See the latest awards we have won on our Industry Awards page here

Search

Dog Bite Lawyers

If you have been bitten or attacked by a dog and have suffered injury, you may be eligible to make a claim for compensation against the owner of the dog.

The owner of the animal is strictly responsible for any damage the dog has caused in accordance with the Companion Animal Act NSW 1998.

Free Claim Check
5 star client rating icon

5-Star Client

Rating

Free Case Assessments

Free Case
Assessments

Industry Experts

Industry Experts: 20+ years of experience

No Win No Fee

No Win No Fee Guaranteed

5 star client rating icon

5-Star Client

Rating

Free Case Assessments

Free Case
Assessments

Industry Experts

Industry Experts: 20+ years of experience

No Win No Fee

No Win No Fee Guaranteed

A dog attack claim can be made against the owner personally for compensation. Most dog owners would also be covered by insurance in the form of a home and contents insurance policy, which contains public liability cover.

Who will pay my dog bite compensation if I take legal action?

This insurance policy will usually cover the owner of the dog for the damage their dog has caused. If the owner does not have insurance they will be personally liable for the payment of your compensation.

The dog owner has two defences as to why they are not responsible for the damage caused by their dog:

  • If the attack occurred on privately held property and the person attacked was unlawfully on the property or;
  • The attack was wholly induced by the intentional provocation of the dog by the person who was subsequently attacked.

Otherwise, the owner of the dog will be found responsible for the injury caused by the dog.

What can I claim after a dog bite injury?

If you are successful in making a claim against a dog owner, you may be eligible to receive compensation for:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Medical treatment
  • Damage to clothing and property
  • Loss of income both past and future
  • Care and assistance are required due to an injury

As dog attack claims are complex and depend on the facts and circumstances of your case, you should seek legal advice from an accredited specialist in personal injury law prior to commencing a claim.

Can I Make A Claim If The Dog’s Owner Can’t Be Found, Or If They’re Uninsured?

Section 25 of the Companion Animals Act 1998 (NSW) provides that the owner of the dog is liable in damages with respect to bodily injury to a person caused by the dog, this includes damage to clothing.

The owner of the dog is always responsible for the dog in a strict manner, meaning that regardless of whether the owner expected their dog to attack, they are liable anyway. A local council may also be liable if they failed to declare a dog which was known to them to be dangerous.

If the owner is uninsured, you are still able to make a claim. Instead of their insurer paying the compensation, they will be personally liable. If the owner cannot be found, unfortunately, you will not be able to claim compensation because there is no one to file a case against.

How much can I claim for my injuries following a dog bite injury?

As a rule, the more serious your injuries are, the greater compensation you will be able to claim. Typical types of compensation payable for claims include:

  • Loss of income for time off work both past and future
  • Payment for Medical expenses
  • Payment of a lump sum for Pain and Suffering

How long will a dog bite compensation claim take?

It is uncertain difficult to say exactly how long this type of claim will take. Time considerations can depend on several things, including:

  • Extent and severity of injuries
  • Cooperation from the opposing party
  • Circumstances of the case.
  • How long it will take your injuries to stabilise before assessment

Usually, dog bite claims resolve between 1 and 2 years after the injury.

Are there time limits when it comes to making a dog bite compensation claim?

Yes, there are strict time limits to commence a claim in Court for a dog bite.

The period is 3 years from the date of ‘discoverability’.

The  date of discoverability is the date from which the injured person knows that:

  • The fact that the injury or death concerned has occurred.
  • The fact that the injury or death was caused by the fault of the defendant
  • In the case of injury, the fact that the injury was sufficiently serious to justify the bringing of an action on the cause of action.

In most Dog Bite cases, the date of discoverability is usually the date the injury occurred and it’s best to make sure any claim is commenced within 3 years from the date of the injury.

How much will it cost me to make a dog bite claim with Garling&Co?

At Garling and Co we have a No Win No Fee guarantee.

A No Win No Fee guarantee means that if we do not win your case, you will not be required to pay us any legal costs.

If you are successful in your claim, then about 70% of the costs are paid by the Defendant and the remaining 30% is payable from any compensation you receive.

 

If you need assistance or are after more information about dog attacks, please do not hesitate to contact us as follows;

  1. Complete our FREE case assessment form HERE
  2. Email us at info@garlingandco.com.au
  3. Give us a call on (02) 8518 1120

Would you like assistance with your claim?

Complete our free, no obligation confidential case assessment form and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

Alternatively, we are available to talk by phone and email. Please contact our experienced accredited specialist personal injury lawyers to find out how we can help.

