Being attacked by a dog can be one of the most horrifying experiences anybody can go through. The impact of the injuries sustained can be both physical and psychological for the individual. There have been many reports in recent years concerning dog attacks in the UK. Many of them involve certain breeds of dogs such as Pit Bull Terriers, and Rottweilers. Although these particular breed of dogs are more posed to be a threat to innocent bystanders, there have been many reports of attacks by other types of dogs too.
Generally, a dog attack compensation claim is more likely to succeed if the dog was known to have shown aggressive tendencies in the past. If there is evidence to demonstrate that the dog had bitten, or attacked an individual in a previous incident, then the owner is likely to be liable to pay compensation for the dog attack. It is the owner’s duty to restrain and control the dog, if the owner is aware of the dog’s aggressive tendencies, and it’s potential to harm others.
Young children should be particularly looked after as they are most at risk from a dog attack. They are often easy targets as their playful and innocent charm can lead dogs to take advantage. You should never leave your child alone with a dog, even if the dog has a history of being friendly. This is because dogs can sometimes be unpredictable too, and any sudden change in behaviour could lead to harm to the child.
According to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 certain breeds of dogs are required to be muzzled when in public places and micro-chipped. If you suffered an attack by a breed of dog covered by this act that was not muzzled, your claim is likely to succeed. This is even if the dog had not shown previous signs of aggressive behaviour.
Minimizing your chances of attacked by a dog
You may be standing near a dog which is about to attack you. You can feel its eyes peering at you, waiting for the right moment to pounce. Fear not as there are some things you can do to stop this from happening. Like do nothing. If you keep as still as possible, there is a chance you will make the dog bored and it will eventually go away. Don’t try to run as this could result in a high-speed chase, one which will lead to only one party being the winner, that party not being you.
What can you do if you have been bitten
Unfortunately you may not have been able to prevent yourself from being attacked by the dog, and this led to you being bitten. Whichever way the attack occurred, it is strongly advisable that you report the incident to the police or local authority. This is important not only for your own safety, but also to prevent this happening again to someone else. It is also essential that you seek medical attention straight away, even if the injury appears to be minor. Even a minor injury can become badly infected.
If you have been a victim to a dog attack, you may be entitled to compensation. Our solicitors will assess your case and talk you through the process of making a claim.
Ayesha Salim , editor of the UK Lawyers Network, writes articles about solicitors, Lawyer, compensation claims, find a solicitor, legal, lawyer, law help advice, solicitors litigation
categories: Solicitors,Lawyers,Accidents,Accident compensation,Accident compensation lawyer,Personal injury,Personal injury solicitors,Personal injury lawyers,legal,lawyer,law help advice,solicitors,litigation,claims
