How to claim compensation following a dog bite accident

If you have been unfortunate enough to be involved in a dog bite accident then it may be possible to claim compensation. Around 200, 000 dog bites occur every year in the UK , and according to the Patient UK website, in over 70% of cases, people are bitten by their own pets or by an animal known to them. If however you or a family member has been bitten by a dog that does not belong to you, then compensation could be claimed under English law. If the dog in question has a history of aggression, which can be proven and the owner has household or pet insurance then there is a case to be brought. See dogs that bite for more information on dangerous dogs.

Children and dog bites
Children are at greater risk than adults of being bitten by a dog and are likely to receive severe facial injuries during an attack. This is due to their height and proximity to a dog’s mouth. Children do not understand that you should not bother a dog, especially when it is eating, chewing or with its puppies. Taking away a precious toy is also likely to irritate the calmest of dogs. To help prevent an attack on a child they should always be supervised when playing with or near a dog. Due to their age they are unlikely to be able to follow the recommended guidelines of avoiding forthcoming attack. These are;

  • Climbing on to a high object to escape from the dog

  • Putting another object in between you and the dog, this may be a purse, bag or item of clothing

  • Remaining calm and not making eye contact with the dog

Postal workers
With approximately 5,000 attacks on postal workers every year, they are constantly at risk of being bitten whilst carrying out their work. The fact that dogs seem to be intimidated by the postal workers uniform results in the loss of around 4,500 working days per year. It is also believed that all postmen and women will be attacked at least once during the course of their careers.

How YouClaim can help
If you have been involved in a dog bite accident then you must establish whether the dogs’ owner has insurance that will cover compensation for the accident. You should also obtain the owners contact details and consider reporting the incident to the police. Once you have been treated for any injuries that you have sustained call YouClaim for friendly advice on how to pursue your claim.

If you wish to claim compensation for a dog bite accident then call YouClaim for free on 0800 10 757 95 . We guarantee that win or lose you will not be liable for any costs. If your case is won then you will receive . Please see No Win No Fee for more information.

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