Dog Attacks
We can help you claim compensation for an injury caused by a dog bite
We know that being attacked by a dog can be a traumatic experience. You may have suffered a lasting injury or feel cautious or scared around dogs as a result of the attack.
If you’ve been bitten or attacked by somebody else’s dog, and it wasn’t your fault, you could make a claim for compensation.
We understand everybody’s injury and claim is unique, that’s why we can provide free and confidential advice on 0800 540 4258 .
When you call us there is no obligation to claim; we’re here to listen and advise you if you have a dog bite compensation claim. We’ll also answer any questions you might have about claiming. And if you decide to make a claim, we’ll put you in contact with a specialist solicitor.
Making a dog bite claim
To help us with your dog bite claim it’s useful to have the following information to hand when you call us:
- The name and address of the dog owner
- The police details, if the police were contacted
- And if possible, whether the owner has pet or home insurance
You should always report a dog bite or dog attack to the police. You may be the first to be attacked by that dog, or possibly be one of many people to have been attacked.
By notifying the police, you are potentially preventing somebody else from experiencing a dog attack. The police can then make sure the owner takes the right safety measures to keep everybody safe.
If you have been injured by a known dangerous dog then your dog bite compensation claim is more likely to be successful. Especially if the dog’s owner has not used advised safety measures. This could be the dog owner choosing not to use a muzzle or lead, despite being advised to by the police.
What to do if you've been bitten by a dog
If you’ve been bitten or attacked by a dog, we recommend seeking medical attention for your injury.
Dog bites can easily become infected and commonly appear less serious than they are. By seeking medical attention, you can be given the piece of mind that your injury is clean and isn’t going to get worse.
Once you’ve sought medical attention, if you wish to pursue a dog bite claim, your medical records can be used to support your compensation claim.
We also recommend making a note of the dog owner’s details, such as name and address. Your solicitor will need these details in order to pursue your claim.
Dog bites while on holiday
If you were bitten by a dog whilst on holiday, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Dogs abroad can carry rabies or other viruses that can be harmful or fatal to humans.
For more information about accidents while abroad, visit our holiday accidents page.
Children and dog attacks
If your child has suffered an injury as the result of a dog attack, you should seek immediate medical attention.
We can help you make a compensation claim for the injury your child has suffered, if it was somebody else’s fault.
Please visit our claiming on behalf of a child page here for more information. Or you can give us a call on 0800 540 4258 today to discuss your child’s experience and how we could help them get compensation for their dog bite.
The Dangerous Dogs Act
After a series of newspaper articles in 1991 about the rise of dog attacks, the government introduced The Dangerous Dog Act 1991.
The Dangerous Dog Act is legislation designed to try and protect the public from dangerous dogs.
As part of the Act, several dogs were highlighted as dangerous breeds.
These were:
- Pit Bull Terriers
- Japanese Tosa (also called a Japanese Mastiff or Fighting Dog)
- Dogo Argentino (Argentinean Mastiff)
- Fila Braziliero (Brazilian Mastiff)
Owning one of these dogs means the owner has to meet strict requirements designed to keep you safe. These requirements include keeping the dog on a lead and muzzled when in public. They also require the dog to be tattooed, chipped, insured and registered on the Index of Exempted Breeds.
If you’ve suffered an injury from one of these breeds of dog, then dog attack compensation could be payable; even if there is no history of aggression.
It’s also important to remember that any dog can be a dangerous dog. If your injury was caused by a dog breed not listed above, you might still be able to make a compensation claim.
Contact us today to start your dog bite compensation claim
With over 20 years’ experience working with personal injury claims, we can help you secure the compensation you deserve. Claiming can also help to prevent your experience from happening to anybody else by highlighting a dangerous dog.
Starting your claim is easy. You can contact us on 0800 540 4258 or fill in one of our short forms and we’ll give you a callback.
Don’t worry if you still have questions about the claims process. When we speak to you there is no obligation to claim. We can provide free and confidential advice based on your experience and answer any questions about claiming you might have.