Dog Bite Compensation Calculator

How much is a dog bite compensation claim worth?

If a dog has bitten or attacked you in the UK, you may be entitled to compensation from the dog's keeper – usually the owner, or whoever had charge of it at the time. Unlike most personal injury claims, you often do not need to prove anyone was careless: dog bite claims are frequently based on strict liability under the Animals Act 1971. This calculator gives a broad, estimate-only range for your claim by combining a general damages band (for pain, suffering, scarring and any psychological injury) with your actual financial losses, such as lost earnings and treatment costs. The figures are deliberately shown as ranges rather than precise numbers, because only a solicitor who has seen your medical evidence can value a real claim accurately.

The Animals Act 1971: strict liability explained

Dogs are not classed as a "dangerous species" in law, so claims against a keeper usually rely on section 2(2) of the Animals Act 1971. Broadly, the keeper is liable if: the damage is of a kind the dog, unless restrained, was likely to cause or which if caused was likely to be severe; that likelihood was due to characteristics not normally found in dogs generally, or normally found only in particular circumstances; and the keeper (or someone in their household) knew about those characteristics. In practice, this means a keeper can be liable even without negligence, if their dog had a known tendency to bite, jump up aggressively or behave dangerously and that tendency caused your injury.

The "keeper" is defined by section 6 of the Act as the owner, or a person over 16 who has the dog in their household other than temporarily. If ownership has changed hands, the new keeper is usually the one liable. Claims are typically pursued against the keeper's household or public liability insurance, since many home insurance policies include a liability section covering pets. If the keeper has no such cover, you can still bring a personal claim directly against them, but recovering money from an individual without insurance can be significantly harder – there is no equivalent to the Motor Insurers' Bureau for uninsured dog bites.

What compensation actually covers

A dog bite claim is usually split into two parts:

• General damages – compensation for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by the injury itself, plus any permanent scarring and psychological injury. Solicitors and courts value this using the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which set out estimate bands for different injury types and severities.
• Special damages – your actual financial losses, calculated precisely rather than estimated. This includes lost earnings, private medical or dental treatment, physiotherapy, prescription costs, travel to appointments, damaged clothing, and care provided by family or friends while you recovered.

Scarring and psychological injury

Visible, permanent scarring is assessed separately from the underlying wound and can meaningfully increase a claim, particularly when it is on the face, hands or other exposed skin, or when it affects a child. Dog attacks can also cause genuine psychological harm – from lingering anxiety around dogs to a diagnosed phobia (cynophobia) or post-traumatic stress disorder, especially after a severe or frightening attack. A diagnosed psychological injury, supported by a GP referral or psychologist's report, is claimed as a separate head of general damages alongside the physical injury. Because these figures vary enormously with severity and individual circumstances, treat any range here as a starting point for a conversation with a solicitor, not a quote.

Who you can claim against

In most cases you claim against the keeper's household contents or public liability insurance. If the attack happened somewhere with its own liability cover – a boarding kennels, dog-walking business, farm or public event – that organisation's public liability policy may respond instead. For attacks by strays or dogs with no identifiable keeper, a personal injury claim is usually not possible, though you should still report the incident to the police and your local council's dog warden service, both to protect others and because enforcement action (including under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991) may follow separately from any compensation claim.

Worked example

Sadia was bitten on the forearm by a neighbour's dog that had previously growled and snapped at visitors. She needed stitches and a course of antibiotics, was left with a moderate visible scar, and took two weeks off her £500-a-week job to recover, along with £180 in private dressing and physiotherapy costs. Selecting "moderate" severity and "significant" scarring gives a general damages estimate roughly in the £6,000–£18,000 range, plus special damages of £1,000 (two weeks' lost wages) and £180 in costs – a total estimated claim of around £7,180 to £19,180. Because the neighbour's dog had a known history of snapping, the case likely satisfies the "known characteristics" test under section 2(2) of the Animals Act, supporting a strict liability claim against the neighbour's household insurer.

