The consequences of being bitten by a dog can be horrific.Even beyond the trauma and difficulties caused by injury, it is the kind ofattack ? most commonly occurring when the victim is cycling or walking, whichcan have lasting psychological effects.

Dogs can be unpredictable and can be extremely violent.Because of this, dog owners have a responsibility to ensure that their dogs areproperly controlled. Failing to properly control a dog can lead to realtragedy.

A person who suffers an unprovoked attack by a dog cantherefore make a ? and should do for two main reasons.

Firstly, a person can justly expect to be compensated forlack of earnings or medical care that might be needed as a result of an injurythey received from a or attack.

Secondly, the threat of a will act as a deterrent to dog owners and help to maintain thestandard of responsibility necessary to own dogs.

In 1990 and 1991 there was a spate of dog attacks thatreceived widespread media coverage and led to public outrage. As a result,Government introduced a new piece of legislation, the Dangerous Dogs Act.

The legislation stipulated that owners of the certain breedsof dog (Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Braziliero)had to meet strict requirements.

These included keeping the dog muzzled and on a lead at alltimes in a public place, registering their dog on the Index of Exempted Breeds,getting them micro-chipped, tattooed and insured.

Under the legislation, any injury caused by these exemptedbreeds will lead to compensation being payable even if the dog showed noprevious signs of aggression.

The use of guard dogs is also strictly regulated. It isillegal for a guard dog to be present unless a handler capable of controllingthe dog is also present. It is also illegal to use a guard dog unless it issigned in the area that a dog is patrolling. If a business fails to followthese laws and the dog attacks, they can expect a compensation claim to bemade.

There are other, less common, situations when someone mayreceive an injury as a result of a poorly controlled dog ? for example a caraccident caused by a stray animal running onto the road.

Again, such an accident can lead to injuries that make someform of financial remuneration more than justified.

Still many people balk at the prospect of making a claim. Navigatingthe claims process can be daunting, but it is important to remember that thecompensation claims system is in place for a reason ? and the principal ofaccess to justice is important.

The first step to making a claim is speaking to a trainedperson who can advise as to whether your claim is worth pursuing. This can bedone easily. At National Accident Helpline, call centre staff can tell you whether they think youshould speak to a solicitor. They can then put you in touch with one in yourarea to progress your claim.