How To Sue For Dog Bite Compensation

Have you been bitten by a dog and wish to take action? We are here to help you make a dog bite compensation claim, which is a type of a personal injury claim. In this guide, we will address whether you can claim compensation for a dog bite and the evidence required. 

Key Points on Dog Bite Compensation

  • You may be eligible to claim compensation for a dog bite if you can prove that the bite occurred due to the dog owner’s lack of control.
  • If you feel that the dog was used violently against you, you could make your claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
  • You could seek general and special damages as part of your dog bite compensation claim.
  • It’s possible to make a dog bite compensation claim through a No Win No Fee solicitor.

Want to know more about personal injury claims? You can contact our advisory team by-

dog bite compensation claim needed because dog bit the person.

Choose A Section or Browse Our Guide

  1. How To Sue For Dog Bite Compensation 
  2. What Evidence Can Help Me Claim Dog Bite Compensation?
  3. How Much Dog Bite Compensation Could I Receive?
  4. How Long Do I Have To Make A Dog Bite Claim?
  5. Make A Dog Bite Injury Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis
  6. Read More About Making Personal Injury Claims 

How To Sue For Dog Bite Compensation

A dog bite can cause various kinds of serious injuries, which can also cause people significant financial losses. Of course, the first step should always be to seek medical treatment . However, if you were bitten because the owner and the person responsible for the dog were responsible, you could think about making a dog bite compensation claim. 

Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act, 1991 states that dogs must be kept in proper control at all times. This responsibility applies at home and in public. If the owner fails to control their dog, they have committed an offence.

In order to make a dog bite compensation claim, you need to establish that-

  • A dog belonging to somebody else has bitten you.
  • The dog bite has given you a prolonged physical or psychological injury.
  • The dog owner failed to control their dog or didn’t take proper precautions to prevent the dog bite.

Dog bite compensation is generally claimed through the dog owner’s insurance. You could also make a criminal assault claim for your injuries if the following criteria are fulfilled-

  • The dog has been deployed to violently attack you, causing serious physical and/or mental injuries.
  • You have reported the incident to the police.
  • The incident has occurred within the UK, i.e., within England, Scotland or Wales.

If you fulfil these criteria, your dog bite compensation claim will be handled by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). Need advice on assault claims? Contact our advisory team for guidance.

What Types Of Injuries Could Be Caused By Dog Bites?

The injuries caused by dog bites could range from minor to extremely severe. Some common examples of the injuries are-

  • Broken bones
  • Nerve damage
  • Facial injuries
  • Cuts and lacerations
  • Injuries on the head, neck or eyes.
  • Emotional trauma

Need guidance on how to sue for a psychological injury? You can reach out to our team for help.

What Evidence Can Help Me Claim Dog Bite Compensation?

Gathering evidence is an important step for your dog bite claim. This will help you to denote liability, the severity of injuries and their impact on your present and future life. Some examples of the evidence which you could include are-

  • Medical Evidence-This would provide details about the severity of your injuries and the treatment required. This could include prescriptions, X-Rays and notes from the GP.
  • Witness Details: A responsible person may need to take a statement at a later date.
  • CCTV Footage- You could request CCTV footage of yourself to show a visual of the incident.
  • Financial losses- This could include receipts of visits to and from the hospital and for medications.

Confused? Don’t worry. Contact our advisory team, who will explain the personal injury claims process to you.

How Much Dog Bite Compensation Could I Receive?

In your dog bite compensation claim, you could claim for general damages. This means that you could claim for the physical and psychological injuries suffered. You might have to appear for an independent medical examination to assess the impact of the dog attack.

Along with the findings of this assessment, the guidelines of the Judicial College may be used to assess general damages. The Judicial College provides an extensive list of compensation figures for various types of injuries. We’ve included some of the figures in the table below, but please note that these are simply guidelines, and the top figure is not part of the JCG.

InjurySeverityCompensation Guidelines
Multiple Severe Injuries and Special DamagesVery SeriousUp to £500,000+
Leg AmputationsAmputation of both the legs£293,850 to £344,150
General Psychiatric DamageSevere£66,920 to £141,240
General Psychiatric DamageModerately Severe£23,270 to £66,920
Facial DisfigurementVery Severe£36,340 to £118,790
Hand InjuriesSerious£35,390 to £75,550
Ankle InjurySevere£38,210 to £61,090
Scarring to Other Body PartsA single disfiguring scar or several noticeable laceration scars£9,560 to £27,740
Scarring to Other Body PartsA single noticeable scar or several superficial scars.£2,890 to £9,560
Toe InjuriesSevere£16,770 to £25,710

Want to know more about psychological injuries? Reach out to our advisory team to know how to sue for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Could I Claim For Loss of Earnings Caused By A Dog Bite?

You could also claim compensation for the financial losses suffered. These are special damages and could include-

  • Cost of Medical Assistance- This could include physiotherapy, medications and fuel charges to travel to and from medical appointments.
  • Caring Expenses for Resultant Disability- You could include receipts for the walking stick or wheelchair purchased and any alterations made to your home or vehicle.
  • Loss of Earnings- This could include the income lost due to the time taken off from work because of the dog bite. You could also include the income lost if you are never to return to work due to the dog bite. 
  • Any support needed to return to work

Still not clear about the compensation you could claim? Talk to our team and we could guide you on how to claim compensation for facial scarring.

How Long Do I Have To Make A Dog Bite Claim?

According to the Limitation Act 1980, you generally have up to 3 years to start a dog bite compensation claim. This period is calculated from the date of the dog bite. But there are certain exceptions when this limit doesn’t apply:

  • For a Child- If a child suffers from a dog bite, the 3-year limit will apply only after they turn 18 since they cannot claim as minors. You could make a dog bite compensation claim for your child at any point before they turn 18. This could be done by applying to be a litigation friend. Otherwise, once the child turns 18, they have to initiate their claim before the age of 21.
  • Diminished Mental Capacity- There is no time limit applicable if the injured party lacks the mental capacity to make a compensation claim. In this case, a friend or family member could apply to become a litigation friend to represent them in the proceedings.
  • For claims made under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), the time limit is 2 years.

Want to know how to apply with a litigation friend? Contact our team for assistance.

Make A Dog Bite Injury Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis

If you have an eligible dog bite compensation claim, you may want the support of a personal injury solicitor. Our panel of experienced and capable solicitors would work round the clock to gain a favourable outcome for you.

You will not have to worry about paying any upfront consultation fees. Our panel of solicitors offer their No Win No Fee services through Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) model. Consequently, you will have to pay your No Win No Fee solicitor only if you are successful in your claim. If your claim is successful, you will pay your solicitor from a proportion of the damages awarded to you. This is called a success fee, which is limited by the law. 

Want to know more about the benefits of working with a No Win No Fee Solicitor? Contact our advisory team for a free consultation:

lawyer and client discussing about claiming for dog bite compensation using no win no fee.

Read More About Making Personal Injury Claims

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