Can I claim for a dog bite? If you have been bitten by a dog bite then you are entitled to seek compensation for your injuries as well as any financial losses or additional costs you may have incurred.
To succeed in your claim there are a number of key elements to consider.
How serious is the injury?
You can bring a claim for any level of injury but it is unlikely that a solicitor will be prepared to act for you if your injury is worth less than £1500. This is known as the ‘small claims limit’ and for a solicitor to be able to claim any legal fees from the third party/dog owner’s insurers the injury has to be worth in excess of £1500. This can include mental trauma but in the main, your solicitor will want evidence that you have a sufficient physical injury to justify the claim.
Do you know who owns the dog?
If you don’t know who owns the dog and there is no real way of finding out then we are afraid there is not a lot that can be done. There needs a third party against whom the claim can be made.
If the matter has been reported to the police or the local dog warden then they may be able to assist. If the police can trace the owner they may be reluctant to provide you with the details however your solicitor will be able to obtain a report in relation to the incident. This will include the other side’s details if known.
If the dog was set upon you deliberately or the incident occurred in the commission of a crime then you may be entitled to make an application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority even if the dog’s owner is not known.
Is the dog owner insured?
Pet insurance is not compulsory so even if you have a sufficiently serious injury and we know who owns the dog if there is no insurance it is unlikely that a claim can be made.
The insurance may be third-party liability cover as part of the overall pet policy or, in some instances, the dog owner’s home insurance policy may provide appropriate cover.
In the absence of insurance, it may be able to still bring the claim if the dog owner is known to have access to ready funds to cover both your compensation and our fees. This is a rare event and evidence of assets will be required before we proceed with such a claim on a no win-no fee basis.
As neither pet nor house insurance is compulsory there is no central register for such and so a claim may be taken on but not progressed once it becomes obvious there is no insurance cover and no chance of recovery from the dog owner’s pocket.
Bringing your claim
If we have established that the injury is sufficiently serious and we have the details of the third party we can start to deal with your claim.
Once we have dealt with the initial paperwork we will draft the letter of claim to the third party setting out the allegations of negligence i.e., why we are holding them at fault for your injuries.
The allegations will be based upon a breach of the Animals Act and negligence in allowing the incident to happen.
What you can claim
- You can claim for your injury; this can include the physical pain and suffering caused by the bite and any ongoing discomfort and limitation.
- You can claim for any mental trauma and upset caused by the attack.
- You can claim for all and any financial losses resulting from the incident. This can include:
- lost income for any periods of absence from work due to the injury, recovery, and treatment requirements,
- treatment costs if paid for on a private basis
- additional expenses such as travel, parking, etc
- gratuitous care- help from family and friends with tasks you cannot do yourself due to your injury e.g. shopping, cleaning, etc. You can claim on an hourly rate even if you have not paid your helpers.
- In more extreme cases you can seek to recover the cost of cover-up creams/remedial surgery (plastic/cosmetic)
How we can help
Subject to a sufficient level of injury and you/the police having the owner’s details then we can deal with your claim on a no win-no fee basis. This means that if the claim is not successful due to a lack of evidence or there being no insurance in place then you do not pay for the work we have done in support of your claim.
If the claim is successful then we will retain an agreed percentage of your compensation in relation to our legal fees. This deduction will be agreed upon at the outset.
To see if we can help you to claim compensation for your dog bite get in touch with us today – call 0113 224 7851 or email [email protected].
Being bitten by a dog can be a traumatic and painful experience. In addition to the physical injury, there may be long-term psychological effects and financial loss. If you have been bitten by a dog, taking the right steps immediately after the incident can significantly improve your chances of making a successful dog bite compensation claim.
Identify and Notify the Dog’s Owner
To bring a successful personal injury claim for a dog bite, identifying the dog’s owner is critical. If you don’t know who owns the dog and they cannot be traced through other means, then you will not be able to pursue your claim.
If the incident happened while you were working for example, as a delivery driver, postal worker, or tradesperson take a clear photograph of the property where the incident occurred. This not only helps confirm the address but also provides useful evidence of your presence at the time of the attack. If the dog owner is on-site, ensure they acknowledge the incident, either verbally or in writing. If not reported at the time, the owner may later deny that the attack occurred or claim it happened elsewhere.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Even if the wound appears minor, any dog bite that breaks the skin should be examined by a healthcare professional. You may require a tetanus injection or antibiotics to prevent infection. At your medical appointment, explain how the bite occurred this information can support your claim later, particularly if the dog owner disputes the circumstances.
