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A Guide To Dog Bite Claims
By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 16th September 2024. If you have been hurt by a bite from a dog belonging to another party, you may be entitled to make a dog bit claim for personal injury compensation. In this guide, we are going to explain how dog bite injury claims work. We’ll also discuss the eligibility requirements to start this type of claim.
Dog bite compensation claims are something our personal injury solicitors have many years of experience in handling. Therefore, if you have strong grounds to make a dog attack claim, one of our solicitors may be able to help you get the compensation you’re entitled to. For more information on how to claim, please read on.
To see if you could make a dog bite compensation claim, please get in touch today for a consultation with free legal advice. You can call us on 0800 073 8804 or contact us online by filling in our form or by using our 24/7 live chat service.
Here’s our quick explainer video on what assaults are and how you can claim compensation:
Select a Section
- How To Begin A Dog Bite Claim
- What is the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991?
- Top Tips For Proving Dog Bite Claims
- Time Limit for Claiming Dog Bite Compensation
- Dog Bite Claims Compensation Calculator
- How Can Legal Expert’s Specialist Dog Bite Solicitors Help Me?
- Useful links
How To Begin A Dog Bite Claim
As discussed in the previous section, in order to make a dog bite compensation claim, evidence is key. But what is also important is seeking the right legal advice. On some occasions claiming compensation for a dog bite injury may not always be straightforward, it may be difficult to know who to claim against and how to collect the evidence you need to prove your claim for a dog bite.
In most cases, you will claim compensation from the owner of the dog. After all, the dog is their responsibility. However, there are some exceptions, i.e. cases whereby someone else is to blame for the incident. A good example of this is guard dog or workplace dog attack claims.
If you work in an environment and you have regular interactions with dogs, and the necessary precautions for your health and safety have not been taken, you could have grounds for a claim against your employer.
Personal injury solicitors who have dealt with dog bite compensation claims in the past will have the experience and knowledge on how to correctly file your claim. Apart from knowing who to direct the claim against, they will gather and seek the right evidence to support your claim, arrange any medical appointment that you need to attend to have your injuries assessed and also, if the case goes to court, the solicitor can represent you here.
To find out whether one of our No Win No Fee solicitors could provide you with their service in order to claim compensation for the dog bite, please call our advisors now for free advice.
I Was Bitten By a Banned Breed Of Dog – Can I Claim Compensation?
If a banned breed of dog has bitten you, you may have strong grounds to claim compensation. Not only is the dog owner breaking the law by owning the breed in question, but also they have then been negligent by enabling the dog to cause harm to another person.
We have plenty of experience in handling such cases and we always strive to secure the maximum dog bite compensation. Get in touch today to make a claim.
I got bit by a stray dog; can I claim compensation?
Claiming compensation for a stray dog attack can be more difficult. There are ways you can go about trying to find the owner. If you have been unable to do so, you may have grounds to claim against the council or anyone responsible for the area in which you were bit, be it a business park or a local housing estate.
The best thing to do is to call us. That way, we can better understand your dog bite compensation claim and advise you correctly.
What is the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991?
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was introduced due to several incidents involving uncontrolled and aggressive dogs. This act involved banning certain dog breeds. It also banned the breeding, exchange, and sale of these dogs.
These dangerous breeds include:
- Pit bull terriers.
- Japanese Tosa.
- Dogo Argentino, which may also be called the Argentinean mastiff.
- Fila Brasileiro, which could also be called the Brazilian mastiff.
Aside from this, it enforced all dog owners to register, insure, neuter, tattoo, and microchip their dogs.
There are several other laws in place regarding keeping and controlling dogs. A dog owner has a legal responsibility to keep their dog under control. They must register their dog, ensure it does not create a public nuisance, and they’re responsible if their dog attacks another person.
Top Tips For Proving Dog Bite Claims
Proving a dog bite claim works just like any other personal injury claim. You will need to show that you were injured by the dog and that the dog was dangerously out of control when the bite occured.
We have given a few examples of the evidence you could collect for a dog bite lawsuit here:
- Photographs: photograph your injuries as well as the dog if you can. If the dog in question is a banned breed in the UK, this will certainly help you in proving liability.
- CCTV footage: video footage of the incident can be used not only to show what happened, but also that a dog was dangerously out of control when the bite occurred.
- Witness testimony: anyone who saw the dog bite you such as other park goers or anyone you were with could provide a witness statement. Make sure you have their details so they can be contacted during the claims process.
- Details of the insurer: a dog bite claim is made against the owner’s pet insurance. Be sure you have this information.
To get support with collecting evidence or to ask further questions about the average compensation for a dog bite, talk to our advisors for a free assessment of your eligibility today.
Time Limit for Claiming Dog Bite Compensation
In accordance with the Limitation Act 1980, there is a three-year time limit for starting a dog bite claim. This usually starts from the date the incident occurred.
Under certain circumstances, the time limit can work differently. If the injured lacks the mental capacity to start their own claim, then the time limit will be frozen indefinitely. While the time limit is frozen, a litigation friend could start a dog bite claim on behalf of the party that has been harmed. If, however, the person later regains their mental capacity and a claim has not been made, then they will have three years to start a dog bite claim from the day of recovery.
