What to do if you have been bitten by a dog?

Posted 6 months ago by aequitaslegal in Claiming

If you are unfortunate enough to be bitten by a dog, there can be a lot of people and organisations to deal with, especially in the initial few weeks. Here are some tips that you can use to help in certain situations.

Please note that these tips do not constitute legal advice and are for guidance purposes only. If you would like to discuss an accident that you have been involved in, please contact us.

If you have been bitten or know of someone who has unfortunately been bitten it is always worth having the following details ready before contacting your Personal Injury Solicitors.

• Make sure you have the names and addresses of any witnesses that saw the attack
• Try to get the name and address of the dog owner
• Report the accident to the Police and get the Reference Number
• Photos of the bite after the attack and photos of the wound now
• If you believe the accident was unprovoked and was not your fault, seek legal independent advice from an expert law firm, such as Aequitas Legal

The most common form of an injury caused by an animal in the UK are from dog bites.

Due to germs from a dog bite, it is very vital that you keep the wound clean. If you already haven’t, make sure you seek medical advice immediately.  The NHS estimates that around half of all children will receive a dog bite during their life. Tragically there have been a small number of deaths as a result of an attack by a dog in England & Wales.

You can claim for the following if you have been bitten by a dog:

• Damages for pain or suffering caused by the attack
• Loss of income
• Medical cost
• Travel costs
• Other various losses which have occurred as a direct result of the attack.

Pet and Home Insurance

Some dog owners have suitable pet insurance to cover them for vet bills and treatment. However, most pet insurance also includes public liability insurance and so if you’ve been bitten by a dog with insurance, you can claim for your injury and other losses directly from that insurance company.

However, some dog owners have no pet insurance but have home insurance. Again, most home insurance policies have public liability insurance which may cover an injury caused by their dog.

It is important to get the name and address of the dog owner to investigate possible insurance policies to claim compensation. 

For further guidance and friendly advice, give us a call.