Dog Bite Solicitors & Dog Bite Compensation Claims.

Being attacked and/or bitten by a dog can cause a range of injuries, going from minor to very serious. Depending on the circumstances of the attack, who the victim is, and the type of dog, consequences for a dog attack may include:

Scarring

It’s very common for dog bites to leave permanent scarring on the injured area. Some types of dogs can have large and sharp teeth, and be able to puncture skin very easily. Even after seeking medical attention and leaving the wound to heal, victims of dog bites may be left with significant scarring, requiring plastic surgery – and additional medical costs and financial losses.

Fractures

Dog attacks can be very startling, and victims often fall to the ground as they’re bitten or attacked by the dog. If this happens on hard surfaces, such as pavement or cement, fractures often happen. While considered by many a minor injury, a bone fracture can become severe, and complications are not rare, leading to long recovery, and, sometimes, life-long impairment.

Child Injuries

Unfortunately, children can often be victims of dog attacks. They may approach dogs to play with them, not realising the risk associated with interacting with a dog they aren’t familiar with. They can also be more susceptible to injuries such as bites, which can lead to very serious accidents involving children.

Psychological Injuries

As dog attacks can be very intense experiences, many victims are left with PTSD or psychological injuries. If you have suffered long-term psychological consequences following a dog attack, you may be able to claim compensation for these damages as much as physical injuries and wounds.

The Dangerous Dogs Act came into force in 1991 and states that Pit Bull Terriers (Pit Bull Type), Japanese Tosas and Fila Brasileiros must always be muzzled and on a lead when in a public place. These breeds have all been judged to be legally “dangerous” and therefore any injury will lead to compensation being awarded, regardless of any previous incidents.

According to information released by the Royal Mail during their Dog Awareness Week in July 2019, 2,484 postal workers were bitten by dogs in the previous year, up 9% in the last 12 months. When you consider that this is 44 attacks per week on average, it is clearly a major problem.

The rise in dog bite injuries has been more pronounced in certain postcodes where more aggressive dog breeds have become fashionable. The worst areas for attacks in 2018 were Torquay, Stockport, Oldham, St Albans, Slough, Colchester, Blackburn, Llandudno, Hemel Hempstead and Hull.

While serious injuries by a dog are thankfully quite rare, on average a third of bites require medical attention and approximately two per month require hospital attendance.

Changes to the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, which came into force in May 2014, removed the distinction between dog biting incidents taking place in public and non-public places. So now, it is now a criminal offence no matter where the incident takes place.

Owners face unlimited fines and even prison if their dog bites anyone on their property – and that doesn’t just include postal workers or delivery drivers.

It is not the postman or delivery driver’s responsibility to prevent your dog from biting them through the letterbox. The responsibility is on the dog owner. If your dog is likely to try to bite or snatch through the letterbox, you must take steps to protect visitors to your property from being injured.