As the summer months arrive and more of us spend time outdoors, the number of dog bite incidents tends to rise. Warmer weather means more dogs and their owners in parks, on footpaths, and at public gatherings. While most dogs are well behaved, even a friendly animal can react unpredictably in unfamiliar or crowded situations.
If you or a loved one is bitten by a dog this summer, it’s important to understand your legal rights and what steps you should take.
Why Dog Bites Increase in Summer
Several factors contribute to the spike in dog bite cases during the warmer months:
- More frequent outdoor gatherings like barbecues, festivals, and sports events
- Children off school spending more time in parks and public spaces
- Higher temperatures, which can make dogs more irritable and reactive
- Off-lead exercise, often in busy or distracting environments
All of these increase the likelihood of interactions between dogs and people and with it, the risk of injury.
What to Do If You Are Bitten
If you are bitten by a dog, even if the wound seems minor, you should:
- Seek medical attention immediately: dog bites can lead to infections or, in rare cases, long-term complications.
- Report the incident to the police: especially if the dog was dangerously out of control.
- Record as much information as possible: including the dog owner’s details, witness contact information, photos of the injury, and location of the incident.
- Do not confront the dog’s owner aggressively: but ensure that the owner is aware that the incident has occurred.
Even if the dog has no history of aggression, you may still have grounds to bring a claim, particularly if the owner failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the attack.
Making a Claim After a Dog Bite
In many cases, you can claim compensation for injuries suffered as a result of a dog bite. This may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological trauma
- Loss of earnings
- Medical treatment costs
- Long-term care or rehabilitation
Compensation is typically sought from the dog owner’s insurance either via pet insurance or third-party liability cover included within their household insurance. If the incident occurred on business premises and the dog was an asset of the business such as a working sheep dog or security, then you may be able to claim on their public liability cover. If the dog was used as a weapon, you may be able to make an application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
We’re Here to Help
At Ison Harrison we have experience and expertise in dog bite claims and understand the physical and emotional distress they can cause. We offer clear advice and act for you on a no win no fee basis so that if your claim is not successful then you don’t pay for the work we have done.
If you’ve been bitten by a dog this summer, don’t suffer in silence. Contact our expert team today and get the compensation you deserve.
Start your claim today
For a review and assessment of your no win no fee 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