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News Desk | News Story
22nd April 2010
GMB member compensated after dog attack
Bitten by dog
A GMB member who needed eight stitches after she was attacked by a dog in her local pub has received £5,000 in compensation.
Debbie McIvor, 41, from Morpeth was bitten twice in the face by the Weimaraner after she and her husband visited the Sun Inn Public House in Morpeth.
She was bitten on the lip and eyebrow by the animal which had been let into the pub after time was called by its owner, pub landlord Raymond Bell.
She bent down to stroke the dog, which she had met before, when it suddenly turned on her.
Stitches required after dog attack
She needed eight stitches to her lip and had to have tetanus injection following the unprovoked attack in June 2009. She has been told the scar to her lip could take up to two years to fade.
Following the incident she decided to contact her trade union, the GMB, to enquire about pursuing compensation after fearing that the dog would go on to bite another person.
Thompsons argued that the dog should have been kept under control by its owner and if there was a history of showing aggression it should have been muzzled.
Mrs McIvor said: “I was stunned when the dog bit me. I had met the dog on several occasions before and she always seemed excitable but friendly. I was extremely upset and traumatised by the whole thing.
“The bites have left an unsightly scar to the lip which I am told will take up to two years to fade and even then I will be left with an obvious mark. It was a difficult decision to pursue compensation but I strongly believe the dog’s owner needed to take responsibility for its behaviour and take steps to avoid it happening again. My biggest fear was that if I let this pass it could cause serious damage to a child in the future.”
Compensation claims can be pursued against the owners of animals which cause injury
Suzanne Reid from the GMB said: “Whilst Mrs McIvor was injured outside of work we were still able to offer her support through our free legal service which is available no matter where members suffer their accident. No-one expects to be bitten by a dog whilst visiting a public house. Whilst her scars are expected to fade with time the psychological effects of this incident are likely to stay with her the rest of her life.”
David Mole from Thompsons Solicitors added: “Many members of the public don’t realise that compensation claims can be pursued against the owners of animals which cause injury. Even the most placid dogs can be unpredictable creatures. It is up to the dog’s owner to make sure it is under control. This dog had a history of showing aggression and should have been both exercised more often and muzzled to avoid it biting anyone else.”
Dog Bite Compensation Claim Advice
If you, your child or someone you know has suffered an injury caused by a dog bite, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.
There are strict time limits in place to make any personal injury claim including claims related to dog bites. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.
Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid claim for compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have. If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Thompsons Solicitors to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you. Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.
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