What is a police dog bite claim?
Under UK law, you are protected against dog bites, including bites from police dogs. Although police dogs undergo extensive training, they can still be unpredictable, and the police officers themselves may be negligent.
Police dog bites are different from regular dog bites as they are often used as a means of detaining suspects. However, if the police dog was uncontrollable or the police officer handling the dog was negligent, you have the right to make a claim. Officers may be considered negligent if they release the dog at the wrong time or fail to shout a warning before doing so.
How do I claim?
Step 1
Get in contact by using one of our contact forms throughout the site.
Step 2
We will arrange a free consultation with you to discuss your claim.
Step 3
If you have a valid claim, we will accept your case on a No Win No Fee basis.
Step 4
HNK Client Settles for over £7,000 in False Imprisonment and Assault Case Against Leicestershire Police
Can I make a claim if I have been bitten by a police dog?
If you have been bitten by a police dog, you can make a claim against the police. There must be enough evidence to prove that the police did not take all necessary precautions to prevent the dog from attacking you.
You cannot make a claim if the police can prove that you willingly accepted the risks of not following the police’s orders. However, if the injuries are excessive and not reasonably expected of a police dog (i.e. extensive injuries and not just a bite to restrain), you may also be entitled to compensation.
The law surrounding police dog bites
Owners or persons responsible for dangerous animals are liable for any damage under the Animals Act 1971.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 declared it an offence for an owner to allow their dog to act dangerously out of control. If a person becomes afraid or nervous that a dog would bite them, this is also an offence.
Police guidelines are set out in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE). While there is no specific mention of police dogs, Article 3 details everyone has the right to be treated humanely. In cases of police negligence, officers owe a duty of care to those they will set the dog on. If an officer fails to follow the correct procedure or they have no control over their dog, any foreseeable injury is negligent on the part of the officer.
As dogs are used as part of police powers of arrest and restraint, if you are reasonably suspected of committing a crime or about to commit a crime, it is not an offence if a police dog causes you to feel nervous.
Police dog bite claims specialists
Around 200,000 people in the UK are bitten by dogs every year. Police dogs also have the potential to attack humans. Dog bites and attacks can be extremely painful and traumatic, with lasting negative effects.
At HNK Solicitors, our team of experienced solicitors specialises in civil actions against the police. We can help you receive the compensation you deserve. To ensure as stress-free a process as possible, we offer free consultations and operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, meaning you don’t have to pay anything upfront.
Why seek compensation for a police dog bite?
If you are attacked by a police dog, any injury, physical or mental, can be debilitating. It may even impact your quality of life for years to come.
Making a claim can help you cope with what has happened to you and ensure that nobody else must go through that experience.
Even though compensation cannot change what has happened, it can help you and those affected move on from the incident. We are here to support you every step of the way.
How to make a police dog bite claim
If you have been bitten or attacked by a police dog, it is crucial to report the incident and file a claim. Filing a claim can help bring attention to the offence and prevent similar attacks from happening to others in the future.
Our specialist team of action against the police solicitors will assess the viability of your claim and provide legal assistance on your behalf. By consulting our specialist team, you increase the likelihood of receiving compensation.
If you’d like to make a police dog bite claim today, simply fill out our online form. If you prefer, you can get in touch with the team on 0151 668 0810 or send us an email at enquiries@hnksolicitors.com.
Free Consultation
Contact us today to arrange a free no-obligation discussion about your police dog bite claim.
No-Win-No-Fee
We can accept instruction on a no-win, no-fee basis, so it won’t cost you a penny upfront to start your police dog bite claim.
Get The Outcome You Desire
Our expert lawyers will fight the police dog bite claim on your behalf, to get the outcome you desire.
FAQ
In police dog bite cases, you can claim for general and special damages.
General damages include compensation for any physical or mental injury sustained from the attack, causing you pain and suffering.
- Injuries and scars from the bites, scalping and penetrating wounds.
- Loss of limb or amputation
- Mental trauma caused by the attack (including PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Special damages are more flexible and include financial compensation for:
- Medical treatment expenses, including prescriptions.
- Property and clothing damage caused by the incident.
- Lost income and other financial losses
If you’ve been attacked and bitten by a police dog, you must first try to remove yourself from any danger. Police dogs are trained to restrict a person’s movement, so as hard as it may be, you must not struggle. If the bite is the fault of a negligent police officer, remaining calm and cooperating may result in the officer ordering the dog to let go sooner.
If you haven’t suffered extensive injuries after the incident, check to see if there are witnesses and ask for their contact details to help with a claim. You should also speak to the police and make a complaint so there is a written record of the incident.
To further help your claim, take photographs of your injuries; these and any medical records only increase the chances of your claim being successful.
We recommend contacting a solicitor who can claim on your behalf with any evidence you have, and they can ask for police reports ASAP and will be able to advise on what steps to take next.
You can make a police dog bite claim if the incident happened within the last three years, you have evidence of your injury, and you have proof that a police dog caused it.
When assessing claims, training records of the dog and handler to see if there are any previous incidents are considered. If the dog has a history of disobeying commands, then there is reason to argue that it would fail to respond or overreact.
We strongly recommend using a solicitor to make police dog bite claims.
While you can report the police misconduct directly to the police force yourself, this could only trigger disciplinary action against the offending officer and would not result in compensation.
As police claim procedures can be complex, we recommend seeking the legal assistance of an experience police claims solicitor who can advise you and take any necessary actions on your behalf.
Like other police misconduct claims, the time limit for making a claim is three years. However, the time limit can be extended if a victim is under 18.
We advise you to make a claim as soon as possible, as injuries and bite marks will be fresh and needed for evidence.
There is no set amount of compensation for dog bite injuries. Instead, it works on a case-by-case basis, depending on the severity of your injury, long-term impacts, and any financial losses you have suffered.
To give you an idea of the amount of compensation you might expect, here are some examples of amounts awarded in previous cases.
- Minor hand injuries: up to £4,500
- Loss of part of a finger: up to £7,400
- Serious hand injuries: up to £58,000
Let us know what you’re looking for and we will get back to you as soon as we can