Take clear photographs of your injuries, ideally from the time of the incident and as they develop. These images are important evidence and can help assess the value of your claim.
Report the Incident to the Appropriate Parties
If the dog bite occurred while you were working, inform your employer as soon as possible. Make sure an incident report form is completed, as this can be used as evidence in support of your claim and allegations.
You may also wish to report the incident to the police, particularly if the dog was out of control in a public place. Although this is not a legal requirement for bringing a civil claim, a police report can strengthen your case.
Get Expert Legal Advice on Dog Bite Claims
To pursue a dog bite injury claim, it is vital to get advice from a solicitor who has expertise and experience in this area of law. At Ison Harrison Solicitors, we have a dedicated legal team who specialise in securing compensation for victims of dog attacks.
For your initial review and assessment get in touch with us today – call 0113 224 7851 or email us at [email protected].
Your claim can be dealt with on a no win no fee basis.
No, there is no requirement to report the matter to the police and the failure to do so will not impact upon your claim; equally, reporting the matter to the police will not necessarily increase your chances of a successful claim although if there is a conviction it can be used as evidence in support of negligence.
This only applies to civil claims. If, as mentioned above, you are the victim of the use of a dog as a weapon then this incident needs to be reported to the police as soon as possible so as to allow you to make an application to the CICA.
If you have any questions as regards claiming compensation for injuries caused by a dog bite; get in touch with us today.
For a review and assessment of your dog bite claim get in touch with us today – call 0113 224 7851 or email [email protected].
Bringing a claim for compensation rests on the basis that you have suffered loss because of the negligent actions of another party. This is no different for a dog bite claim. Unfortunately, the fact that you may have a claim doesn’t automatically mean that you will receive compensation.
Dog bite claims are usually covered by specialist pet insurance or third-party liability cover under a household insurance policy. If no such insurance is in place, then the chances of receiving compensation are almost nil.
If there are no insurers to pay the compensation, then the only option is to seek recovery directly from the owners of the dog. This can be more difficult. If it can be shown that the dog owner has sufficient assets, perhaps in the form of equity in their property then we may look to pursue the claim. However, this in itself is not a guarantee, and each case is based on the individual facts of that incident.
Start Your Claim Today
If you’ve been bitten by a dog and want to know your rights, contact our expert team at Ison Harrison for free legal advice and find out how we can help you secure the compensation you deserve.
For a review and assessment of your dog bite claim, call 0113 224 7851 or email [email protected].
We are occasionally asked “I don’t know who owns the dog or where it lives. Can I still make a claim?”
In most cases, unfortunately, the answer is ‘no’. Unless there is an identifiable third-party/dog owner there is no one against whom the claim can be brought.
An exception to this is if the attack was a result of the actions of a party other than the owner of the dog. For instance, it may be possible to bring a claim if your employer allows animals onto the premises but fails to ensure that there is adequate supervision of such. While the bite is a result of the animal, the negligence has been caused by your employer. It may be that your employer sends you to work in an area where there is a high risk of animal attack but fails to provide you with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) or to take other steps to safeguard your well-being.
As can be appreciated, such cases are few and far between, and in the vast majority of claims, we will need at the very least the address of the dog owner at the time of the attack.
If a dog was deliberately set upon you by persons unknown, then you could make an application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (the “CICA”). The CICA is a government-funded organisation that makes a compensation payment to victims of violent crime. This includes injured parties who sustain an injury as a result of a dog attack in a situation whereby the dog is used as a weapon, for instance, if a dog is set upon you during an assault or where it is used to defend premises where criminal activity is taking place.
In such circumstances, you do need to know the owner of the dog but the matter must be reported to the police. It is best to report the matter within 72 hours to comply with the CICA requirements.
Start Your Claim Today
If you’ve been bitten by a dog and want to know your rights, contact our expert team at Ison Harrison for free legal advice and find out how we can help you secure the compensation you deserve.
Get in touch today – call us on 0113 224 7851 or email [email protected].
