Girl Hospitalised Following Incident

Animal bite claims specialists at Irwin Mitchell have once again called for changes to legislation and guidelines for dog owners, after a six-year-old girl suffered serious injuries in a dog attack in a north-east London park.

A 56-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control following the incident on Saturday (January 21st) in Chingford, when the youngster suffered neck and shoulders injuries and also had part of her ear bitten off by the animal.

She has since undergone surgery at an Essex hospital, while officers are also believed to have seized a dog.

Irwin Mitchell’s team of animal bite experts act for victims of all ages who have suffered serious physical and psychological trauma as a result of dog attacks.

David Urpeth, a Partner and expert in the area, said: “We are very concerned to hear news of this incident, which undoubtedly highlights once again why the government needs to consider improving regulations in relation to dog ownership.

 “The introduction of both compulsory insurance and licences for dog owners could offer huge advantages when it comes to identifying dogs and their owners, as well as provide vital support to ensure victims of attacks can gain justice over the terrible injuries they have suffered.

“Through our work acting for those injured by dogs, we’ve seen how people of all ages can be seriously affected by incidents and often need long-term care and support to overcome their physical and emotional impact.

“While the huge majority of dog owners are responsible and considerate, it is vital that measures are in place to ensure that those who fail to act in such a manner can be held to account.”