Being attacked and bitten by a dog is a terrifying experience that can leave you with both a serious injury and ongoing psychological trauma. Dog owners and handlers have a responsibility to ensure that their dogs are prevented from behaving dangerously and do not cause harm to people. If they fail to do so, the injured party may have grounds to bring a compensation claim against them. If you have suffered a physical and psychological injury due to being attacked by a dog, our personal injury solicitors may be able to assist you in seeking the compensation that you deserve. On this page, you will find general information to consider regarding bringing a dog bite claim.
Here at McCarthy + Co, our solicitors have decades of experience in dealing with specific types of injury compensation cases such as dog bite claims. Section 21 of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 is the law in Ireland that determines how dog bite compensation claims are dealt with. The law very clearly stipulates that dog owners are responsible for any injury caused to humans.
21. —(1) The owner of a dog shall be liable in damages for damage caused in an attack on any person by the dog and for injury done by it to any livestock; and it shall not be necessary for the person seeking such damages to show a previous mischievous propensity in the dog, or the owner’s knowledge of such previous propensity, or to show that such injury or damage was attributable to neglect on the part of the owner.
As such, there are several tasks you will need to carry out to bring a successful dog bite claim. Follow the steps below or call our personal injury team today for further advice.
Bringing a dog bite compensation claim
If you have been bitten by a dog, you should start by seeking medical attention and then reporting the incident to the Gardai. To bring a claim, you will need to follow the steps below.
- Take photos of your injury immediately after the incident
- Take photos of your injury as it is healing
- Retain any clothing items that you were wearing at the time of the attack (preferably unwashed)
- Keep a written record of the precise details of the attack
- Get the contact details of any witnesses (if they are available)
- Get a formal medical record from your doctor or the hospital that treated you.
Useful resources
Some links relating to this topic that you may find useful:
- ResearchGate – Characteristics of 234 dog bite incidents in Ireland
- Citizens Information – Dog licences and ownership
- Dogs.ie – Irish banned dogs
About Us
With more than 30 years of experience, McCarthy + Co. has helped many people to bring successful personal injury claims against negligent third parties, including dog bite attack cases. We are a family-run business, and we pride ourselves on offering honest, impartial, and helpful advice.
Our offices are based in Dublin and Cork, but we work with clients throughout Ireland in locations ranging from Galway to Waterford. You can count on us for legal advice, guidance, and assistance on any form of personal injury.
Testimonials for McCarthy + Co. Solicitors LLP
Well this family made me feel at ease as it was my first time ever using a solicitor which they knew from talking to me. I was nervous speaking to people in suits all my life but John and his team were and are very down to earth and spoke to me in normal language so for that alone it made the process not as scary as I had imagined! Thank you again for all your help.
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Start Your Dog Bite Compensation Claim
If you have been attacked by a dog and you would like advice on bringing a dog bite claim, contact our solicitors today to make a start on your claim or gather more information. Call us on 1800 390 555 and an experienced member of staff will discuss your situation and potential next steps. You can also email on info@mccarthy.ie and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
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