Dog attack lawyers, Slee Blackwell Solicitors, are not surprised by the latest figures to be published on the rising number of people attending A&E after being attacked by a dog.
Accident and Emergency departments are dealing with unprecedented numbers of patients seeking treatment after being bitten by a dog, with TV and the press demanding to know what has caused this spike, and what can be done to stem it.
The statistics follow on from reports that three children are treated in hospital every day for serious injuries caused by dog attacks.
However, these alarming figures come as no surprise to our team of dog attack lawyers. Our dedicated free legal helpline has received an increasing number of calls over the last few years from people wanting to know where they stand on seeking compensation for injuries arsing from dog bites.
Partner James McNally, who heads up our specialist team and who has been dubbed by the British media as ‘the dog bite solicitor’, says that dog attacks in the UK have reached epidemic levels. “We receive multiple calls every single day from people who have been attacked and injured by a dog,” he said. “Some people suffer very serious injuries, requiring specialist medical treatment including skin grafts and reconstruction surgery. It is always particularly tragic when children are involved, which unfortunately is often the case.
James has been interviewed on television about the causes of this worrying trend. He believes the position is complex, with a number of factors at play, such as the rise of puppy farms churning out poorly socialised dogs and the continuing impact of the pandemic during which dog ownership soared.
Until action is taken the outlook appears bleak and the number of dog bites is expected to continue to rise.
“People need to be aware of the risks posed by dogs and parents need to take basic precautions to protect their children,” said James. “If an incident does occur then it is important to get the dog owner’s details and to find out if the dog is insured.”
You can speak to one of our specialist dog attack lawyers in confidence by calling our free legal helpline on 0333 888 0404. Alternatively you can send an email to us at [email protected]. We will assess your case and let you know if you can make a compensation claim on a No Win, No Fee basis.