How long do I have to bring my dog bite claim? A dog bite claim is treated as a personal injury claim and as such you have three years from the date of the incident to issue court proceedings in connection with 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). It is always best to bring a claim as soon as you are able to do so. 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 as a result of 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 would 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 dog bite claim today.
For a review and assessment of your dog bite claim get in touch with us today:
- Call: Mike Massen 0113 224 7851
- Email: [email protected]
- Fill in the contact form on this page
- Book a call back at your convenience
If we are able to 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.
