Have you or a loved one sustained injuries caused by an animal?

Human interaction with animals is obviously very common and as a nation of dog lovers it is not surprising that the most common type of injuries for which financial compensation is sought are the result of dog bites or attacks. It is estimated that as many as 24% of adults in the UK own a dog, with the total dog population estimated at 8.9 million.

In accordance with the Animals Act 1971 (and specifically for Dog owners the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991) all animal owners are legally bound to ensure any animal(s) they own do not hurt or injure anyone and that they maintain proper control of the animal in any public place. In case an animal does injure someone, either directly through a bite or attack, or indirectly through their actions, then in the eyes of the law, it is the owner who would be held liable.

In pursuing any claim for financial compensation, it is, therefore, the animal owner who, if deemed liable by the court, would be responsible for payment of any sum eventually awarded.

If you've suffered an injury from an animal attack, the expert personal injury lawyers at Sheldon Davidson can help you to claim the compensation that you deserve.

It is not just dogs that bite, or cause injuries through their actions, however. There are obviously many occasions when humans are in contact with all different types of animals, such as:

On farms
Public Footpaths which may cross through farmland
Zoos
Other people’s houses
On the street
On land surrounding stables

Workplace animal injuries

There are also many occupations which involve daily contact with animals, such as Zookeepers, Vets, Farm Hands, etc and clearly, for people in such occupations, there is a higher risk of being injured directly or indirectly by an animal. Obviously, proper training and preventative measures can and should be applied by the employer and the employee to reduce the risk, but animal behaviour can be unpredictable.

For those in daily contact with animals whilst at work, the employer is legally required (under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974) to safeguard all employees against harm or injury. If you or a loved one has been injured directly, or indirectly by an animal you may be entitled to pursue a claim for financial compensation. The first thing to do to be sure is to contact our team of highly experienced Solicitors.

At Sheldon Davidson we pride ourselves on our caring and compassionate approach and at the same time, we are passionate about justice and the law. We are one of the most recognised Injury lawyers firms across Greater Manchester and our track record and reputation speaks for itself.

Call us today for a free consultation and we will tell you, with confidence whether there is a claim to be answered and whether there is a high likelihood of success.

Accident involving animals

Dog bites or attacks - depending on the type of dog and how it is homed and treated, such attacks can be serious and in the worst case even fatal.
Cow attacks - these can be very serious and even fatal and according to statistics Cows are the deadliest large animal in the UK.
Horse accidents - bites/kicks, or accidents whilst riding.
Zoo accidents - bites or attacks by dangerous species found in Zoos can be extremely serious and sometimes fatal.
Road Traffic Accidents - caused by loose, unruly or spooked animals.
Police Horse Accidents - People can be trampled on, or knocked over whilst unaware of the proximity of a police horse

Determining liability where animals cause personal injury

Clearly, a person cannot claim financial damages from an animal and so normally it would be the animal owner or the employer (if the accident occurred at work) who is liable to pay any damages. There are however cases of animal injury where there is no such owner or employer and so there is no party to claim from. For example, if you were injured by a wild animal whilst out hill walking, or if you are involved in a Road Accident as the result of swerving or hitting a wild animal, unfortunately there would be no case to pursue, as there is simply no negligent party to blame, or eventually claim damages from.

During an initial consultation, we will advise whether there is potential to pursue a solid case for financial compensation from a negligent party. Call us today and we will help you establish this quickly.

Animal injuries and shared liability/negligence

Just as an owner or an employer has a duty of care to ensure animals under their ownership do not hurt or injure anyone, individuals also have a duty of care to protect themselves and those around them. In any evaluation surrounding the liability and settlement for financial compensation, the actions of the injured party leading up to the accident will be considered carefully.

If, for example, it is found that clear safety signs such as ‘Beware of the Dog’ or ‘Restricted area - Do not Enter’ have been ignored then the court could find both parties to be at fault and this would be ‘Shared Negligence’. It is still possible to pursue a claim for financial compensation in such circumstances, although the eventual compensation will be reduced, or shared between the parties accordingly.

What can be included in your compensation settlement?

General damages include:

The pain and suffering caused by the injuries sustained i.e. the severity
Any lasting psychological impact that affects the day-to-day life of the injured party
Any life-changing injuries

Special damages include:

Loss of earnings (past and future)
Loss of items which cannot be recovered
Medical Costs (past and future)
Adaptations to the home and transport to maximise independent living

If you decide to choose Sheldon Davidson Solicitors to represent you we will work tirelessly to ensure your claim is as solid as it can be and that every penny of value possible is included in your claim. Once on your team we make it our personal business to ensure you secure the financial compensation you deserve. So, call us today and let us advise you on the strength and validity of your case and what the next steps would be.

Contact Us

We are passionate about helping clients to seek appropriate justice and recompense, and our track record speaks for itself.

Our experienced Personal Injury Solicitors in Manchester act regularly for clients across the Greater Manchester area including Ashton, Bury, Bolton, Radcliffe, Prestwich, Middleton, Failsworth, Rochdale, Oldham, and Whitefield.

Sheldon Davidson Solicitors are a Lexcel accredited law firm. The Lexcel standard is only awarded by the Law Society to firms who meet the highest standards of practice management and customer service.

You can be confident that your claim is in safe hands.

Call us for free now using the number at the top of the page or complete the online contact form and a member of our team will get back to you.