How Much Compensation For A Dog Bite?

Last Updated On 29th August 2025. How Much Compensation has a dog bite compensation calculator that could help estimate how much your claim could be worth. The compensation calculator considers your physical injury and emotional suffering (general damages) as well as some basic financial losses (special damages), such as lost wages.

If you would like a more personalised valuation of your dog bite claim, speak to one of our advisors. They can help value your injuries, including scars and any psychological trauma, with a full range of special damages. Additionally, they will provide a free eligibility consultation and if you meet the criteria and wish to proceed with How Much Compensation’s services, you could be connected to a solicitor from our panel. One of the specialists No Win No Fee solicitors from our panel could ensure that your claim is accurately valued and help negotiate an appropriate settlement that will consider every aspect of your injury and expenses.

According to recent research by the RSPCA, there has been a 50% in dog bites over the past 20 years. This is despite new regulations prohibiting certain breeds such as Pit Bull Terriers, XL Bullies, Japanese Tosa and Dogo Argento which are currently banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. However, anyone responsible for the ownership of a dangerous dog could be liable to compensate you for the injuries caused if you’re bitten under Section 3 of this Act.

Suffering a dog bite could prove to be a costly injury, especially once you factor in cosmetic surgery costs and time off work. Why not see if you could be entitled to compensation? Our advisors are on hand around the clock to answer your questions about claiming.

Please continue reading to learn more, or you can:

• Ring us on 0800 408 7826 to discuss dog bite compensation claims.
• Reach out to us online through this Contact Us option.
• Ask the chat bubble below anything for an immediate response.

Jump To A Section

• How Much Compensation You Can Claim
• Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For A Dog Bite?
• The Risks Of Dog Bites
• Can I Claim On The Behalf Of My Child?
• How To Start A Dog Bite Claim
• How Our Panel Of Solicitors Can Help You Claim
• More Information

How Much Compensation You Can Claim

The amount of compensation you can claim will be based on the following:

• The extent and severity of your physical and emotional injuries.
• The associated financial losses.
• How the injury impacted your life, for example, in a permanent or long-term way.

Anyone is able to manage a personal injury claim for compensation themselves, however, the insights of a skilled solicitor could help them ensure that they are claiming for the correct payout that fully compensates them for all their damages. We now explore the calculation process itself but please feel free to call the team with any questions.

How Are Payouts Are Calculated?

Successful compensation claims are often comprised of two categories of loss called general and special damages. General damages compensate for the physical pain and psychological harm caused by the dog attack. It may also cover issues like the overall impact on the person’s quality of life and whether they developed a permanent disability after the accident.

The professionals tasked with the calculation process can use medical evidence to guide them. They might also refer to publications such as the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This publication (which is now in its 17th edition) lists an index of award guideline amounts for various injuries based on previous successful cases in England and Wales. It also provides degrees of severity as our excerpt below illustrates. Please note that the figure given in the top row is not from this publication.

Compensation Guidelines

INJURY	SEVERITY	COMPENSATION GUIDELINES	NOTES
Multiple forms of serious injury and special damages.	Serious	Up to £250,000 plus.	An award this significant reflects several types of serious injury as well as lost earnings and medical fees under special damages.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)	(a) Severe	£73,050 up to £122,850	Permanent trauma effects that badly impact the person and halt normal living on any level.
	(b) Moderately Severe	£28,250 up to £73,050	This category differs from the one above only in as much as professional counselling alleviates some of the effects.
Facial Disfigurement	(a) Very Severe Scarring	£36,340 up to £118,790	Injuries affecting typically younger people (under 30) with a severe psychological reaction.
	(b) Less Severe Scarring	£21,920 up to £59,090	Substantial levels of disfigurement and significant psychological reaction.
	(c) Significant Scarring	£11,120 up to £36,720	Cases where plastic surgery has helped with the worst effects and psychological reaction has diminished.
Hand	(b) Serious Damage to Both Hands	£68,070 up to £103,200	Injuries that give rise to permanent lost function and cosmetic damage.
	(d) Amputation of Index and Middle Fingers and/or Ring Fingers.	£75,550 up to £110,750	Cases of loss to the three main fingers on the hand rendering it of little use with a very weak grip.
Foot	(e) Serious	£30,500 up to £47,840	Injuries that create continuing pain and give rise to a future risk of arthritis.
Scarring To Other Areas of the Body	Noticeable	£9,560 up to £27,740	Noticeable scarring lacerations to the limbs and torso or one significant scar.

