The specific value of a dog bite claim comes from the specific harm the bite caused. Medical bills, scarring, future treatment, lost income, and emotional distress all factor in, and so can punitive damages in the right case. To know what drives value helps you see why two bites that look similar can be worth very different amounts.
The starting point for most claims is the cost of treatment. Emergency care, wound cleaning, stitches, antibiotics, and follow-up visits all count, and serious bites can require surgery.
Future medical needs matter just as much. Dog bites can leave wounds that need scar revision or reconstructive surgery later, and a claim can account for that future care rather than only the bills already paid.
Dog bites frequently cause permanent scarring, and that scarring carries real value in a claim. Visible scars on the face, arms, or hands can affect a person for life, which courts and insurers recognize.
Scarring tends to weigh especially heavily when the victim is a child. A lasting facial scar on a young child can be a significant part of a claim, and a parent or guardian can pursue that recovery on the child's behalf.
A serious bite can keep you out of work during treatment and recovery, and lost wages are a recoverable part of the claim. If the injury affects your ability to work going forward, that loss can be included too.
Emotional harm is also compensable. Many bite victims develop anxiety or a lasting fear of dogs, and that distress is a genuine loss the law accounts for alongside the physical injuries.
Most dog bite claims involve compensation for actual losses, but some involve punitive damages. These are available only when there is clear and convincing evidence of willful, wanton, or reckless conduct under S.C. Code 15-32-520.
South Carolina caps punitive damages at the greater of three times compensatory damages or 500,000 dollars under S.C. Code 15-32-530, though certain exceptions remove the cap. An owner who knew a dog was dangerous and let it roam, for example, is the kind of fact pattern where punitive damages may come into play.
Whatever the losses add up to, South Carolina's comparative negligence rule can adjust the final recovery. Under S.C. Code § 15-38-15, a plaintiff's damages are reduced by their percentage of fault, and recovery is barred if that fault reaches 51% or more, a rule that traces back to Nelson v. Concrete Supply Co. and was later codified. (Note: § 15-38-15 itself is primarily about apportioning liability among multiple defendants; the 51%-bar framework is the broader modified comparative negligence standard South Carolina courts apply.)
Because most claims are paid through the owner's or renters' insurance, the insurer will look hard for any provocation or trespass that shifts fault onto you, the same defense built into § 47-3-110's liability standard. Documenting that you were lawfully present and did not provoke the dog protects the full value of the claim.
| Value driver | What it can include |
|---|---|
| Medical | Emergency care, surgery, future scar revision |
| Non-economic | Scarring, disfigurement, pain, fear of dogs |
| Punitive | Available only for willful or reckless conduct |
There is no set figure. Value depends on the severity of the injury, scarring, future care, lost income, and the emotional harm the bite caused.
Yes. Permanent scarring and disfigurement are compensable, and they often increase a claim's value, especially for visible scars or injuries to a child.
Sometimes. Punitive damages require clear and convincing evidence of willful, wanton, or reckless conduct under S.C. Code 15-32-520.
Yes. Under South Carolina's comparative negligence rule, your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, and barred only at 51% or more.
Often yes. Many dog bite claims are paid through the owner's homeowners or renters liability coverage rather than by the owner personally.
The general deadline is three years from the date of the bite under S.C. Code 15-3-530.
Putting a fair number on a dog bite claim takes a close look at the injury, the future care it will require, and the lasting effect on the person.
Our dog bite lawyers at The Arndt Law Firm help victims across South Carolina document the full scope of their losses. You can reach out to our team at (843) 273-8149 to talk through your claim with our team.
Last reviewed: August 2026
This post was reviewed by Jonathan S. Arndt, licensed in South Carolina since 2018.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with The Arndt Law Firm. Every case is different; for advice about your situation, speak with a licensed attorney.
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