A dog bite injury claim is for compensation you could be due if bitten by a dog. Dogs are beloved animals as family pets and protectors, but they can be dangerous and bites can cause serious injuries when a person is attacked.
If you suffer injury by a dog bite caused at least in part by the negligence of someone else, you may well be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Dog bite injury claims are for the injury suffered and the effects on your life.
Your personal injury solicitor seeks to recover damages through a claims process. If you have been injured, and your life impacted by an accident that was someone else’s fault, a claim for compensation seeks financial redress for your injuries and financial losses.
If you have been injured in an accident and it was not your fault, The Personal Injury Team No Win No Fee solicitors can file your compensation claim for the money you deserve.
Table of content
What is a dog bite claim for personal injury?
A dog bite claim for personal injury could be for when another person’s dog has bitten you and caused you harm.
You can make a claim against another individual if their dog has caused you harm. The owner may have home or pet insurance to cover any claim made.
If you have been injured in a public area, you could be able to make a public liability claim against the person or organisation responsible for the area, even if the owner of the dog cannot be identified.
You could also make a claim if you have been bitten by a guard dog at your workplace or in a public area. It is also possible to make a claim on behalf of your child if they have been bitten by a dog.
Our No Win No Fee personal injury solicitors can help you make a claim against the negligent party, if you have been bitten by a dog.
Who is responsible for a dog bite claim?
The dog owner is responsible for a dog bite claim for injury. The owner is responsible for the behaviour of their dog regardless of the location, and for taking all appropriate steps to ensure that it does not get out of control and attack someone.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was updated in 2014 to also make it the responsibility for dog owners to keep them under control on all private property, and ensure that they do not harm anyone.
Common Dog bite injuries
Common dog bite injuries can do damage to different parts of the body, with potentially long-lasting consequences.
Injuries from dog bites can leave lasting scarring or other damage, as well as emotional and psychological trauma.
Some common dog bite injuries include:
Puncture Wounds
Puncture wounds happen when a dog’s teeth puncture through the skin, possibly into the muscle and bone below the skin.
A puncture wound is generally small in area, but can be very deep and pose a risk of infection.
Scarring
Scarring often results from dog bite injuries and could require skin grafts to reduce the impact of the scarring.
Scarring to the face and hands can cause discomfort when in public and be a permanent reminder of the incident.
Nerve Damage
Nerve damage happens if a dog bite penetrates through to your nerves, leading to long lasting pain.
You could also experience temporary or permanent loss of some, or all, function of the fingers and the hand.
Broken Bones
Broken bones can come with an attack from larger dog breeds, who can exert tremendous force in a bite.
You could suffer injuries that can fracture the bone as well as damaging the skin and muscle in a dog bite attack.
Neck, head and facial
Neck, head and facial injuries can happen with a dog you might be more familiar with, such as a neighbour’s pet.
A larger dog can jump and bite your face, neck, or head, and do a lot of serious injury to the area.
Infections from a dog bite
Infections from a dog bite could be rabies or tetanus and though extremely rare in the UK, rabies is highly dangerous and you could contract it if bitten when abroad.
Emotional Trauma
Emotional trauma often stays with victims of a dog bite for years and maybe even for life.
Victims of a dog bite may experience trauma related to memories of the incident, phobias resulting from the attack, or trouble coming to terms with any scarring or other long-lasting damage.
Our Process
We make the claim process as simple and streamlined as possible, and that’s one of the reasons we’re maintain a 4.9 / 5 ★ rating from our customers!
Enquiry
The first step is to get in touch and tell us what went wrong. It’s free and easy. Call our 24-hour helpline: 0800 027 0370 or request a callback here.
Claim Evaluation
Once you have spoken with our team we’ll let you know how we can help. This will involve a thorough case review and understanding of the incident, financial damages and physical injuries.
Legal Letter
Once we are satisfied we have all the information we require and have a full understanding of your circumstances. We send a letter of claim to the negligent party outlining your claim and compensation requirements.
How much in damages can I claim in a No Win No Fee personal injury claim?
Compensation in a dog bite injury claim can be around £10,000 for the effects of a small bite to more than £100,000 after a major dog attack.
In all compensation claims, the amount awarded will depend on your dog bite injury and the financial effect on your life.
