[chrisjohn]

Went posting some flyers after job on Friday afternoon.Put flyer through the letterbox,and a dog bit my finger.Blood squirting out everywhere,Owner came to the door,took me inside and put a bandage on.Went straight to hospital thinking,few stitches and home for tea.Sadly the bite went all the way to the bone and i had to be admitted.Couldn't believe it.Had operation on my hand on saturday morning.Not happy,out of action for a week or so.Told by hospital to report in to the police,then contact a solicitor.

Anyone else had this type of thing happen?

Chris

[Steve Gunn]

Its a tricky one because they could argue you were trespassing on their property,plenty of dog bite law websites on the web to find out where you stand

[markpowell]

Hope your back in action soo Chris, never had anything like this happen in 18 years.
Not sure how you stand legally with the dog been on the otherside of the door, dont think the owners can be held liable.
Good Luck
Mark

[chrisjohn]

Like I said,will contact solicitor on Monday,and find out where I stand.

Chris

[Art of Clean]

Happened to me a few years ago. http://artofcleanuk.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-day.html

I went back a few days later to confront the owners but by then a postbox apeared on the wall next to the door with a note on the door be ware of the dog.

I now ALWAYS take great care before sticking my hand in a letterbox.

[Colin Day]

A customer of mine specialises in dog bites/attacks. Tell him I recommended him and he might do you a good deal

Actually, I'm working at his place tomorrow.....

http://www.hartnell-solicitors.co.uk/

[Andy Hogarth]

I'm pretty sure the owner is liable, they need signs 'dont put fingers through or dog will bite' or a cage/box on wall etc, basically the owner has to ensure the dog cannot cause anybody harm.

Plus anybody can deliver leaflets through letterboxes unless again there are signs asking not too.

Rookie error that though putting your fingers all the way through  

Hope you're not out too long

[Steve Rothwell]

It happened to me several years ago, but there was no one home, and I just bled all the way to my house. was discussing it with a postman a while later, who told me that they are told to push the post in as far as they can without putting any part of their hand inside the letterbox, as it is trespass. Although there is no such crime as trespass (there has to be intent or violence etc added to the charge) any damage you do to the inside of the property you are liable for (does that include poisoning the dog with your flesh?), blood on the carpet etc.

So you may find that you have to chalk it to experience and beware when leafletting in the future.

[Steve Rothwell]

I'm pretty sure the owner is liable, they need signs 'dont put fingers through or dog will bite' or a cage/box on wall etc, basically the owner has to ensure the dog cannot cause anybody harm.

Andy if the owner puts a sign up like that, they are advertising that they have a dangerous dog, so if it causes so much as a scratch on someone else it will have to be put down, so you may find that not many beware of the dog signs exist any more.

[Andy Hogarth]

I was a postman for 6 years, never heard the trespass thing, we were told that pretty much anybody can post what they want without been done for trespassing. We were also told that all mail had to be pushed fully through because if some scally came along and nicked it then the postie was to blame (if a dog was going mental the mail was to be returned)

If a dog did bite a postie then they got a warning letter and asked to install an outside box or cage.

i don't think you could sue without them first having a warning but any dog owner has a responsibility to ensure there dog can't harm anyone

[Sarah Kirby]

I got attacked by a dog the first time I went out leafleting. The dog was outside and it bit my arm and was pulling at my clothes. Thankfully the owners came out in time and I got off quite lightly with just bad bruising. They phoned me the next day to see if I was ok and said they were taking to dog to training classes so I didn't take it any further. I was with Garys daughter at the time and if it was her that got attacked then I would have felt very differently. It has made me very cautious now when out delivering leaflets.

[garyj]

If it had of been Millie that got attacked I would have felt very differently as well  .

[BDCS]

Having read this thread I have made several decisions.
1 Get some leaflets made up
2 Send the missus out to deliver them
3 Tell her to push them right into the house with her head 

[cannon]

Awful isnt it happened to me few weeks before xmas and the finger that took the brunt of it (the one next to little finger) still causes me problems now. Even with one finger out of action many tasks become very difficult, had it been index or middle finger i dont think id have been able to work or drive.

When i got back to delivering leaflets i think i had a phobia of letterboxes I tried all manner of homemade devices to get leaflet through without putting my fingers at risk. I was using a DL leaflet ive now changed to a postcard and might try A5, these can easily be rolled in 1 hand (half then half again) as you approach (gives it a bit of body) and pushed most of the way in without risking your fingers.

What these owners need to realise is that could be some child, my step-daughters used to help me and when shes older so will my daughter, or maybe not now.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I went to do some cleaning in some down stairs maissonettes and was walking across one home's passage way to get to my job when a dog went and bit my ankle the owner walked out of his home to see what his dog was up to and just turned away so with the dog (a jack russell) attached to my foot I booted it up in the air and it landed squealed and ran in, the owner then started giving me grief so I pulled my sock down to reveal the bite marks and I then invited him to put out his foot and see if my wand could make a simular mark on him, he soon foo pis buggered off.

Shaun

[richy27]

i got bit   two weeks ago by a collie right on the knee cap all i did was ring the door bell  luckily just a bruise but could of been nasty cause it came at me again  swift boot and jumped in the van waved my white flag and the dog was locked away.   no harm done but got a handsome tip for my pains people should be more carefull though if it bit a small child or something like that

[clinton]

same here shaun i got nipped by a juck russel a few years ago n it bit into my trainer n held on for dear life,thankfully it didnt get through to my skin.

Its a tricky one this chris n am sure one phone call in the morning will sort it and they can tell you if you have a case or not mate.

[David Price]

How come the first thing people jump to is compensation and liability?  I recognise you're out of action, and will need some compensation, but at least the customer brought you in and tried to fix you up.  They could have told you to eff off.

[wayne zabel]

I take it that you do not defacate then Wayne??

Oh yes twice daily.

Sorry if youre a dog lover.I thought dog lovers might take offence

[Steve Rothwell]

All turd making machines need a bullet through the head - stupidest animals on the planet.

you never mentioned anything about standing in it.......................................

As most people go once a day that makes you twice as likely a turd making machine so...........
up against the wall then......................