Beware of the dog!!!!
Over 200,000 people are attacked by dogs in the UK each year. The injuries are often not only physical but also psychological and can be caused by the most innocuous of breeds.
To be successful in a personal injury claim resulting from a dog bite you need to show evidence that the owner / keeper / handler was aware that the dog is aggressive or had shown aggressive tendencies on at least one previous occasion. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 lists four breeds of dogs which are exempt from the need to show previous aggression; Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos and Fila Brazilieros.
Under the Act the owners of these breeds must ensure the dogs are on a lead and muzzled whenever in a public place, they must ensure that the dog is chipped, tattooed and insured and that it is registered on the index of exempted breeds.
Most dog owners will not have the means to pay the dog bite compensation and lawyers costs personally. Your Solicitor will therefore need to investigate whether the owner has home contents insurance and / or pet insurance which would cover the costs of the claim.
At the time of the attack it is imperative that you obtain the dog owners name and address and if possible seek to establish whether they have any appropriate insurance in place. Establishing whether the dog had previously been aggressive or shown aggression can be difficult and thus it would be useful to note any comments the owner makes in relation to the dog’s previous behaviour and to collate witness evidence from friends, family members or neighbours who have knowledge of the dog. It may be that the dog’s vet or insurer can provide evidence which will help to prove aggression.
In some cases it may be possible to make a claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority if the dog bite was as a result of a criminal act.
To discuss whether or not you have a valid dog bite claim, please contact Clare or Sarah on 01952 426134 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01952 426134 end_of_the_skype_highlighting now. If you refer your personal injury claim to us you could be entitled to £100 bonus payment please see our offer.
For more information please visit:-
http://www.martinkaye.co.uk/services/personal-injury/personal-injury-lawyer-telford.html
