If you are attacked by a dog that has not been appropriately controlled then you may be entitled to bring a compensation claim for the injuries you have sustained.
The owner of the dog has a duty of care to ensure that their dog does not cause harm to others around them.
Under the Animals Act 1971; strict liability in the law of tort (negligence) is applied if it is foreseeable that an animal can come to cause injury to another person, i.e. if the owner knows the vicious nature of their own pet.
It was recently reported that a pensioner was fined £200.00 and ordered to pay compensation to a five year old boy after her dog had escaped from their home and bit the young boy on his face.
The young boy had been paying outside with his brother when he saw the pensioner’s Lakeland terrier approaching. He recognized the dog as being his neighbour’s and called out his name, to which the dog ran at the young boy, jumped up and bit his face.
The young boy was left with his face gushing with blood and his brother had to fight the dog off.
The dog’s owner was reported as being very remorseful and had the dog put down the same day. She has also been banned from owning a dog for 3 years.
The young boy may be left with permanent scaring from the wounds he sustained.
Dog bite claims can be complex claims to deal with and therefore you should seek the best personal injury legal advice you can to ensure that you receive the best support, advice and most importantly the best outcome!