Many people believe that a dog must have a history of aggression for a victim to successfully claim compensation after an attack. This is not the case. You can still make a claim for injury and loss caused by a dog bite if the dog had shown no signs of aggression before the incident.
At Ison Harrison, we specialise in helping dog bite victims claim compensation for their injuries, including both physical and emotional trauma, as well as financial losses and expenses. If you’ve been bitten, even by a dog with no prior record of aggression, you may still be entitled to make a claim.
The Law on Dog Bite Claims in England and Wales
There are two main legal routes to a successful claim:
Liability Under the Animals Act 1971
The law states that a dog owner can be liable if:
- The injury was caused by the dog’s behaviour, even if it had never bitten before.
- The risk of injury was foreseeable, meaning the dog’s size, strength, or breed could make it dangerous in certain situations.
- The owner or keeper knew the dog could act in a way that might cause harm—even if it had never done so before.
This means that even if the dog was generally well-behaved, the owner may still be responsible if it bites or attacks someone.
Negligence by the Dog Owner
If an owner fails to control their dog in a public or private space, they could be found negligent. Some common examples include:
- Letting a dog roam off-lead in a public area.
- Failing to secure a dog properly at home, leading to an attack on a visitor.
- Ignoring signs that the dog was overexcited, fearful, or aggressive in certain situations.
If the attack was caused by the owner’s negligence, you may have strong grounds for a compensation claim. The fact that the incident occurred would generally infer that the owner had been negligent. If they had not been negligent then the incident would not have happened.
Why You Shouldn’t Delay in Making a Claim
If you’ve been bitten by a dog, it’s important to act quickly, not just for your health and peace of mind but also for your legal rights.
- The time limit to make a claim is usually three years from the date of the attack. If the injured party was under the age of 18 the clock runs from their 18th birthday.
- Medical records are crucial, seek treatment immediately to document your injuries. The records and subsequent medical report will be used to support and value your claim
- Evidence matters; take photos of your injuries on a regular basis and, if possible, obtain the details of the dog and its owner.
How We Can Help with No Win, No Fee Dog Bite Claims
If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of a dog bite claims we can deal with your claim on a No Win, No Fee basis, meaning you won’t pay anything unless we win your case.
We help clients recover compensation for:
- Pain, suffering, and psychological trauma.
- Long-term damage, including nerve injuries and scarring.
- Medical treatment costs (including surgery and scarring treatment).
- Loss of earnings if the injury affects your ability to work.
Start Your Claim Today
If you’ve been bitten by a dog and want to know your rights, contact our expert team at Ison Harrison for free legal advice and find out how we can help you secure the compensation you deserve.
For a review and assessment of your dog bite claim get in touch with us today by calling 0113 224 7851 or email [email protected].
While these highly trained animals play a crucial role in law enforcement, their use, even when dealing with criminal suspects, must be justified and proportionate. If you have been injured by a police dog, you may be able to claim compensation, depending on the circumstances of the incident.
When Can You Claim for a Police Dog Bite?
Police dogs are used to apprehend suspects and maintain public order. However, their use must comply with strict legal guidelines. If a police dog attacked you without lawful justification or if excessive force was used, you could have grounds for a compensation claim.
Potential scenarios where compensation may be possible include:
- Mistaken Identity: If you were not the intended target but were bitten in an unprovoked attack.
- Unnecessary or Excessive Force: If the police used a dog when it was not reasonable or proportionate in the situation.
- Failure to Control the Dog: If the handler lost control and the dog attacked indiscriminately.
- Injuries as a Bystander: If you were an innocent bystander caught in an incident involving police dogs.
Legal Considerations in Police Dog Bite Claims
Under the Animals Act 1971, police forces can be held liable if their dogs cause injury and it was foreseeable or preventable. In addition, the police must justify their use of force, including the deployment of dogs. If they fail to do so, you may again have a valid claim.
Such claims are assessed on the circumstances of the attack, and whether the police acted lawfully. A successful claim can provide compensation for physical and mental injury, scarring, medical costs, lost earnings, and incidental expenses and costs
How to Start Your Claim
If you’ve been bitten by a police dog and believe the force used was excessive or unjustified, contact us now for expert legal advice. At Ison Harrison, we can assess your case and help you secure the compensation you deserve. Our no win- no fee service ensures that you can pursue justice without financial risk.