Time limit to claim

Under the Limitation Act 1980, you generally have three years from the date of the bite to start court proceedings. For a child who was bitten, the three-year clock does not start until their 18th birthday, giving until their 21st birthday. If the full extent of an injury (particularly a psychological one) only becomes apparent later, the "date of knowledge" may extend the limit – but this is assessed case by case, so it is safest to seek advice as soon as possible rather than rely on it.

Common mistakes that weaken a claim

• Not seeking medical treatment or photographing injuries – contemporaneous medical records and photos of the wound and any scarring are central evidence.
• Not identifying the dog's keeper – get a name and address (or a witness who can identify them) at the scene wherever possible.
• Delaying the claim – memories fade, CCTV is deleted, and witnesses move away.
• Accepting a quick cash settlement from the owner – this can undervalue a claim significantly, especially before the full extent of scarring or psychological impact is known.
• Not reporting the incident – reporting to the police or council creates an official record and can help if the dog has attacked before.

Do you need a solicitor?

You are not legally required to use a solicitor, but dog bite claims are rarely straightforward. Establishing that the dog had "known characteristics" under the Animals Act, obtaining independent medical evidence on scarring or psychological injury, and negotiating with an insurer's claims handler are all areas where an experienced personal injury solicitor adds real value – particularly because insurers routinely open negotiations well below a claim's true worth. Many firms offer dog bite and animal attack claims on a no win, no fee (conditional fee agreement) basis, meaning you pay nothing if the claim is unsuccessful and a pre-agreed success fee, usually capped by law, only if it succeeds. Look for a solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and ideally accredited on a personal injury panel such as the Law Society's.

Before instructing anyone, gather what evidence you can: photographs of the injury and any scarring at different stages of healing, a note of the date, time and location, contact details for the dog's keeper and any witnesses, and copies of medical or dental records. If the police or council attended, ask for a reference number – this can help demonstrate that the incident was reported promptly, which strengthens both the liability case and the credibility of your claim.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to prove the owner was negligent?

Usually not. Under section 2(2) of the Animals Act 1971, the keeper of a dog is strictly liable for injuries it causes if the dog had known aggressive or dangerous tendencies. You do not need to show the owner was careless, only that the dog had those characteristics and the keeper knew about them.

How long do I have to make a dog bite claim?

Generally three years from the date of the bite under the Limitation Act 1980. For a child, the three years starts from their 18th birthday, giving until age 21. If you are unsure, get advice early, as evidence and witness memories fade quickly.

What if the dog owner has no insurance?

Unlike road traffic accidents, there is no equivalent to the Motor Insurers' Bureau for dog bites. You can still pursue a personal claim against the keeper directly, but recovering money from an uninsured individual can be harder. Many household and contents insurance policies include public liability cover, so it is worth asking the keeper to check.

Can I claim if I was bitten by a stray or unknown dog?

You can only claim compensation from an identifiable keeper. If the dog is a genuine stray and no keeper can be traced, a personal injury claim is usually not possible, though you should still report the incident to the police and your local council's dog warden service.

Does scarring increase my compensation?

Yes. Visible, permanent scarring, especially on the face, hands or other exposed skin, is assessed separately from the underlying injury and can significantly increase a compensation award, particularly for children and in cases requiring plastic surgery.

Can I claim for psychological injury after a dog attack?

Yes. If you develop a diagnosed condition such as PTSD or a lasting fear of dogs (cynophobia) supported by medical evidence, this can be claimed as a separate head of general damages alongside your physical injury.

Will provoking the dog affect my claim?

It can. If you provoked, teased or trespassed to reach the dog, the keeper may argue contributory negligence, which can reduce your compensation by a percentage reflecting your share of responsibility, or in rare cases defeat the claim entirely.

Sources: strict liability rules from the Animals Act 1971 (legislation.gov.uk); limitation periods from the Limitation Act 1980; general guidance on reporting dangerous dogs from GOV.UK – Control your dog in public. General damages ranges are broad estimates in the style of bands used in the Judicial College Guidelines and are not a substitute for a solicitor's valuation.