Dog Attack Claims

Unfortunately, dog attacks can happen and, when they do, they can cause serious injuries. Although uncommon, dogs are known to attack humans and can be a threat to the general public.

According to NHS statistics, the number of people being treated for dog bites and other injuries from dog attacks in England has risen by over 40% in the last four years, to 3,800 a year. It is worrying to think that so many people are being injured each year by 'man’s best friend'.

If you are one of the unfortunate people that have been a victim of a dog bite or dog attack then you could make a claim for compensation.

A dog bite claim can be a lot easier to prove if the dog is already known to be dangerous and suitable precautions aren’t taken to keep the public safe. A dog owner could be held liable for a dog attack if the dog has a history of violence or aggressive behaviour, yet no precautions such as a muzzle or lead are used as a caution against dog bites.

The Dangerous Dogs Act

After a spate of newspaper articles in 1991 about the rise of dog attacks, the government introduced new legislation to try and protect the public from dangerous dogs, known as The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Breeds targeted were Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosa (also called a Japanese Mastiff or Fighting Dog), Dogo Argentino (Argentinean Mastiff) and Fila Braziliero (Brazilian Mastiff).

There are strict requirements around owning one of these dogs. They include keeping the dog on a lead and muzzled when in public and ensuring the dog is tattooed, chipped and insured and registered on the Index of Exempted Breeds.

In particular, if these dogs cause injury, dog attack compensation will be payable even if there is no history of previous signs of aggression.

You should always report a dog bite or dog attack to the police. You may be the first, or possibly one of many attack victims of that particular dog. By notifying the police you are forcing awareness of the potentially dangerous animal, ensuring appropriate safety measures can be taken to keep the public and preventing further dog attacks.

Making a Dog Bite Claim

If you are thinking of making an accident claim following a dog attack, you will need the dog owner’s details, such as name and address. If you’ve spoken to the police, you will need your police details, which can aid your case.

To make a successful dog attack claim, you will also need information about the dog, such as whether it has insurance against it (such as pet insurance or home insurance). This is important, as it will dictate whether there are means to pay the dog bite compensation, as most individuals won’t have the ability to pay personally.

If you are thinking of making a dog bite compensation claim, or just want more information about dog bite claims, call our team of dog attack claims specialists at National Accident Helpline™ now for free help and guidance, or fill out our short online claim form. We’re waiting to hear from you.