Have you been bitten by a dog, fallen off a horse or suffered an injury due to an animal that wasn't your fault? You don’t have to face it alone. Animal injury claims are designed to help people who have suffered physical or psychological harm because of someone else’s negligence.
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An animal injury claim is a legal compensation claim when you have been injured by an animal, and someone else is responsible for what happened. This could occur in a public place such as a dog park or field, at a zoo or wildlife park, or in the workplace.
Responsibility usually falls on the animal’s owner or keeper, but it can also be an employer or landowner. Under the Animals Act 1971, a keeper can sometimes be held responsible even if they weren’t careless, for example if they knew the animal could be dangerous. In other cases, we need to show someone failed to take reasonable care.
You usually have three years to make an animal injury claim. This runs from the date of the accident, or from when you first knew your injury was caused by it.
For those under the age of 18, the three-year time limit does not usually begin until their 18th birthday. This means a claim can be brought at any point up to their 21st birthday.
If the injured person lacks the mental capacity to manage their own affairs, the three-year time limit may not apply unless they regain capacity. In these cases, a litigation friend can bring a claim on their behalf.
Getting in touch early helps protect evidence and makes sure your claim is started in time.
Animal injuries can happen in many different circumstances. Some of the most common types of animal injury claims include:
Dog bites or attacks can cause bruising, lacerations, infections and permanent scarring. In more serious cases, victims may suffer nerve damage or psychological trauma.
Falls, kicks or being thrown from a horse can result in broken bones, spinal injuries or head injuries. Liability may arise where the horse was unsuitable, dangerous, or proper supervision was lacking.
Cows, bulls, sheep and pigs can cause serious harm through kicking, trampling, crushing or head-butting. Farmers and landowners have responsibilities to manage these risks properly.
Faulty enclosures, poor maintenance or inadequate supervision can result in animal escapes or dangerous encounters, potentially leading to significant injury.
If your injuries have forced you to take time off work, compensation can cover lost earnings and any impact on your future ability to work. You should not suffer financially because of someone else’s negligence.
Animal injury compensation can cover medical costs, rehabilitation, therapy and specialist treatment, allowing you to focus on recovery without added financial pressure.
If your injuries mean you need help at home, compensation can cover the cost of professional care or support provided by family members.
In more serious cases, compensation may fund necessary adaptations to your home or vehicle to help you regain independence.
Where injuries have long-term consequences, a successful claim can provide financial stability and peace of mind for you and your family.
Your health comes first. Make sure your injuries are properly assessed and treated, and keep records of any medical care you receive.
This may include accident reports, CCTV footage, witness details, photographs, and medical records that show how the injury occurred.
Get in touch with our team for a free initial discussion. We’ll listen carefully to what happened and advise whether you have grounds to make an animal attack claim.
If you decide to go ahead, we’ll prepare and submit your claim and deal with the other party and their insurers on your behalf.
Most personal injury claims are settled without going to court. If needed, we will represent you in court and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Speak to our friendly team today. You are not alone, and you may have a case.
You may be able to claim if you were injured by an animal and the owner, keeper or someone else was responsible. We can look at your case for free and explain your options.
Responsibility depends on the circumstances. A riding school, horse owner or event organiser may be liable if they failed to provide suitable horses, proper instruction or safe conditions. Each case is assessed individually.
That depends on how serious your injury is and the impact it’s had on your life. We can’t give you a figure straight away, and that’s not us being cagey. We need to arrange a medical examination first, and the report tells us the full extent of your injuries. Once we have it, we can give you a proper picture. In the meantime, our compensation calculator can give you a rough guide.
A no-win, no-fee agreement, also called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), means you don’t pay anything upfront. If your claim isn’t successful, you won’t pay our legal fees. If we win, our fees are taken from your compensation, and we’ll explain exactly how much before you sign anything. We’ll also arrange After the Event (ATE) insurance, which covers certain costs if your claim doesn’t succeed. This protection depends on you being honest throughout your claim.
Yes. If you were partly to blame, your compensation may be reduced to reflect your share. For example, if you were found 25% to blame, you’d receive 75% of the full amount. This is sometimes called contributory negligence.
Most animal injury claims are settled through negotiation with insurers. If court proceedings become necessary, your solicitor will guide you through the process and represent you throughout.
Most personal injury claims take between 12 and 18 months. This is the usual length of time for a personal injury claim. Some settle sooner, especially if the other side admits fault quickly, and more complex cases can take longer. We’ll work through your claim as quickly as we can, with care, and keep you updated along the way
Your claim will be handled by our personal injury team. The team is made up mainly of solicitors and trainee solicitors, supported by paralegals and legal secretaries.
Your hospital records show the treatment you had. An independent medical report looks at how your injury affects you now and in the future. That’s what your compensation is based on, so it’s a key part of your claim.
We’ll send you a secure link to sign your documents online. If you have any trouble, just call us and we’ll talk you through it.
We have extensive experience handling personal injury claims, including complex animal injury and animal attack compensation cases.
Nothing to pay upfront. If you win, our fees come out of your compensation.
Every claim is different, so we provide clear, practical advice based on your individual circumstances.
Our personal injury team will work hard to get you the best outcome and support you every step of the way.
If you’ve suffered an injury because of someone else’s negligence, contact CEL Solicitors today to explore your options for compensation.
