Bitten by a Dog in Charleston During a Home Visit? Your Rights, Risks, and the Law Explained

Nearly 70% of all business startups are home-based, with more than 50% of all small businesses run from the owner’s home. Charleston has hundreds of home-based businesses, as well as professionals who visit homes to do repairs and offer other professional services. 

An unexpected dog encounter is the reality construction workers, trainers, tutors, and business clients face when visiting a Charleston home. Dog bite incidents can happen in both residential and home-business settings. Here’s what injured Charleston residents and workers need to know.

How Dog Bites Happen in Charleston Home Visits: Common Scenarios

Whether you’re visiting a home-based business or visiting homes as part of your work, a homeowner’s dog can be fine one minute, and then escape, lash out, and bite in an instant. 

Recent examples include a South Carolina postal worker. While making deliveries, the postal worker was attacked by a homeowner’s dog. The postal worker had to be airlifted to a local hospital for treatment.

*Disclaimer: Steinberg Law Firm was not directly involved in this case.

A person may be bitten in many scenarios. Unfamiliarity with the dog or environment can lead to a dangerous encounter. Owners who fail to restrain or control their dogs can also create a situation in which a dog bites or attacks a visitor. These situations create unsafe work conditions, and self-employed individuals or independent contractors may not have access to workers’ compensation or other benefits. 

What South Carolina Law Says About Dog Bite Liability

South Carolina has a “strict liability” dog bite statute. Owners are nearly always responsible when their dog bites someone, whether or not the dog has a history of biting people.

Under South Carolina’s dog bite liability law (S.C. Code § 47-3-110), an owner is liable if a dog bites or otherwise attacks a person who is either in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the dog owner. 

Strict dog owner liability can apply to contractors, trainers, tutors, and business clients. It also applies to postal workers and other public servants carrying out their duties under South Carolina law. Trespassers are not covered, and provocation by the victim is a defense.” 

What to Do Immediately After a Dog Bite in Charleston

Prompt medical care is a must. Dog bite wounds can introduce bacteria deep into the body, greatly increasing the risk of infection. Excessive bleeding may occur, and some wounds require stitches to close. If the dog’s rabies vaccination status is unknown, preemptive rabies treatment may be needed as well.

• Report dog bites to the South Carolina Department of Public Health. You can call Berkeley County’s office between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM EST at (843) 953-4713. For after-hours and weekends, call 1-888-847-0902. For a list of other regional offices, check the list here. 
• According to Section 47-5-90, every physician must report an animal bite to the county’s health department by the end of the next working day. If an animal bite victim does not seek professional evaluation for their injuries, the responsibility for reporting the bite falls on them; it must be reported to the health department by the end of the next working day. 

The Animal Bite Incident Report helps the DPH protect others from harm. The DPH Rabies Prevention Program Staff is responsible for conducting an investigation, following the SC Rabies Control Act, and implementing processes. 

After being bitten by a dog or another animal, seek medical attention for your injuries, gather as much information as you can, and speak to an attorney who can help. 

Who Can Be Sued? Navigating Liability and Insurance in Dog Bite Cases

South Carolina law holds dog owners liable when their dog attacks someone who is lawfully visiting the owner’s home, with only a few exceptions. This rule includes dog owners who run businesses from their homes. It also covers people who visit South Carolina homes for business, such as contractors, delivery drivers, landscapers, and utility workers. 

Homeowner’s Insurance

Often, an injured person files a claim against a dog owner’s homeowners’ insurance policy. According to Business Insider, 22 states follow breed-specific legislation for homeowner’s insurance policies. This means that, depending on the breed, a homeowner’s pet may be denied coverage. Common breeds include Huskies, German Shepherds, Chow Chows, and Pitbulls.

Others do not exclude dogs by breed but may refuse to cover a dog if it has a history of aggressive behavior. If a dog is covered, the liability portion of the homeowner’s insurance will cover medical expenses and damages for guests who are bitten on a homeowner’s property.

Business Insurance

It’s important for dog owners to ensure their policies cover home-based businesses. For extra protection, a homeowner may want to consider adding an umbrella policy or business liability insurance. Business liability insurance can cover medical expenses and legal court fees if a dog bite incident occurs.

Professionals who visit a home as part of their work may also be covered by workers’ compensation if they are employees and have a third-party case against the homeowner or dog owner. Independent contractors, however, do not receive workers’ compensation coverage. Filing a claim for a serious dog bite can help independent contractors protect their rights and recover compensation.

Compensation and Settlements: What Can Dog Bite Victims Expect in Charleston?

In 2024, insurers paid out $1.6 billion in dog bite claims nationwide. Dog bite cases have increased in recent years, with over 22,600 cases reported in 2024. The average cost per claim in the US is now over $69,000. 

Dog bite claims seek compensation for several losses. Common losses in dog bite claims include: 

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Mental and emotional trauma.

Dog bites are a national problem, but recovering full, fair compensation requires local experience. The team at the Steinberg Law Firm can help. Get started today by filling out an online form, and a member of our team will help set up an appointment with an attorney. 

Prevention, Protection, and Charleston Community Accountability

Dog bite safety affects the entire Charleston community. Every member of the community can help reduce the number of dog attacks and injuries. 

If you run a home-based business in Charleston:

• Include information about your dog on your appointment form or when you call. Tell prospective clients that there is a dog on the premises. Describe your process for ensuring your dog does not come in contact with visitors. This gives business visitors a chance to prepare for an encounter. 
• Give your dog a safe space away from business visitors. This helps a dog feel calmer and at home. 
• Make sure your dog feels comfortable. Ensure the dog gets regular exercise and has constant access to food, water, and a beloved bed or toy. Dogs whose needs are met are less likely to become nervous or aggressive. 
• Ensure you know what to do in the event of a dog attack. There are certain steps to take when a small or large dog attacks another person. Avoid eye contact, use distraction tactics, and stay calm. Seek medical attention as soon as possible and then reach out to an experienced dog bite attorney. 

Service providers can also take steps to protect themselves and their employees from the risks of dog attacks or injuries. Best practices include:

• Disclosure. Require clients or customers to disclose whether they have a dog on the premises when they set up an appointment. 
• Safety. Tell customers that the dog must be secured in a safe place away from workers. Remind dog owners that this is for the dog’s safety and health. 

Your Dog, Your Responsibility: Safety Steps for Charleston, SC Homeowners

Homeowners in Charleston, South Carolina, should take dog ownership seriously because a bite can happen fast, and it often happens right where people feel safest, at home, in the yard, or at the front door. 

If you know your dog is anxious, territorial, or has shown aggressive behavior, training is not optional; it is part of being a responsible owner.

• Secure fencing
• Locked doors and gates
• A leash when guests arrive
• Clear rules for how the dog is handled 

Good ownership also means reading your dog’s warning signs, growling, stiff posture, guarding food or toys, and getting help before it escalates. Dogs need structure, supervision, and boundaries, not the kind of “anything goes” treatment people sometimes give when they treat a dog like a child. 

Being a good owner, neighbor, and human in South Carolina includes managing your dog’s behavior around mail carriers, contractors, delivery drivers, kids on bikes, and other visitors, because everyone has a right to feel safe walking up to a Charleston home. Both home-based businesses can make home visits safer. Check out free educational resources. 

Contact Steinberg Law Firm Today

Dogs can be our best friends. Yet, they can become stressed or aggressive, too, especially when strangers enter their territory. Whether you run a home-based business or send employees to Charleston homes, take steps to protect home visitors from the risk of dog bites. If you’re injured, speak to an experienced Charleston dog bite lawyer at Steinberg Law Firm today. Contact us today by filling out an online form.

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