We are personal injury solicitors specialising in claiming compensation for clients injured through no fault of their own. Catherine Smith has experience with all types of claims, and introduces our services in this short video.

Read more about Bartletts Solicitors below, or use our free legal advice service opposite to ask us a question or to get started making a claim.

Dog Bite Injury Claims & Compensation

Britain has long been renowned as a nation of dog lovers, animals which are normally docile, loyal, affectionate and fun-loving. The past decade has however seen a 66% leap in people requiring hospital treatment following a dog attack, representing around 100 admissions a week. NHS statistics show that 5,221 people were treated after dog attacks in 2008/09, though this figure does not represent the full scale of the problem as it does not include A&E patient admissions. Between 1997 and 2007 the number of dog owners found guilty of breaching The Dangerous Dogs Act increased by 220%. In London alone the number of court cases involving dog attacks rose from just 35 in 2002/03 to 719 on 2008/09. The dramatic increase in dog attacks has led to calls for tougher legislation to deal with the problem, especially with reference to children, who are three times more likely to be attacked by dogs than adults.

Typical Causes Of Dog Bites & Attacks

Though dogs are regularly described as 'man's best friend', they are also both territorial and unpredictable animals. One reason put forward for the rising number of dog attacks is that young people in deprived areas where gangs operate will often prefer large, dangerous dogs, both as a status symbol, and to deter attacks from others. The problem is that these dogs are rarely supervised or controlled effectively, and are often poorly treated by their owners. They pose a particular threat in domestic settings if an owner leaves a dangerous dog alone with young children. All dogs will show a certain amount of aggression to strangers who they see as invading their territory. Those working in professions which involve home visits are therefore especially vulnerable to dog attacks, including postal workers, carers, cleaners, builders and utilities maintenance workers. When a dangerous dog is not on a leash or muzzled in public, any person may be at risk of attack, including other dog owners out for a walk or children playing in the park.

Read Case Study: Compensation For Delivery Man Attacked By Dog

Dog Bite Injuries & The Legal Position

Dog attacks may involve bites or maulings, and can lead to serious injury, illness and even death. Animal attacks on humans are also traumatic and psychologically damaging experiences, especially for young children. Most commonly children sustain facial and head injuries from dog attacks, often leading to long-term scarring and deformity. Dog bites can also lead to infections and serious diseases where wounds are not treated quickly enough. The severity of dog attack injuries has led to calls from politicians and the press for more effective legislation to prevent such incidents from occurring. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 outlawed four breeds altogether, and also requires certain other dogs to be muzzled in public. The problem is that many breeds and cross-breeds are not covered by the act, and in these cases an injured person must prove that the dog responsible had a history of aggression for a compensation claim to succeed. Such proof is often difficult or impossible to obtain.

Insurance For Dog Bites And Grounds For Claims

A further problem with compensation claims for dog attacks is where the owner of a dog cannot be traced, or where no insurance policy exists to cover the risk of a dog causing injury to others. Many dog owners will not have a household insurance policy, or otherwise dog attacks will not be covered by that policy. Some responsible owners will have separate third party dog insurance, but others will have no cover at all. In these cases the only option for an injured person will be to claim compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Scheme (CICA). Claims for dog attacks will consider whether an owner failed to control or restrain their dog in the lead up to the attack, and whether the dog had previously shown a pattern of similarly dangerous behaviour. If the latter is true the owner may be liable for damage caused by a dog regardless of whether their actions were responsible for the incident.

Bartletts Solicitors are specialists in dog attack compensation claims on behalf of both injured workers and members of the public. Provided your claim relates to a dog attack or dog bite incident that has taken place in the last three years, Bartletts can represent you on a No Win No Fee basis. You are therefore assured of keeping 100% of any compensation awarded, with no deductions. In the event that your compensation claim is successful our fees are paid by the losing party to the claim, or their insurance company. The vast majority of the claims we take on are successful, and where they are not we will charge you nothing.