If your dog bites someone it’s important to appreciate that this doesn’t automatically mean that someone who has been injured will be successful in their claim. The circumstances surrounding what has happened still have to be taken into account and in particular they need to be certain that they are pursuing the right person (i.e. the owner and keeper of the dog) and that you have been negligent.
Obviously, any dog owner has a responsibility to take as many steps as possible to prevent such incidents. However, if you are unlucky enough to have an animal that just bites someone in a flash and in circumstances that you could not prevent, then you need to gather as much information as possible to help address any claim that may be presented.
You might not be able to deny that the animal bit someone but you can look at the other factors to ensure that any claim is sufficiently proven. The overall circumstances, the level of injury and the information submitted as part of initiating the claim will all be relevant. Photos of the injury can be requested and in more complex cases additional evidence from veterinary experts may be required.
The main thing that you should do is seek legal advice as soon as you are notified that a claim is being initiated or even if you suspect that one will be commenced. SHU Law can review the circumstances of what has happened and provide you with advice as to the way forward. If you have found yourself worrying about the actions of your family pet then please give us a call on 0114 2256666 or 0114 2255891.