Matthew Trusch
Head of Personal Injury
English
In England and Wales we are dog-loving nations, in fact almost a third of people in the UK own a dog. However it’s easy to forget that they are ultimately animals and can be unpredictable and aggressive.
If a dog that wasn’t yours bit or attacked you or one of your family, this can be terrifying and can cause serious injuries and emotional distress. Dog owners have a lawful responsibility to always have their dog under control, whether it’s on or off the lead, to ensure the dog is not a danger to others.
Can you make a compensation claim for a dog bite?
In short the answer is yes but there are a few things to consider. The first being who you would be claiming against. Generally if the dog is insured you can claim against the insurance company who covers the dog but if you’re not sure who’s dog bit you or they are uninsured you may be able to make a Criminal Injury Compensation Claim.
Fill in the form below to get in touch with one of our dedicated team members, or call our team today on: 0800 260 5010
We're rated‘Excellent’This means that you could be entitled to compensation if a dog caused you injury. Get in touch with our experts for a Free Case Assessment - we may be able to take on your claim on a No Win, No Fee basis.
We have helped many people claim compensation for serious injuries caused by dogs, such as:
Sadly some dog bites/attacks, especially to small children, can be fatal. While compensation can never reverse what has happened, we are here to listen and offer our guidance if you would like to make a claim.
There are many scenarios where you or your child may have been injured by a dog. For example, we could help you claim compensation if:
We can ask for early interim payments from the dog owner if they admit responsibility, so you can access specialist rehabilitation and care if you need it urgently. If you’ve had to take time off work because of your injuries, compensation can help with any financial stress by taking into account any loss of income you’ve had.
Get in touch with our expert Personal Injury lawyers today, to see if you could be eligible to make a claim. We can investigate how the incident happened and how your injuries are affecting your life.
What should you do if you have had a dog bite and want to make a claim?
We have secured thousands of pounds for people who have had bites and other injuries from dogs – the exact amount of compensation you could get will depend on:
The amount of time it will take to get compensation for a dog bite will depend on a number of factors. For example, who was responsible for your injury, whether they accept responsibility, how severe your injuries are and what kind of care and rehabilitation you might need. The majority of these claims do not go to court.
You can trust in our nationally leading Personal Injury lawyers to take all of this into account to work towards securing you the best compensation possible.
Here is what to expect with a Dog Bite or Injury claim once you get in touch. We’ll keep you up to date throughout and our aim is to make the process as smooth as possible.
If we take your claim forward, our team will investigate the circumstances that led to the dog bite or attack, and gather evidence to prove your case. This could include medical records, CCTV, witness statements or photos/videos, so try to keep these. We’ll get an independent medical expert to assess and report on your injuries to get an objective opinion.
If your injury is serious you might benefit from specialist care or rehabilitation – you may even need this urgently. We can get this in place early before your claim is settled so you can focus on your recovery. You might be able to access private healthcare, over and above what the NHS can offer you.
We’ll contact the other person and ask them to admit responsibility for the dog bite or attack. We’ll negotiate and take all the factors we’ve investigated into account, to work towards the maximum compensation for you.
If the claim goes to court, which is quite rare, will support you throughout the process. If we win your case, we’ll make sure you get your settlement as soon as possible.
You can trust in our expert Personal Injury solicitors to get you the straightforward legal advice and extra support you might need while you make your claim for compensation. Here’s why you should choose us.
Our lawyers are nationally recognised for their expertise and many them are accredited by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and the Motor Accident Solicitors Society (MASS).
Our team have years of experience achieving thousands of pounds in compensation for people who have been bitten or attacked by dogs, or in accidents caused by a dog.
We’ll always keep you up to date on your case – the law can be complicated but we keep things as simple as possible.
We have access to the UK’s best clinicians, occupational therapists, psychologists and more. We can get you on the road to recovery while we work hard to settle your claim.
Here are just a few examples of where we’ve achieved thousands of pounds for people with dog bites and other types of injuries and helped them access the care they need:
Patricia Howells, found herself the victim of a vicious dog bite in 2016 and fell back on a piece of legislation that is over 40 years old in order to gain over £7,000 in compensation. Personal Injury Solicitor Jonathan Thursby tells the story.
