Coming from a nation of animal lovers, a dog bite is an attack a lot of us fear. However much we love animals, especially dogs, we all know that what they’re about to do next is often unpredictable. There has been a sudden rise in victims of dog attacks lately, especially amongst children. It is understandable that as parents, we worry for both our own and our children’s safety when around animals.
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act, there are some animals that are not allowed to be owned as pets in the UK. This is because they are seen as unsafe to the public, if after an investigation the police discover you were attacked by an animal on the list, the owner is likely to be prosecuted.
Here at The Injury Lawyers we want to make you aware of what to do if you should encounter such an attack…
- Get the contact details: It is important that you try and get the contact details of the dog owner. This will not only help the police with their enquiries but will also be useful if you wish to claim for compensation.
- Report the incident to the police: You must immediately report the incident to the police. They will then be able to track down the dog owner and take further action. In some circumstances it is possible that the animal may have previously attacked someone else. In this case the owner may be prosecuted for owning a dangerous dog, under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
- Seek medical attention: After you have been bitten by an animal, especially a Dog you may need to have a vaccination to prevent the spread of any disease. Depending on the seriousness of the attack you make also need the injury looking at.
- Obtain photographs: Take photographic evidence of scares, bruises or injuries you have suffered from the attack.
After recovering from the injury and shock of the attack you may consider making a dog attack claim for compensation. All of the above will help you when pursuing this claim.
If you decide that you do wish to claim compensation after the attack then you should speak to a solicitor who will tell you whether you have a valid claim.
At The Injury Lawyers we will assign you, your very own solicitor who will deal with the claim on your behalf. For more information or if you wish to speak to someone regarding a claim call The Injury lawyers free on 0800 634 75 75.