Start Your Claim Today
If you’ve been bitten by a dog and want to know your rights, contact our expert team at Ison Harrison for free legal advice and find out how we can help you secure the compensation you deserve.
For a review and assessment of your dog bite claim get in touch with us today – call 0113 224 7851 or email [email protected].
Don’t let a misconception stop you from claiming what you’re entitled to. If you’ve been bitten, you have rights: let us fight for them.
Will I have to attend court in support of my dog bite claim? Most claims are settled without the need to attend court. Generally, only very complex cases or those where there is a liability dispute end up in court.
In some cases, liability may be admitted but there may be a dispute over the amount of compensation to be paid. In such cases the court will decide as to the final amount of compensation to be paid.
If there is a dispute over liability or the valuation of your claim and a court hearing is required, then you will need to attend to give evidence in support of your claim. You will need to be represented by a barrister who specialises in personal injury claims. We will arrange this for you.
While we are always prepared to fight for the best outcome for you as our client, most of the time this can be achieved by negotiation or arbitration. The vast majority of claims are settled on this basis so that you receive the compensation you deserve with the minimum fuss and interruption to your life and recovery.
To find out how we can help you claim the compensation you deserve, get in touch with us today.
Get in touch today
For a review and assessment of your dog bite claim get in touch with us today – call now on 0113 224 7851 or email [email protected]. We also offer a free call back service.
This is a question we get asked at lot and the answer is usually the same. At the outset of any personal injury claim, it is always very difficult to say with absolute accuracy as to how long it will take. This is as the same for a dog bite claim as it is to say, an accident at work.
There are many variables as to how long it will take to settle a claim. If liability is admitted early and the injuries are not too serious then settlement is likely to occur more quickly than if liability is in dispute and the injuries are more serious.
If there is no insurance then the claim will be over very quickly as, in all likelihood, we will discontinue the claim.
Every claim is different, but we will be here for you every step of the way.
Our solicitors have the knowledge, experience, and expertise to ensure that your case is dealt with in a thorough and professional manner. It is our job and our responsibility to ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve.
General timeframes for your dog bite claim
If a claim is brought against an individual dog owner as opposed to where the dog owner is a company or public authority, then it is dealt with under what is known as the Personal Injury Pre-action Protocol. Under the Protocol, following notification of a claim, the owner’s insurers have three months in which to respond with a decision regarding liability.
If liability is admitted then, subject to the extent of your recovery from your injuries, we will obtain medical evidence in the form of a report from an independent, court approved medical expert. This report will allow us to support you value your injuries.
If liability is denied, then we will review the evidence disclosed in support of the denial. We will seek your instructions and advise you accordingly.
It may be that your opponent has a solid defence, and we are unable to pursue the matter further. If this is the case then as long as you have kept to your obligations under the Agreement, you will not be charged for the work we have done on your behalf.
If we believe that your claim still has prospects of success even though liability is denied, then we shall continue to pursue your claim on your behalf. We shall gather the necessary evidence to prove your claim and if need be, we will pursue the matter through to court.
How long do I have to bring my dog bite claim?
A dog bite claim is treated the same as any personal injury claim and as such you have three years from the date of the incident to issue court proceedings in support of your claim.
If the injured party is a minor (i.e. under the age of 18) at the time of the attack, then the three-year period begins on their 18th birthday effectively by their 21st birthday. It is always best to bring a claim as soon as you can. If you wait too long, then there may be issues with tracking down the owner or witnesses who may be able to support your claim.
If the injured party lacks the capacity to conduct proceedings due to mental incapacity, then there are no specified time limits in place. The 3-year time limit only applies when the person regains mental capacity. If a person lacks capacity, they need someone else to bring the claim on their behalf. This person is known as a “Litigation Friend”.
The courts do have the discretion to extend the three-year time limit but only in exceptional circumstances. You should always look to begin your claim as soon as possible as this will give you the best chance of a successful outcome and ensures that, for example, witness evidence is obtained while recollections are still fresh.
The three-year time limit runs from the date of the incident even if you don’t know the owner of the dog.
Start your claim today
For a review and assessment of your dog bite claim get in touch with us today – call 0113 224 7851 or email [email protected].
If we can assist, we can do so on a no win-no fee basis. This means that subject to your compliance with our terms and conditions, if the claim is not successful you do not pay for the work we have done.
