Dog bites and personal injury: care, reporting and losses

Dog bites and personal injury: care, reporting and losses. General information.

If a dog bites you, first get to safety. Rijksoverheid and Thuisarts advise contacting your GP the same day for a bite wound. Call emergency services if danger is immediate. Do not delay treatment while discussing who pays.

Record when and where it happened, the dog involved and who was present. Keep available photographs and witness details without exposing yourself to danger again. Separate observations from uncertainty; a threatening incident can leave memories incomplete.

For injury caused by an animal, its keeper or a business may be involved. The legal position and circumstances require investigation. Do not assume automatic full compensation or identical liability for every handler or owner.

An incident can be reported to the national reporting point and municipality. You can approach the police to make a criminal report. These reports concern recording and safety; separately establish what steps your compensation claim needs.

Keep medical appointments, receipts and evidence of missed work. Discuss lasting or psychological effects with appropriate professionals. Our guide organises questions; an individual legal assessment remains necessary for liability, compensation and the applicable deadline.

Read the full explanation and sources on our website. Obtain an assessment of which rules apply to your situation.