Compensation amounts in a dog bite injury claim can be:
Sample compensation amounts in a personal injury claim are as follows. Please note these are figures for the injuries only. Financial losses would apply in addition:
(The figures given here are for General Damages amounts only. You might also receive compensation for any financial losses you suffer due to the personal injury. Figures are taken from Judicial College Guidelines 16th Edition and are accurate as of April 2023.)
There is not one fixed amount in personal injury claims. The circumstances differ from person to person and claim to claim, and the amount of compensation awarded is tailored to the circumstances of your claim.
A No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor can give you an idea of what to expect from their experience in compensation claims.
What can you claim for compensation in a personal injury claim?
When you claim compensation in a dog bite claim, it is for two types of damages:
- General Damages
- Special Damages
Compensation for General Damages in a Dog Bite Claim
You seek General Damages compensation for the Pain, Suffering and Loss of Amenity you experience directly from the dog bit injury, PSLA.
Any Pain is what you suffer directly from the dog bite and the subsequent medical treatment.
Suffering in a dog bite injury claim is for the discomfort you experience after the attack, such as from infection, scarring and surgery in some dog bite claims.
The Loss of Amenity experienced after a dog bite is when you have difficulty in your daily life when walking, sitting, playing sports, driving, exercising, or sleeping.
Special Damages compensation for a dog bite
The Special Damages compensation for a dog bite injury covers your loss of earnings, care costs, medical treatment or specialist rehabilitation, aids, adaptations, and any other out-of-pocket expenses you could have after a dog bite injury.
Compensation is awarded to cover all losses, including loss of life, medical expenses and long-term care needs arising from the injury in a dog bite attack today and in the future.
A No Win No Fee solicitor can take your dog bite injury claim and seek the compensation you deserve.
Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 bans certain types of dogs, unless they have been granted a specific exemption.While any type of dog can be considered a risk, not all dogs are viewed the same under the law.
There are four types of dog which are currently banned under the law:
The act also makes it a criminal offence for any dog owner to allow their dog to become dangerously out of control.
Dog owners can face up to five years in prison if a person is injured in an attack, or up to 14 years in prison if a dog attack results in a death. Possessing a prohibited dog type without an exemption can also get the owner up to six months in prison.
Police dog bite claim
In a police dog bite claim, you might be able to claim compensation if bitten by a police dog when in public.
The details and actions surrounding the police officer’s decision to release the dog would likely be highly relevant in a police dog bite case. The police may try to use the defence that you accepted the risk of harm if you failed to comply with police directions.
A No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor can advise on a police dog bite claim and see if you have a valid claim for compensation.
Stray dog bite claims
If you are bitten by a stray dog it can be an especially traumatising event. On top of the injury itself, there is the worry that the dog may have a disease such as rabies.
There is the added element of just who might be held liable in such an attack. If the owner of a dog cannot be identified, it may still be possible to make a claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
It may also be possible to make a claim against the owner of the land where the dog attack happened, or the entity responsible for it.
The local council may be responsible if the bite happened in a public park and you might have a claim against their public liability insurance.
How to prove your dog bite injury claim
To prove a dog bite injury claim you will need to gather evidence for your No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor. Your solicitor will want to see all the evidence to see if you have a valid claim for compensation.
Evidence you will need:
Every piece of evidence may be crucial in a dog bite injury claim. You do not know what the dog owner will dispute or claim when the case begins. It will often be necessary to establish that the dog in question had a history of aggression or biting others so gathering evidence about this can be essential.
Your No Win No Fee solicitor may use the evidence against the person responsible in any possible dog bite injury claim.
How to make a dog bite compensation claim?
To make a claim for dog bite injury compensation, there are usually a few standard steps to follow. Our No Win No Fee Solicitors will guide you through the entire process from first contact through to the conclusion of your claim.
Find out how much you can claim for today
Find out how much you can claim for your dog bite injury today using our online assessment tool. Dog bite injury claims need the experience of an expert solicitor and our assessment tool will put you in direct contact with one of our team.
The personal injury solicitor can advise you using their expertise and experience with dog bite claims. They can look at the facts and tell from experience if you have a valid dog bite claim for compensation.
Our team of No Win No Fee solicitors will see your valid dog bite claim through to a successful conclusion, whether the claim is worth £1,500 or more than £10,000,000.
Take our online assessment today to understand dog bite injury claim amounts and what you could be due for the pain, suffering and impact on your life.
Contact your Personal Injury Team today for immediate expert advice on dog bite injury claims tailored to you.