If a child has been bitten by a dog, then the time limit for starting a claim will be put on hold until their 18th birthday. A litigation friend could start a claim on the child’s behalf before they turn 18. Otherwise, the child will have three years to start their own dog bite claim from the date of their 18th birthday.
For more advice on your eligibility to start a dog bite claim or whether you could use a dog bite compensation calculator, contact our advisors for free either online or by calling us.
Dog Bite Claim Compensation Calculator
Due to the fact that every claim is assessed individually knowing the average payout for a dog bite in the UK may not be of any benefit to you. Instead, we have taken the time to explain how this compensation can be calculated.
Compensation for a dog bite can be awarded under two different heads of loss: general and special damages. These compensate for physical and psychological harm, and financial losses, respectively.
Those assigned the task of determining a potential general damages figure can look at your provided medical evidence alongside the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This publication contains guideline compensation values for various injuries, a relevant selection of which we have used in the table below.
Compensation Table
We’d like to emphasise that the top entry is not a JCG figure and that this information has been provided for guidance purposes only.
Injury Guideline Amount
Multiple serious injuries and special damages Up to £250,000+
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - Severe £73,050 to £122,850
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - Moderately Severe £28,250 to £73,050
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - Moderate £9,980 to £28,250
Facial disfigurement – Very severe scarring £36,340 to £118,790
Facial disfigurement – Less severe scarring £21,920 to £59,090
Facial disfigurement - Less significant scarring £4,820 to £16,770
Hand Injury - Loss of thumb £43,350 to £66,920
Hand Injury - Severe fractures to fingers Up to £44,840
Scarring to other parts of the body £9,560 to £27,740
Special Damages
As part of your compensation payout, you may also receive payments under special damages for any financial losses stemming from the dog bite. In addition to any immediate cost incurred from your injuries, special damages can also be paid out for future losses.
What this means is payouts made under special damages are often quite a lot higher than those awarded under general damages. We have given a few examples here:
- Loss of earnings.
- Travel costs.
- Out of pocket medical bills.
- Domestic support.
You will need to provide some supporting evidence for these costs, so make sure you hold onto copies of your payslips, travel tickets, invoices for care and any other bills that show what expenses you have incurred.
For a more personalised idea of what your potential dog bite compensation claim could be worth, speak to our advisors using the contact information provided below.
How Can Legal Expert’s Specialist Dog Bite Solicitors Help Me?
We always recommend working with a solicitor when you make any kind of personal injury claim. Even though it’s not a mandatory step, seeking expert legal advice from experienced dog bite solicitors can make a huge difference to your claim.
This is because solicitors go through years of training before they qualify, and this gives them extensive knowledge of the dog bite claims process. They can explain each step of the way, and give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing what to expect.
A solicitor can also help you support your claim with evidence, prepare your case for trial if necessary, and negotiate the settlement that you deserve.
Our solicitors can do all of this on a No Win No Fee basis by offering you a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Under this kind of agreement, you get all the services of an expert solicitor without:
- Paying for them upfront
- Paying for them as the claim is ongoing
- Paying for them at all if the claim fails
If your dog bite compensation claim succeeds, you’ll pay a legally-capped amount of your compensation to your solicitor as their success fee.
Contact Us
Our team of friendly advisors are here to help. When you get in touch, they can offer you a free consultation. This means that they can answer questions you have about the dog bite claims process and can tell you whether or not you may have a valid claim. If you do, then they may help you get in contact with one of our expert dog bite claim solicitors.
To get started:
- Call us on 0800 073 8804
- Contact us online
- Use the live chat feature
Useful links
Government website on controlling your dog in public
This link takes you to the UK Government’s guide on controlling your dog in public. It provides useful information on banned dogs, Public Spaces Protection Orders, dog fouling, and reporting a dog.
Government website on dangerous dog law changes
This link is useful, as it takes you to a press release that explains the changes in the law regarding dangerous dogs. In 2013, the law would change to cover dog attacks on private properties. You can find more information here.
This link takes you to the human, animal, and dog bite NHS page. It explains what to do after a bite, getting medical advice/treatment, infection symptoms, common causes and avoiding bites.
If you want to report a stray dog, use this link to do so. You can use the search function to find a postcode to contact the dog’s owner. If you do not know the dog’s owner, you need to contact your local council.
Legislation Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
This link provides you with plenty of information regarding the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. This includes information on the effect of the Act, the index of exempted dogs, comparable legislation elsewhere, and much more.
Other Personal Injury Claims Guides
- Neck Injury Claims And Settlement Calculator
- Personal Injury Claims Calculator
- UK vs. USA – Who Has The Biggest Personal Injury Compensation Payouts Awards?
- Permanent Scar Injury Claims Guide
- Laceration Scarring Compensation Claims
If you would like to speak to an advisor about dog bite claims for compensation, you are welcome to contact the Legal Expert advisors.
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