iNewbie":3abvoso3 said:
Not a bite, but dog related and compensation.
A friend was out walking her dog last December. She met someone we both know and both the dogs started running around/playing. Next thing the other owners dog slammed into her and knocked her down. Broke her ankle in 3 places. Dr's told her she wouldn't be back at work until Sept of this year - ruined her xmas...
She sort [sought] compensation from her own insurance and the Dogs owner as she has liability insurance. It turns out she couldn't claim anything due to some law/act where she'd need to find someone else who has also had the same problem with the dog running into them or being a nuisance!
She only had a small income as it is, its cost her dearly. Her injury will also affect her for the rest of her life.
So its not all so glamorous when people think compensation is so easily claimed.
She should seek a private claim through the small claims court for that, it'll be an easy matter to prove loss of earnings as she'll be on sick pay. It might have been a genuine accident, but that doesn't alter the fact her financial siutation has taken a big hit, the best part of a year is a long time to be laid up on minimal pay.
@garethharvey - you mention about "ambulance chasers costing the taxpayer for suprious claims" - how does a "spurious claim" relate to an actual injury requiring medical attention, not to mention damage to property? I'm completely baffled by your attitude of "it's ok mate don't worry about it" for something so serious.
This ISN'T about the money, it's about making people accountable and making a financial claim is the only legal way to do it.
To repeat myself and the majority of the other comments, this was a stranger walking his dog in a public area and that dog then made an unprovoked attack on another person in the park and yet....
and yet..... you seem to be defending this dog owners probable position of "I shouldn't be made to pay damages, it was just a small bite, what's your peoblem?"
and now that I recall, this is in addition to another forum member mentioning only a few months back about being harassed by another dog because he had a walking stick, something which the owner KNEW WAS A TRIGGER FOR HIS DOG and did NOTHING to prevent it.
I love dogs, and many other animals and I am 100% a believer in specific dog breeds not being labelled - I know three totally soppy sweet natured dogs who probably wouldn't even attack a burglar.... One is an un-neutered Staffie male, one is a Bull Terrier ***** and the last is a Rottweiler so large I could probably ride him.
All are owned by people who made sure they started training early, and this is what it ultimately comes down to and most people don't do; instead relying on a breeds "natural docility" to come to the fore rather than making sure.