When you’ve been bitten by a dog, you have three years from the date of the incident to start legal proceedings. After this, you will be time-barred and you may not be able to claim compensation.
Courts do have the power to extend the three-year time limit, but this is only in exceptional circumstances at their discretion. To avoid missing out on a claim, it’s best to initiate proceedings before you become time-barred.
If you are claiming for a child, you have until they reach the age of 18 to make a claim while representing them as what is called a litigation friend. After this, they can then make a claim in their own name until they are 21.
If you are claiming on behalf of someone who is not mentally capable of doing so on their own, the three-year time limit on a dog bite claim does not begin until they have regained their mental capacity. If there is no chance of that person regaining this capacity, for example if they have learning difficulties, then there is no time limit for someone else to claim on their behalf.
If the owner of the dog who bites you is uninsured, you can make a claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). However, there is a two-year time limit on this type of claim.
Whatever the circumstances, it’s a good idea to begin legal proceedings for a dog bite claim as promptly as you can. Not only will this help you avoid becoming time-barred, but it could also help you to recover in a psychological sense, as well as a physical sense depending on the severity of the bite.
To start your claim today, simply call us on 0333 400 4445, or fill out our short form instead.