UK DOG BITE CLAIM LAW

There is a complication involved in making a dog bite claim which, in general, will not succeed if the dog has not previously shown aggressive tendencies. Nonetheless, if it has bitten, or displayed other aggressive tendencies in a previous incident, then the owner, keeper or handler may be liable to pay compensation for personal injury as a result of a subsequent attack. For the claim to be successful, there should be evidence that the owner, keeper, or handler knew or should have known, that the dog was dangerous and was likely to bite if it was not sufficiently controlled or restrained.

Due to their lack of experience, children are more liable to be attacked, and this unfortunate fact is borne about by the statistics. Over two-thirds of fatal attacks, and over half of the wounds acquired from attacks that require medical attention involve children, making these bites a leading cause of emergency admission of children to hospitals and the leading cause of dog bite claim applications to the courts. Children’s playful tendencies, and their small stature and the proximity of their faces to the animal, increases the likelihood that facial injuries could occur.

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 provides some protection: certain breeds are required to be muzzled when in public, registered on the Index of Exempted Breeds, and micro-chipped, tattooed and insured; if members of these breeds are unregistered, the Act states that they may be seized and destroyed. An attack by an exempted breed that causes injury can enable a successful application for damages to be made even if the animal has not shown previous signs of aggression.

The status of guard dogs should also be noted. These animals are only legal when they are accompanied on the premises by a competent dog handler, or when the animal is secured and unable to move freely around the premises. Their use is also only legal if a visible warning notice is displayed clearly at the entrance to the premises.

Our solicitors may be able to help you with a dog bite claim for compensation. We represent a network of solicitors who specialise in personal injury compensation claims, who are located throughout the United Kingdom. As a sign of their quality, our solicitors in England and Wales are members of the exclusive Law Society panel of personal injury experts. Membership requires that solicitors and their firms display a high level of experience, knowledge and capability. Our expert solicitors operate No Win No Fee¹ arrangements, and we assure you that any compensation you win will be paid in full without deductions². You are not required to fund your claim in any respect: you will not have to take out loans or insurance policies, nor pay medical report charges. Your claim will be risk-free, and there are no charges, whether you win or lose.

To arrange a discussion with an expert solicitor about risk-free and obligation-free dog bite compensation claims, simply complete and send the contact form. A specialist who deals exclusively in personal injury compensation claims will call to provide you with free advice and information on what you could stand to gain.