DOG BITE CLAIMS UK

Instigation of dog bite claims is not usualy feasable if a dog has not previously shown any aggressive tendencies. However if in an earlier incident the dog has shown any sign of aggression then the owner or keeper or person in control of the dog at the time may be liable to pay compensation for personal injury as a result of a subsequent attack.

The Dangerous Dogs Act came into being in May 1991. Pit Bull Terriers and any other exempted breeds have to be muzzled in public, registered on the Index of Exempted Breeds and micro chipped, tattooed and insured. Any Pit Bull Terrier or Pit Bull 'type' unregistered after November 1991 can be seized and is liable to be destroyed under the Act. Any injury caused by an exempted breed will lead to compensation being payable even if the dog showed no previous signs of aggression. Section 3 of the Act, which covers all dogs in the UK stipulates that any dog "dangerously out of control in a public place" would also be liable for destruction.

Guard Dogs fall into an entirely different category and it is illegal for a guard dog to be active in any premises unless a handler capable of control is also present on the premises, except when the animal is secured so that it is not at liberty to go freely around the premises. The use of guard dogs is illegal unless a clearly visible warning notice is clearly exhibited at the entrance to the premises.

Children are most often attacked which is usually due to their lack of experience regarding the dangers. Even an animal that a child is very familiar with can lose control and attack a child under certain conditions. The most vulnerable age group is children aged between five and nine years old but smaller children can also be seriously injured. Seventy percent of fatal attacks and more than half of wounds requiring medical attention involve children. These injuries usually result in dog bite claims and are a leading cause of emergency admission of children to hospitals. Children’s natural behaviour of running, shouting, grabbing, hitting and maintaining eye contact, puts them at risk of injury. Proximity of a child’s face to the dog increases the likelihood that facial injuries will occur.

We are an independent network of specialist personal injury solicitors. If you or your child have been the innocent victim of an attack, we can help you assert your rights and get the compensation you deserve. If you would like free legal advice then just complete the dog bite claims contact form and a member of The Law Society panel of personal injury experts will contact you by telephone to discuss your claim.