Importantly, the sums shown above are strictly guidelines relating to dog bite-related injuries. Every personal injury claim has factors that set it apart from others. With this in mind, it’s advisable to speak to a professional for a more personalised estimate. Call our team to learn how.

Special Damages And How They Affect Your Claim

Under special damages, the related financial losses caused by the dog bite injuries can also form part of your compensation. Evidence of financial loss or expense is required, such as:

• Proof of medical costs for private care (such as scar treatment or counselling).
• Receipts and invoices for amounts paid to others for domestic care.
• Tickets and proof of travel to essential appointments.
• Payslips that reflect the negative impact on your income.
• Proof of additional costs to care for any dependants.

The repercussions of a serious dog bite could leave you with permanent disability and harm. So special damages can be calculated to reflect any financial losses going forward. With this in mind, take a moment to discuss your case with us to make sure you submit the most comprehensive claim.

Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For A Dog Bite?

Being eligible to start a compensation claim for a dog bite relies upon three points:

• The owner or organisation responsible for the dog owed you a duty of care.
• This duty was breached and the dog bit you through no fault of your own.
• You can prove you suffered physical and/or psychological injuries because of this.

A duty of care applies a responsibility to others to safeguard you from harm. In public places, the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 states that reasonable actions should be taken to implement whatever steps are necessary to protect the general public from being harmed while on their premises.

You may not know whose dog bit you, in which case a claim could be made through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), and a solicitor can manage this alongside you.

Can I Claim For A Dog Bite At Work?

Yes, you can claim for a dog bite at work. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, your employer has the responsibility to ensure the safety of all their employees. If there are any onsite dogs in your workplace, such as guard dogs, the employer is responsible for keeping them under control.

If the dog attacks you at work, you may receive dog bite compensation from your employer’s liability insurance.

Can You Sue If A Police Dog Bites You?

You may be able to claim compensation if a police dog bites you. However, such cases are rare in comparison to typical dog bite claims and can be very complex. The police may provide the defence that you accepted a reasonable level of risk once you failed to comply with a police officer, leading to the dog attack.

Speak to our advisors for more information on eligibility for your dog bite claim.

The Risks Of Dog Bites

Dog bites can range from a ‘playful nip’ to a severe mauling, largely based on the size and temperament of the dog. The attitude of the owner can also greatly influence how a dog behaves. Typical injuries include:

• Puncture wounds to the skin.
• Scar damage and soft tissue injury.
• Hands, face and eye injuries.
• Nerve damage.
• Deeper lacerations and degloving of flesh.
• Psychological trauma.
• Often, a combination of these injuries occurs.

Dogs bite as a stress response or to protect. To avoid the risk of a attack when encountering an angry dog, the person can do the following:

• Avoid the natural impulse to run away.
• Stay calm and avoid direct eye contact with the dog.
• Certain dog breeds have excellent facial recognition skills and smiling or adopting a placid demeanour can often calm and angry dog.

In some cases, dog bite wounds can become infected. Always consult a medical professional after even the smallest dog bite to avoid infection risks.

Can I Claim On The Behalf Of My Child?

Minors cannot claim personal injury compensation themselves so the courts allow for a parent or guardian to do so for them. This role is known as a litigation friend and it allows an adult to handle all the duties of the claim on their behalf and submit an immediate case for compensation.

This is useful when funds might be required urgently for medical treatment and aftercare. Minors are also exempt from the standard three-year time limit to launch a claim, which we discuss in a section below.

