Have you been bitten by a dog? If so, you could be entitled to financial compensation. While most people would deem dogs to be friendly animals, there are certain instances where a dog may not have been properly trained or controlled, resulting in them inflicting serious harm on people.
At Kerr Brown, our personal injury claims lawyers understand that the experience of being bitten by a dog can be a traumatic one that has the potential to cause long-lasting psychological issues. If you have suffered a dog bite and want to know how to begin the process of seeking compensation for your injury, the solicitors at Kerr Brown are here to help you. Our solicitors will work with you through the process to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Who is to blame if a dog bites me?
It may sound strange to ask this question but many people are unsure as to who is to blame when they suffer a dog bite. It is well established in law that dog owners and other people who handle or are involved in dealing with dogs have a responsibility to ensure that no one suffers an injury by the dog in their care. The damage that a dog can inflict on someone should not be underestimated: regardless of size, dogs are able to inflict a significant amount of harm if they attack someone, ranging from deep punctures through to severe tissue damage, and in certain cases, nerve and bone injury. Furthermore, while a dog may not have bitten you, the experience may have left you shaken and suffering other injuries e.g. deep claw marks.
How to make a claim for a dog bite?
If you are considering raising a claim for suffering a dog bite there are certain steps that need to be taken in order to bring together sufficient evidence to demonstrate the fact that you suffered an injury and the severity/extent of your injuries. While they may sound obvious, the following points can be useful in establishing a strong case for compensation for a dog bite:
- Try and identify the dog's owner – you need to be able to identify the person that has failed in their responsibility to protect you from harm;
- Bring your accident to the attention of the police – this will ensure that your situation is officially recorded, and the police may be able to help you in your investigating who the dog’s owner is;
- Speak to people who saw the dog bite you – it is better for your claim if other people are able to lend their voice to your claim: the more people who support your version of events, the more credible your claim is likely to be;
- Try to find out more information about the dog that bit you – speak to your neighbours or people that you have been near the dog before, and try to find out if it is a particularly aggressive or unpredictable breed; and,
- While it may not always be possible, take photographs of the injuries that you suffer – you should provide as much evidence of the incident as possible, including any scarring that is caused as a result of being bitten.
While you may not always be able to cover each step that we have mentioned above, anything that you can do to provide more information on the circumstances surrounding your accident will be helpful to your case. At Kerr Brown, our personal injury lawyers understand that you may even need help in getting some of this information. Our team will be happy to work with you to combine our efforts and build a convincing case for your claim.
Contact Us Today: Animal Injury Claims Lawyers Glasgow, Scotland
Kerr Brown is a leading provider of personal injury legal advice. Where a dog owner fails to protect you from being injured by their dog, we can help you claim compensation. Speak to our team today. We pride ourselves on offering a professional claims service that is delivered by a friendly and trustworthy team. We look forward to working with you. Call us on 01412214880 or contact us now via our online contact form.