No Win No Fee

You won’t be required to pay any fees until we win your case.

Industry Experts

We’re industry experts with over 20 years of experience.

Maximum Compensation

Our team of expert injury lawyers will help you get maximum compensation.

Angie & Brian M.
00:58 18 Sep 24
We cannot recommend Garling and Co. Lawyers highly enough! Our principal solicitor, Matthew Garling, was absolutely outstanding throughout our entire legal journey. He, along with the fantastic team... in the office, especially Allison, provided outstanding support. They were always responsive, willing to listen, and took the time to thoroughly explain the entire process. Thanks to their dedication and expertise, we achieved a brilliant outcome.read more
Yanthi S.
11:22 12 Sep 24
I engaged with Garling and Co to assist me for my weekly payment dispute with the insurance. I was upset with Natasha, as she didn't prepare me to the worse outcome or told me about the kind of... negotiation in the hearing. I assumed that as a Lawyer she should have an experience with the process or the way to solve the case. Even though I asked her what should I do or what would be happened in the hearing a week before but she didn't mentioned anything, and told me not do anything. But in the hearing she and the Barrister only gave me less than 5 minutes to make decision and pushed me to accept the disappointed outcome and what she said in the hearing totally different with what she said earlier. I don't trust her at all, her words is not consistent.I would like to express my appreciation to Matthew Garling who had stepped in to handle my weekly payment issue with the insurance. He is very professional, knowledgeable, easy to talk to and very humble. My disappointment earlier has melted away by his kindness and caring to resolve my issue which has came out the great outcome. Now I am satisfied with his expertise therefore I would not hesitate to let him to handle the case I might have in the future.As I said before I would not hesitate to let my other claim to be handled by a professional as Matthew Garling. I would like to thank him for his time and effort to settle my case smoothly and I trusted him to give me the best outcome. Also I appreciated his support and his patience to answer my questions from the time I signed the agreement up to the day before the mediation. He did not promise the unrealistic outcome but what ever he promised that what the result was according to his experiences. And I would not forget to Alison, Nathan who also have assisted this matters, by gathering all documents and answering my questions.Also my appreciation to a Barrister Mr Dallas Morgan.So, in summary I am really grateful to have Garling and Co as my lawyer to handle my damaged claim.read more
Tina S
07:45 29 Aug 24
Thank you for the great outcome!
Lisa L.
05:18 13 Jul 24
Outstanding service and commitment to my case was delivered from the first point of contact right until the end of my successful case.Highest recommendations to the team at Garling and Co. Matthew... got me an excellent result and was available and informative throughout the entire foreign process of legal proceedings. He was wonderful and so was his team.If i could rate higher than 5 stars i would!read more
J B
07:12 02 Jul 24
Matthew Garling and all of the team were extremely professional and supportive throughout what was a very long and arduous CTP battle. I am happy with the result and feel that their fees were fair... and well deserved.read more
Nelson B.
02:11 30 Jun 24
Professional, prompt & honest service
Ray H.
07:33 13 Jun 24
Matthew Garling and Team are kind, patient, polite, professional, empathetic and efficient. I was treated terribly by the at fault insurer. Garling and Co. had my back. Matthew gently and patiently... kept me up to speed on all the steps to go through. From my personal experience I recommend these guys. They are safe hands. Thank you team.read more
Jo L.
05:58 07 May 24
So very impressed with the professional team who looked after me throughout the last 4 and 1/2 years. A special mention to Kerry and Nathan who navigated each request to fight for my right to gain... access to further treatments and physio and to ensure medical treatment would be covered moving forward. I was so grateful I could hand it all over to you and not have to go through this very challenging time without your support.I thank you for the compassion you have provided to me, from the first contact with Matthew and Natasha, to finalisation with Kerry and Nathan.I highly recommend the team at Garling and Co for any third party compensation claims. You are in good hands with them all.read more
Linda O.
21:53 06 May 24
Emma, Rebecca and the team at Garling and Co have worked diligently throughout my workers compensation claim. The level of professionalism, support and communication has been faultless. Of particular... note has been the sensitivity displayed to me throughout the lengthy process. Worker’s compensation claims are complex and not easy to navigate, particularly when you are unwell. I do not hesitate to recommend Garling and Co to help you find a way through this otherwise unfathomable system.read more
Keith H.
20:51 23 Apr 24
After my case stalled with another firm, I decided to give Matthew Garling a call. He took my case and not only won, but achieved an outcome that far exceeded my expectations. This firm is the best... in the business in my opinion and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone.read more
Google Rating
4.9