 to 2024, driven by higher medical costs and larger settlements. Fatal attacks are also increasing. CDC provisional data recorded 127 fatal dog attacks in 2024, the most ever documented in a single year, representing a 165% increase from 2019. These statistics emphasize why experienced legal representation matters when dog attacks cause serious injuries.
However, the outcome of a claim can still depend on details such as where the incident happened, whether the victim had permission to be there, and how the situation unfolded. These factors make it important to evaluate each case individually rather than assuming all claims are handled the same way.
South Carolina’s Strict Liability Dog Bite Law
South Carolina provides one of the strongest protections for dog bite victims in the country through its strict liability rule. The dog owner, or anyone who has the dog in their care or keeping, is strictly liable for injuries caused by the dog biting or otherwise attacking a person.
Key points from the law:
- No prior bite history or knowledge of the dog’s dangerous tendencies is required.
- No proof of the owner’s negligence or failure to control the dog is needed.
- Liability applies if the victim was lawfully present in a public place or on private property (including the owner’s property) at the time of the attack.
- The owner or keeper is responsible for the victim’s damages.
This eliminates the old “one-bite rule” common in some states, where owners might avoid responsibility for a first attack by claiming they had no reason to know the dog was dangerous. In South Carolina, even a dog with no previous incidents can make its owner fully liable.
Injuries Commonly Seen After Dog Attacks
Dog bites frequently result in more than surface wounds. Victims may experience:
- Deep puncture wounds
- Nerve damage
- Torn ligaments or muscle injury
- Permanent scarring or facial disfigurement
- Infection requiring hospitalization
- Psychological trauma, especially in children
Children are particularly vulnerable due to their size and proximity to a dog’s head and jaws. Prompt medical evaluation is critical to reduce infection risk and document the extent of injury.
Who Bears Legal Responsibility for Your Injuries
South Carolina’s statute places liability not only on the registered owner but on anyone who has the dog “in their care or keeping” at the time of the attack. That can include a neighbor watching the dog, a pet sitter, a property owner who permitted a dangerous dog on their premises, or a landlord who was aware of a dangerous animal on a rental property and took no action.
In most Lexington County cases, the primary source of compensation is the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy, which typically includes personal liability coverage for dog attacks both on and off the property. Some insurers in South Carolina try to invoke breed exclusions or argue that the attack occurred outside covered circumstances. Our attorneys know how to push back on those arguments and identify every available source of coverage, including pursuing a direct civil claim against the responsible party when insurance is unavailable or disputed.
Compensation Available to Lexington Dog Bite Victims
When a dog owner’s liability is established under South Carolina law, the injured victim is entitled to seek full compensation for all losses resulting from the attack. A Lexington dog bite claim can include recovery for:
- Emergency and ongoing medical treatment
- Plastic or reconstructive surgery
- Lost income during recovery
- Future medical care
- Pain and emotional distress
- Permanent scarring or disability
Homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policies often cover these claims, but insurers may attempt to minimize payouts.
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Visit Our Dog Bite Accident Lawyers in Lexington, SC
Speak With a Lexington Dog Bite Attorney Today
If you or a family member has been injured by a dog in Lexington, you do not have to handle the situation alone. Whether the incident occurred near downtown Lexington, along Sunset Boulevard, or in neighborhoods surrounding Lake Murray, a trusted Lexington personal injury lawyer at Stewart Law Offices is here to help.
We offer free consultations and represent clients on a contingency-fee basis, meaning there are no upfront attorney fees. You only pay if we recover compensation for you. Our personal injury lawyer team is committed to helping injured individuals in Lexington County pursue accountability and financial recovery while providing the guidance they need during a difficult time.
Lexington, SC Dog Bite FAQs
Seek medical attention first; even minor bites can become infected. Document everything with photos of injuries, the dog, and the attack location. Get the owner’s contact and insurance information. Report attacks to Lexington County Animal Services. Don’t give recorded statements to insurance companies. Contact Stewart Law Offices quickly to protect legal rights.
Absolutely. South Carolina’s strict liability law protects people attacked anywhere they’re lawfully present, including your own property. The dog owner is liable even though the attack didn’t occur on their property. Location doesn’t matter; what matters is that you were lawfully present and didn’t provoke the attack.
Values depend on injury severity, medical costs, scarring extent, lost wages, and suffering. The average payout was $69,272 nationally in 2024, but serious cases involving facial injuries, permanent scarring, or multiple surgeries often recover substantially more. Lexington cases can exceed $100,000 when injuries are severe. We’ll evaluate your case during your free consultation.
You can still recover if you’re less than 50% at fault under South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence rules. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re 20% at fault and total damages are $100,000, you’d recover $80,000. Only if you’re 51% or more at fault are you barred from recovery.
Provocation is an affirmative defense that the owner must prove with evidence. South Carolina courts require substantial harassment or abuse, not minor actions. Children receive special protections since courts recognize that young victims rarely understand how actions might provoke animals. We aggressively challenge unfounded provocation claims with evidence showing you acted reasonably.
Timelines vary based on injury severity and the cooperation of the insurance company. Simple cases with clear liability and minor injuries may settle within months. Complex cases involving serious injuries, disputed liability, or inadequate insurance offers may require litigation lasting 12-18 months. We work efficiently while ensuring you receive maximum compensation, never rushing to accept inadequate settlements.