Can I Claim Compensation If I Have Been Bitten By A Dog?

Dog attacks are not very common, but they do happen, and when you are the victim of a dog attack it can be a sudden and very traumatic experience, often with long-term psychological consequences and causing severe injuries, even death. Only this month a four-year-old girl was mauled by a family pet in her own back garden and died at the scene.

Some dog attacks can be accidental and relatively harmless, but all dog owners have responsibilities to control and look after their dogs, and therefore, in some cases it can be proven that a dog owner has been negligent and this contributed to yours or someone else’s injuries. And if you have been attacked by a vicious dog and you believe the owner is at fault, you may be able to claim compensation regardless of whether your injuries are minor or major.

In the UK, all dogs should be registered, and dog owners have a responsibility to keep their dog under control. If their dog attacks someone in an unprovoked attack, the owner may be held responsible. Many dog owners choose to have insurance for their pets to cover such eventualities, which may include third party liability cover, and which can assist in the event of an attack.

What to do if you are the victim of an attack

If you have been attacked by a dog and this has resulted in injuries, it is important that you act quickly to establish facts and collect evidence of your injuries and anything which shows that the owner was at fault. So in the event of a dog attack you should:

1. Obtain the name and address of the dog owner, ask if they have any pet insurance and who the policy is with. If possible, take a photo of the attacking dog.
2. Take the details of any witnesses to the attack.
3. Always report the matter to the Police; it is important that all dog bites are reported as the dog may have attacked before and hence your information could prevent a future re-occurrence.
4. Take photos of your injuries and keep a note of any medical visits or treatments.
5. If a bite has broken the skin, always seek immediate medical treatment. Immediate treatment may be needed to help prevent infection, which can be a serious complication of dog bites. Even a relatively minor bite, if infected, can become very serious.
6. As a result of your injuries, you may require medical treatment or surgery and you may need time off work and suffer a loss of earnings. Keep a record of any such expenses as these can be included in your claim.

As with most personal injury claims, it is important that you initiate a claim within three years of the original incident or injury. There are exceptions to this time limit based on age and the mental capacity of the person making the claim, but generally speaking you have three years to initiate the claim. But given how injuries can heal and witnesses can be hard to track down or rely upon after time has passed, it is important that you act upon these steps above as soon as possible.

Making a dog bite claim with Spencers Solicitors

At Spencers Solicitors we know how stressful and challenging life can be in the aftermath of suffering a personal injury. In addition to recovering from your injuries and the trauma of the event, you may be forced to have time off work and your injuries can affect your everyday lifestyle. This is why our personal injury service is dedicated to getting you back on your feet in every sense, as well as progressing your personal injury claim.

The Personal Injury team at Spencers Solicitors are experienced in dealing with dog bite claims and will happily discuss your case and advise you on its likelihood of being successful.  Your dog bite compensation claim will be able to cover remuneration for your injuries and your stress and anxiety caused by the attack, but it can also cover the costs of medical treatment and any loss of earnings.

So contact our personal injury team at Spencers Solicitors today and we can start to discuss your dog bite claim and work towards seeking suitable compensation for your injuries and consequential costs straight away.