Hunting Accidents South Dakota

Welcome to the South Dakota hunting accident page. Here you will find resources on laws and regulations and other helpful information if you were involved in a hunting accident. South Dakota has many laws that regulate hunting and protect people that are injured in hunting related incidents. South Dakota hunting accident attorneys at Fields Law are able to help you or a loved one if you are a victim of a hunting injury.

The last complete survey done in 2001 regarding South Dakota hunting showed there were 209,000 hunters in South Dakota. This number includes 119,000 non residents who hunted in South Dakota. Residents and nonresidents averaged 12 days of hunting per year.

South Dakota Hunting

About 90 percent of land in South Dakota is privately owned. The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks has developed programs to manage hunting on private land.

Hunting Injury South Dakota Statistics

In 2006 there were a total of 29 hunting accidents. South Dakota had no fatal hunting injuries. The majority of the hunting injuries were two-party accidents. Most hunting accidents in South Dakota occurred while the shooter was swinging on game.

South Dakota Hunting Laws and Regulations

South Dakota hunting laws involve many areas such as firearm licensing, trespass, negligence and wrongful death. South Dakota hunting regulations cover areas including hunting seasons, shooting hours, hunting licenses and blaze orange requirements.

Resource Link: South Dakota Hunting Regulations

Negligence - South Dakota

Hunting accidents in South Dakota are primarily covered under the general laws of negligence. The statute that covers negligence is located at S.D. Codified Laws §15-2-14(3). This statute states that a person who is injured by the negligent action of another has 3 years in which to bring their claim.

Wrongful Death - South Dakota

There is a separate law that covers a family member or loved that one has died as a result of a hunting injury. South Dakota has a statute of limitation of 3 years in which to bring a claim. This statute is located at S.D. Codified Laws §21-5-3.

Minor Hunting Victims - South Dakota

There is an exception to the above time limits if a minor (anyone under the age of 18 when the injury occurs) suffers a hunting injury. South Dakota hunting victims who are minors have one year after reaching the age of majority (18) in which to bring a claim for injuries or wrongful death. This statute is located at S.D. Codified Laws §15-2-1.

How To Figure Out Who Is At Fault?

In the majority of cases in South Dakota the injured victim must prove the person causing the injury was negligent. In South Dakota a person is negligent if they fail to exercise ordinary care. To prove a negligence claim in South Dakota there are four factors you must prove:

1. The person who caused your injury owed you a duty,
2. The other person failed to carry out the duty they owed you,
3. You suffered damages, and
4. The other person's failure caused your injury.

South Dakota has the pure comparative fault rule, which provides that you may recover for your damages when your contributory negligence was slight in comparison with the negligence of others, though your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

If more than one person is negligent in causing your injury, each person who is negligent is responsible for no more than twice their proportional share of the total damages as long as they are less than 50% at fault. Each individual's relative degree of fault is considered if the fault is disproportionate among several negligent individuals.

Hunting Accident Attorneys South Dakota

If you or a loved one has suffered a hunting injury you may be entitled to file a claim against the responsible party. Fields Law has South Dakota hunting accident lawyers that can investigate your hunting injury claim and help you with medical bills, lost wages and other financial compensation. We have the experience and resources to fight for justice and fair compensation for those injured in hunting accidents. South Dakota has certain time limits in which to bring a claim. We can help you decide how to proceed.

There is no charge to evaluate your claim and there are no fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Hunting injury lawyers protecting the citizens of South Dakota and representing hunting accident victims throughout the United States.