I suffered a serious injury after a dog attack. Are there personal injury lawyers who handle dog bite compensation claims in Australia?

In summary: A serious dog attack may give rise to a public liability claim, depending on what happened, who had control of the dog and the evidence of your injury and loss. We handle public liability claims in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. This article explains what we look at, the information that can help and the types of loss a claim may consider.

Can we help with a dog bite compensation claim?

A dog attack can leave you managing painful treatment, time away from work and uncertainty about what comes next. There is a clear way to assess the circumstances, even when the incident has left you shaken. A dog attack may fall within a public liability claim, which considers injuries connected with another person or business’s responsibility for an area, product or activity.

We handle public liability claims in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

We’ll review the account of the attack, any council report, photographs and medical information to help establish what happened and explain the options that may be available.

What does a dog bite compensation claim examine?

In Victoria, the law treats dog attacks differently to most other public liability matters: the pet owner is legally responsible for injuries from a dog bite or dog attack, regardless of whether they themselves did anything wrong.

In Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, dog attack laws differ from Victoria’s, so it’s worth getting advice specific to your circumstances and the state where the attack happened.

Either way, we’ll look at where the attack occurred, the dog owner’s details if you have them, and how the injury has affected your work and daily life.

What information can help us assess a dog attack?

• medical records, treatment notes and photographs of your injuries

• the date, location and your account of the attack

• the dog owner’s details, if you have them

• contact details for anyone who saw the attack

• reports you made to the local council or police

• documents that show time away from work or out-of-pocket expenses.

You don’t need every document before speaking with us. We’ll explain which information is relevant to your circumstances and can help gather records such as council reports and medical evidence.

What compensation might a claim consider after a serious dog attack?

A claim may consider losses linked to your injury, including treatment costs, income lost because you couldn’t work, and pain and suffering. The seriousness of the injury, its ongoing effect and the available evidence inform any assessment.

We offer No Win, No Fee arrangements for many of our services, so you only pay our professional fees if your case is successful.

Get in touch

A serious dog attack can affect your treatment, work and everyday routines at the same time. We can help you understand where you stand and what options may be available to you. You can use our online claim check to begin, or call us on 1800 111 222 to discuss your situation.