How to make a personal injury claim for a dog bite

With more of us turning to internet shopping at this time of year, deliveries to private properties are on the rise.

Therefore, more people are needing to enter private property as part of their employment.

This raises the risk for those delivering post to be bitten by dogs at the properties they are visiting.

If you are attacked and injured by a dog on private land in the course of your employment you may be able to make a claim for personal injury.

You can claim against the owner of the dog through their pet insurance or if there is no insurance or you cannot identify the owner of the dog, you can potentially make a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.  If you are bitten by a dog in a public place for example by a guard dog, then a claim can be made against their public liability insurance.  There is also potential to claim from your employer if they knew or ought to have known of the danger posed by a dog on certain premises and failed to take reasonable precautions to keep you safe.

The time limit for making a claim for injuries resulting from a dog bite is 3 years from the date of the incident.

It is key to gather as much evidence as you can to support your claim such as details of the property you were attacked, the owners name, photographs of the injuries, eyewitness details, police log details and dates you sought medical attention.  In order to be successful in a claim for injury as a result of a dog bite it is also essential to gather evidence about the dog’s behaviour and whether it has previously caused injury or presented aggressive behaviour.

If you have been injured by a dog in the course of your employment do not hesitate to contact us where a member of our legal team will assess and guide you through your potential claim.

Dog bites don’t just happen in the course of your employment though.  Anyone who is attacked and injured by a dog has a right to bring a claim as long as the dog was not being provoked at the time of the attack.   The same 3-year time limit applies, however if a child is injured as a result of a dog bite then the time limit is slightly different and you have 3 years from the day they turn 18 to bring a claim.