dog bite...

[calumwm]

Evening everyone - Sooo, I've got a paper round, and yesterday morning whilst delivering to a house, a dog escaped and bit me on my inner leg - very close
Every morning the dog (I think it's a greyhound/whippet sort of thing) is in the owners window, barking, snarling and basically trying to get out. Yesterday, halfway down the guys drive, I saw the door opening - next thing the dog was at me, i pushed it away with my bag but then when I turned to get away it bit me..
He apologised, asked if it was bleeding or anything, I said no, don't worry, it'll be fine, and then carried on - later when I got home, it had bled quite a lot and I've got 3 cuts to it, and bruises already. I went to school, they sent me to A&E, it was cleaned up, bandaged, and the doctor put me on antibiotics.
Now though, I've had to give a police statement, and all of the legal people I know are wanting me to make a claim - the police can't do much as although the owner has told me he's bitten the milkman and postman, they didn't report it, and it happened on private property :/
the police have been to see him tonight though, so I'll see what comes from that.
Thoughts? Advice? Happened to you?
Thanks

 

[calumwm]

a solicitor friend has told me to go through the CICA, but I did mention occupiers liability - that could be an option?

 

[calumwm]

Just heard back from the police; they said they've given him a warning and he's been put on a council register, so if it happens again they'll be able to do more. I can still try and get the milkman to tell the police about his incident, as long as it was fairly recently, so that'll be a case of bumping into him.
He's been told that the dog is only allowed out of the house on a lead, so I guess that's a step in the right direction... it is quite an old guy that lives on his own though, and the cop explained that that sort of dog isn't really social, and will only really be loyal to one person.

I'm aware that it might be destroyed, but as mentioned above, it could've been a kid - most paper rounds are done by 13/14 year olds around here, so it could've been a lot worse.