Parents in Park

Case Study: £7,000 Compensation Awarded in Dog Bite Claim

Posted on: 3 mins read
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Amy Baker

Graduate Solicitor Apprentice

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Patricia Howells found herself the victim of a vicious dog bite in 2016 and fell back on a piece of legislation that is over 40 years old in order to gain over £7,000 in compensation. Personal Injury Solicitor Jonathan Thursby handled Patricia’s case and managed to secure the compensation for her.

Our Client was Delivering the Yellow Pages

Mrs Patricia Howells was carrying out her job of delivering Yellow Pages to local residents in Plymouth, where she lived. As she approached the door of a farmhouse in the south west of Dartmoor, Devon, Mrs Howells was then attacked by a dog on the property.

The dog, which was an Alsatian, bit Mrs Howell's hand as she passed a copy of the Yellow Pages over to the dog owner, leaving her with injuries to her hand.

The owner of the dog, who was also the homeowner, offered Mrs Howells a cloth to hold to her wound. She was then promptly taken to hospital by her husband.

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Our Client Suffered a Hand Injury

Patricia's visit to Dereford hospital in Plymouth confirmed that she had deep lacerations and loss of flesh to the distal phalanx (the tip) of her right thumb. Furtherinvestigations into the injuries she had sustained from the dog bite saw doctors advise her to see a hand therapist to ensure a speedy recovery from the incident.

It was after her initial hospital visit that Mr Howells decided to seek the help of our Personal Injury Lawyers to make a dog bite claim for compensation.

We fought after the defendants denied Liability

Under Section 2 of the Animals Act 1971, Patricia Howells was owed compensation for the damages she suffered because of the incident with the Alsatian.

Initially, the defendant denied all liability, arguing that our client allowed her hands to pass over the gate. But our Personal Injury Solicitors successfully negotiated a settlement in our client’s favour. 

Mrs Patricia Howells was awarded over £7,000 for the damages she suffered because of the negligence of the dog owner.

Jonathan Thursby commented, "Mrs Howells and her husband dealt with the situation well in that they contacted the police about the dog which could help to protect any further incidences as well as taking pictures of the wounds sustained and making a record of the accident."

"The Animals Act of 1971 protects people like Mrs Howells. It states that if the keeper of an animal knows of that animal's propensity to attack, the keeper may be liable".

How Simpson Millar Can Help You 

If you have been attacked by a dog either in a public place or on private property, you could be entitled to compensation like Mrs Howells.

We have helped many people claim compensation for serious injuries caused by dogs, such as:

  • Severe wounds;
  • Infections;
  • Broken or fractured bones, sprains or strains;
  • Permanent scarring;
  • Facial or limb disfigurement;
  • Multiple injuries, including those to your hand, arm or foot or shoulder;
  • Bites which result in conditions such as PTSD, Chronic Pain or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

Unfortunately, certain dog bites or attacks, particularly involving young children, can result in fatalities. Although no amount of compensation can undo the harm, we're here to lend a listening ear and provide support should you choose to pursue a claim.

We can ask for early payments in the form of interim payments from the dog owner if they happen to admit liability. This can give you the access to special rehabilitation so that you can get back to the way you were before the accident.

You can trust our expert personal injury solicitors to deal with your case in a friendly and compassionate way. Call us on 0808 239 3227 and let us help you.

References:

Yell.com. (n.d.). Yell Business. Retrieved from https://www.yell.com/

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. (n.d.). Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. Retrieved from https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/

Hand Therapy UK. (n.d.). What is Hand Therapy? Retrieved from https://www.hand-therapy.co.uk/patients/what_is_hand_therapy.aspx

UK Legislation. (1971). Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, Section 2. Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/22/section/2

Simpson Millar. (n.d.). Serious Injury Claims - Multiple Fractures. Retrieved from https://www.simpsonmillar.co.uk/personal-injury-solicitors/serious-injury-claims/multiple-fractures/

Amy Baker

Graduate Solicitor Apprentice

Amy is a Graduate Solicitor Apprentice within our Personal injury department, based in our Manchester office.

She helps clients who have sustained injuries resulting from accidents at work and accidents in public places to recover compensation for the injuries they have sustained.

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