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.
Several factors contribute to the spike in dog bite cases during the warmer months:
All of these increase the likelihood of interactions between dogs and people and with it, the risk of injury.
If you are bitten by a dog, even if the wound seems minor, you should:
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.
In many cases, you can claim compensation for injuries suffered as a result of a dog bite. This may include:
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.
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.
For a review and assessment of your no win no fee dog bite claim get in touch with us today: