By Jo Anderson. Last Updated 29th January 2024. If you have suffered a dog bit injury, you may be wondering whether you could be eligible to receive compensation. Within this guide, we will set out the eligibility requirements that all dog bite claims must meet in order for them to be valid.
Additionally, we will provide a case study for a £28k compensation payout for a dog bit injury. This guide will also explain how compensation is calculated in such claims, and the different heads of loss you could be awarded.
Furthermore, we will share examples of evidence that could be used to support a dog bite claim, as well as explain the time limits that must be adhered to. Finally, this guide will end by looking at how one of our No Win No Fee solicitors could help you with making your claim.
If you have any specific questions you would like answered or to receive free advice on your particular case, you can contact one of our advisors by:L
- Calling 0800 073 8801
- Using our live chat service.
- Contacting us online.
A guide to dog bite compensation claims
Select A Section
- Dog Bite Claims – Case Study
- What Are The Criteria For Dog Bite Claims?
- Evidence That Could Support A Dog Bite Claim
- How Long Do I Have To Claim Dog Bite Compensation?
- What Is The Average Payout For A Dog Bite?
- No Win No Fee Agreements And Dog Bite Claims
- Helpful Resources On Dog Bite Claims
Dog Bite Claims – Case Study
Before we provide information about how you could claim for an injury caused by a dog, let us give you an example of a successful dog bite claim.
In this case, a woman was attacked by a dog when she was out for a jog. The dog had attacked two other runners in the past two months, and the owner had already been warned about the dog’s behavior and told to keep it on a lead. However, the owner ignored this and let his dog roam freely in a public park, which is where the attack happened.
In the attack, the woman’s left arm and elbow were punctured badly, and she required hospital treatment. She was left with permanent scarring and developed a phobia of dogs, which impacted her ability to go out and enjoy her usual runs.
The woman sought help from a solicitor experienced in dog bite claims. They successfully negotiated a settlement of £28,000 for the woman for her physical and psychological injuries as well as the costs she incurred as a result of her injuries.
To see whether you may be eligible to claim compensation for a dog bite injury, you can contact one of our friendly team members.
What Are The Criteria For Dog Bite Claims?
Not everyone would be eligible to claim personal injury compensation for a dog bite. To be eligible to claim, you would need to demonstrate that:
- Someone had a duty of care towards you, which they breached.
- Your injuries were a direct result of this breach.
For example, if someone had a banned breed of dog and it bit you, this could be in breach of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. If such a dog attacks you, this could lead to a criminal charge for the owner. However, it is not only dangerous breeds that could lead to dog bite claims. If an owner of a dog does not keep proper control of their pet, and you are bitten as a result, you could be eligible to claim compensation.
The average payout for a dog bite claim can vary, but generally, compensation would come from the owner’s pet insurance. However, in some cases, the liable party might be an organisation that should be in control of the animal, such as a dog home or kennels.
To check your eligibility, or learn more about how to begin a claim, please contact an advisor.
Evidence That Could Support A Dog Bite Claim
If you are considering starting your own dog bite compensation claim, you will need to gather evidence to help support your case. If a solicitor agrees to assist you with your claim, then they can help with evidence gathering.
Potential evidence that could be used when claiming compensation for a dog bite may include:
- Medical records stating your injuries, the severity of them, and the treatment you required.
- Photographs of the injuries caused by the dog bites, such as any visible scarring.
- Any video evidence that may be available showing the dog attack, such as CCTV footage.
- Contact details of any witnesses. They could then provide a statement at a later date.
You can contact our team of advisors for more information on gathering evidence for a dog bite claim. Additionally, they may connect you with one of our solicitors who could assist you with gathering evidence.
How Long Do I Have To Claim Dog Bite Compensation?
As well as looking for the average payout for a dog bite in the UK, or searching for a dog bite claim calculator, you might wonder how long you’d have to claim dog bite compensation. If so, you might be interested to know that the time limits for dog bite compensation claims can be found in the Limitation Act 1980.
It states that in personal injury claims, the time limit is generally three years. This is taken either from the date of the accident or the date that the person connected their injuries to negligence.
However, there are exceptions to the limitation period in some cases. For example, if the injured person is under the age of 18 or if the person lacks the mental capacity to claim.
To learn more about the exceptions and when they could apply, get in touch with our team.
What Is The Average Payout For A Dog Bite?
Payout amounts for successful dog bite claims can vary. If your claim results in compensation, this could come under two heads of loss; general damages and special damages.
General damages is the head of claim that compensates you for the suffering and pain you have endured because of your injuries. Those calculating general damages payouts for claims involving dog bites could look to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) for reference. This is a publication that provides guideline payout amounts for a range of injuries at different severities.
The table below contains some figures from the 2022 edition of the JCG as rough guidance. However, the first figure in the table is not from the JCG.
| Type of injury | Compensation banding | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious injuries with special damages. | Up to £150,000+ | Multiple serious injuries which can include both physical and mental injuries, plus special damages, such as loss of earnings, for example. |
| Severe psychiatric damage (a) | £54,830 to £115,730 | There will be a poor future prognosis. Various factors will play into how this is calculated. |
| Moderately severe psychiatric damage (b) | £19,070 to £54,830 | The anticipated future prognosis will be much better than the above category. |
| Moderate psychiatric damage (c) | £5,860 to £19,070 | The anticipated future prognosis will be much better than the above category. There will be a good degree of recovery over the long term. |
| Very severe facial scarring (a) | £29,780 to £97,330 | Applicable to younger claimants where there is severe disfigurement and psychological reaction. |
| Less severe facial scarring (b) | £17,960 to £48,420 | Substantial disfigurement and a serious psychological reaction. |
| Significant facial scarring (c) | £9,110 to £30,090 | The worst impact could be reduced with plastic surgery. |
| Less significant facial scarring (d) | £3,950 to £13,740 | Multiple small scars or a singular one that doesn’t cause a severe reaction. |
| Scarring on the body | £7,830 to £22,730 | Lots of scars or a single disfiguring scar on the body. |
| Scarring on the body | £2,370 to £7,830 | A single noticeable scar or or lots of superficial ones. |
As well as general damages, you could receive compensation under special damages.
Special damages compensate for costs and financial losses caused by your injuries, which could include:
- Medical expenses – if you have incurred prescription costs or have had to pay for mobility aids, for example.
- Travel expenses – if you have incurred travel costs from getting to medical appointments or to meet your solicitor.
- Care costs – if you have had to pay for care at home because you couldn’t look after yourself because of your injuries.
- Lots of income – if you have lost out on earnings due to being unable to work because of your injuries.
You will have to evidence these costs and losses to include them within your claim. This could include payslips, invoices and bank statements.
To learn more about compensation payouts for such claims, or to get a personalised estimate, please contact an advisor
No Win No Fee Agreements And Dog Bite Claims
If you are eligible to make a personal injury claim for compensation for a dog bite, you may be looking to get help from a solicitor. Solicitors can be useful in helping with dog bite claims, as they can assist with gathering evidence to support your case, as well as negotiating a compensation settlement on your behalf.
One of our No Win No Fee solicitors may offer to take on your claim under an arrangement known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). If so, you would not typically have to pay them for their work upfront or while the claim is progressing. You also wouldn’t be expected to pay them for their services if the claim is unsuccessful.
Under the terms of the CFA, your solicitor would deduct a small, legally capped percentage of your compensation if your claim is a success. This percentage is known as a success fee.
To find out whether you could be eligible to make a claim with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors, you can contact our advisors. They can also help answer any questions you may have about the personal injury claims process. To connect with them today, you can:
- Call 0800 074 8801
- Contact us online to receive a callback.
- Use the live chat to speak with one of our advisors.
Helpful Resources On Dog Bite Claims
- Dog bite Compensation – Your Guide to Claiming – A definitive guide to claiming.
- NHS – What to do about bites – See here for more advice on treatment etc.
Thank you for reading this case study on personal injury claims payouts for a dog bite. Hopefully, we’ve explained what the average payout for a dog bite in the UK is. We could assess your case to see if you could claim. Or, if you’d like our help getting a dog bite payout, we’d be glad to help you.