Making a claim
With over 8.9 million dogs in the UK it is no wonder why claims for dog related injuries (known as bites and strikes) are on the increase.
We can assist you in making a claim for compensation if you have been injured by a dog, whether by a bite or a scratch or because you were knocked over by the dog and sustained injury as a result.
If you have been injured by a dog, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. You should also take photographs of any injuries. You may also wish to consider reporting the incident to the police. You should also keep a record of any out of pocket expenses you incur as a result of the injury such as the costs of travelling to medical appointments and loss of earnings due to time off work.
As with all personal injury claims, there is a time limit of 3 years for bringing the claim.
Our specialist solicitors can provide you with friendly and straightforward advice as to the strengths of your claim and what steps you should take next. We can also discuss funding of your case and likely timescales.
Defending a claim
At Wheldon Law we are renown for being experts in dog law and we have extensive experience in defending claims when your dog is alleged to have injured someone.
Dog owners and handlers have a responsibility to keep their dogs under control and prevent them from causing harm to others. If your dog has injured someone or caused injury to their dog, then it is possible that a claim may be brought against you. It is also possible that criminal proceedings will be brought against you (please see our page on dogs dangerously out of control Can we have a link here to that page please)
As a general rule, for a claim to succeed against you, the other party would need to prove that you had been negligent and/or that your dog had a history of similar behaviour and that you were aware of that fact. Typically you will be asked to provide details of any previous incidents in which your dog had been involved and to provide veterinary records which may detail any previous behavioural issues.
We can defend you in any proceedings that are brought against you and, in the event liability is admitted, we can work hard to limit the extent of that liability in order to keep the costs down.
Our specialist solicitors can provide you with friendly and straightforward advice as to your potential liability and what steps to take next. We can also advise you on costs and likely timescales.