How To Start A Dog Bite Claim

In addition to seeking legal help, there are some other actions you can take to start constructing your dog bite compensation claim:

Gathering Relevant Evidence

You can collect evidence to support your dog bite compensation claim. Below, we provide a list of some of the documentation and actions you can take. These need to show that a breach in the duty of care owed to you by the dog owner was the root cause of your injuries:

• Duplicates of your medical records detailing the injury. This can include X-rays, blood test results, scans and the findings of any specialists you had to consult.
• Photos of your visible injuries.
• Damaged clothing.
• Photos or footage of the dog, where it was kept and how it got out.
• Prescription receipts that prove medications, such as tetanus shots or any painkillers that were needed.
• The points of contact for any eyewitnesses. If your claim is eligible and you decide to appoint a solicitor from our panel, they can collect a supporting statement from these people and significantly bolster your claim.
• CCTV camera footage, dashcam or helmet cam footage that filmed the dog attack.
• A copy of the microchipping device details from the dog owner.
• Any park warden reports if the dog bite took place in a park.

In the hands of a skilled personal injury solicitor, evidence like this could maximize the potential compensation you are awarded. Furthermore, it can be used to predict future costs and expenses and include those in your claim. Contact our advisors with any questions about gathering evidence and they will be happy to help.

How Long You Have To Start Your Claim

The Limitation Act 1980 states that there are three years from the date of the incident to start a personal injury claim. Exceptions to this standard time limit apply for two groups:

•  As stated above, minors cannot begin a claim themselves. Either a litigation friend steps in to do so, or if no claim is submitted for them, they have three years to launch an independent claim from the date of their 18th birthday.
• Time limits are frozen for those without sufficient mental capacity to claim themselves. Either a litigation friend is appointed for them, or they have three years to start their claim independently from any date when capacity is restored.

If you’re unsure about the time limits for your dog bite compensation claim, speak to our team on the contact options above.

Making A No Win No Fee Claim

The solicitors on our panel offer eligible claimants a form of  No Win No Fee agreement to begin work on a claim. Not all solicitors offer this but ours provide a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) because it offers a host of benefits to the person claiming. Under a CFA:

• No solicitors fees apply up front.
• No fees apply as the claim develops.
• Fees for completed services don’t apply if the claim is unsuccessful.
• If the claim succeeds, the solicitors deduct a percentage from the compensation as their success fee.
• Importantly, a legal limit on this means that the person claiming will always benefit first and foremost from the positive settlement.

Making an agreement like this with a solicitor from our panel means you can access first-class legal representation at no cost until the claim is decided. While you concentrate on your recovery, you can be certain that your dog bite injury claim is in safe hands. See if they can help you.

How Long It Takes To Receive Dog Bite Compensation

Claims vary so there’s no set time frame in which it is to be decided. However, if the owner admits liability, it can resolve fairly quickly in a matter of months. If the courts need investigative reports or detailed evidence from specialists, or if the owner disputes the claim, it can take longer.

Every case is different, so it’s advisable to discuss the merits of your claim with our team. If it’s eligible and you wish to go ahead, they could direct you to an expert personal injury lawyer from our panel today. Call the number above, start a claim online or ask the live support window at the bottom of this screen any questions.

How Our Panel Of Solicitors Can Help You Claim

If you choose to place your eligible personal injury claim with our panel of solicitors, you can expect:

• A thorough and complete calculation of the compensation owed to you.
• Expert guidance to collect evidence.
• All correspondence with the other party and the courts taken care of.
• Regular updates on the claim’s status.
• A professional and streamlined claims process from start to finish.

If you’d like to benefit from outstanding legal representation like this, get your free claims assessment with our team now:

• Ring us on 0800 408 7826 to discuss dog bite compensation claims.
• Reach out to us online through this Contact Us option.
• Ask the chat bubble below anything for an immediate response.

More Information

The focus of this guide was dog bite compensation, but these other links might also help:

• Information on a claim for a facial scar.
• Also, hand injury claims are discussed here.
• Lastly, more information on claims for psychological damage here.

External help after dog bites

• Here is advice from the NHS if you were bitten by a dog.
• Also information on certain dog breeds and controlling the dog in public.
• In addition to this, Ask the Police for dangerous dog advice.

In conclusion, thank you for your interest in our guide about how much compensation you could claim for a dog bite. Our advisors are standing by to assist with any other questions or queries you have about the dog bite claims process.