Our client was working as an HGV driver on a building site when he was struck by a falling branch on the head, neck and shoulder which caused him to suffer a serious injury and to develop the debilitating condition FND (Functional Neurological Disorder).
Our client was working as a delivery driver and was attending a customer’s premises to deliver a pallet. To access the back of her van she used a Rhino safety access step which had been fitted to the back of the vehicle. The driver stepped onto one side of the step to retrieve a fallen box. As she did so, the step gave way causing our client to fall backwards.
We often take on claims on a No Win, No Fee basis. This means that if we don’t win your case, you don’t pay a penny. It also means you don’t have to worry about paying anything upfront, which can ease financial stress.
We’ll always be clear and open about financial costs throughout, so there will never be any surprise costs.
Usually, you have 3 years from the date you got bitten/attacked to start your claim. However, if you have any complications or a condition that develops later as a result of the injury, the 3-year time limit will start when you’re diagnosed with this.
You can also make a claim on behalf of someone who lacks the mental capacity to do so – there are no time limits on this.
Sadly, some dog attacks can be fatal – if you would like to make a claim on behalf of a loved one who has passed away, we are here to help. Generally, the time limit on this is 3 years from the date they pass away.
We’d always advise you to get in touch as soon as possible to see what your legal rights are. It’s better to contact us early to give yourself the best chance at securing compensation, as we may ask you to hold onto evidence and do a couple of things on your side to help us strengthen your claim when it comes to it.
Under the Animals Act 1971, anyone who keeps animals can be found lawfully responsible for any harm or injury the animal causes to someone else.
This means that if a dog or other animal injures you, you may be able to make a claim for compensation against the owner. The law around this can be complex, but our experienced Personal Injury lawyers are experts in this field so we can advise you. Contact us for free legal advice on 0800 260 5010.
Some pet insurance policies include ‘Third Party Liability’, which can cover dog owners for claims like these.
In some circumstances, the dog owner may have household insurance which covers them for ‘public liability’ if they have caused an accident resulting in an injury to the member of the public (including dog bites/attacks)
If our investigations show that the owner is not insured, then it is more difficult to pursue a claim. You can make a claim against an individual, but we’d only recommend this if you know the person would have the financial means to pay anything the court might order them to.
In some limited circumstances, if you have your own home insurance, you may be covered by what is known as a ‘reverse indemnity clause’, so that if you claim against an individual who does not have the financial means to pay, you can claim via your own household insurers and your insurance would pay the damages.
If the dog attack is reported to and investigated by the police, and is deemed to be an intentional crime of violence, then you can make a claim via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
If a banned breed of dog has bitten you, you may have a strong chance of claiming for compensation. Not only is the owner breaking the law by owning the dog in question, but they’ve also been negligent by letting the dog cause harm to another person.
The Dangerous Dogs Act was introduced in 1991 and involved banning the ownership, breeding, exchange and sale or four breeds of dogs in the UK:
It enforced all dog owners to register, insure, neuter, tattoo, and microchip their dogs.
Even if the dog was not a banned breed, you could still be eligible for compensation because dog owners have a legal responsibility to keep their dog under control. They must ensure their dog does not create public nuisance, and they’re responsible if their dog attacks another person.
Claiming compensation for a stray dog bite or attack can be more complicated. You could try and find the owner, but if you’ve been unable to, you may have grounds to claim against the council or anyone responsible for the public place where you were bit, e.g. in a park. You can also report a stray dog.
Call us on 0800 260 5010 and we’ll listen to your situation and use our expertise to tell you the best way forward.
Yes, in certain circumstances it’s possible to make a claim on behalf of a child or someone who does not have the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves.
Sadly, children are particularly vulnerable to attacks by dogs, because of their height, natural inquisitiveness and perhaps not being as alert to the potential dangers of dogs. Babies and young infants can be particularly vulnerable, and the following accidents can happen:
You can make a claim for compensation on behalf of your child at any point when they’re under 18. Once they turn 18 they can make a claim themselves, but then a three-year time limit will apply, so they will have until their 21st birthday to start the claim.
We can even help you set up a Personal Injury trust as the Court hold the compensation until your child turns 18.
Get in touch for free initial advice if you would like to make a claim on behalf of your child.
Fill in the form below to get in touch with one of our dedicated team members, or call our team today on: 0800 260 5010
