Boyd Rice Solicitors were instructed to act on behalf of Mr M in relation to a personal injury claim relating to a dog attack. Mr M who worked as a self-employed courier for Amazon, was performing his duties, delivering parcels in a rural area in Tyrone. As he approached one of the addresses assigned to him that day he was not met by the owner, but by two large dogs. It is not uncommon for delivery drivers to encounter dogs when performing their duties, but normally the animals are friendly, kept inside or not bothered by the arrival of the delivery man. These 2 dogs appeared to be very agitated and without warning Mr M was attacked from behind by one of the dogs, he was knocked forward and fell face first.  Receiving little to no help from the dogs’ owner Mr M was bitten and pulled around by the animal.

In a state of disbelief over the owner’s lack of empathy regarding the incident, Mr M was brought to Lagan Valley A&E to be treated for his injuries and given a tetanus injection. Further measures were required to ensure an infection did not develop.

He then contacted Boyd Rice Solicitors and instructed us to seek compensation from the dog owner for the injuries sustained. We arranged a medical examination with a Consultant Plastic Surgeon. The Plastic Surgeon commented upon the bite marks left by the dog on our client and highlighted that our client remains very anxious around dogs following the attack. On that basis, we arranged for an appointment with a Consultant Psychiatrist. The Psychiatrist report confirmed our client’s apprehension around dogs and concluded that our client had suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following his ordeal but fortunately indicated that he would fully recover within a couple of years if he received the right treatment.

Upon receipt of the medical reports we were given authority by our client to engage with the dog owner’s insurer with a view to settling the case. Liability at that stage had already been formally accepted. Discussions with the insurer resulted in the case settling out of Court in our client’s favour in the sum of £15,500 together with his legal costs.

Upon successful conclusion of his case our client commented as follows:

“I am a retired company director with an MBA and law degree from Chicago Booth University. I retired at 48 financially secure and entered the gig economy working as a part time courier with Amazon Flex. In or around early January 2022 my world was turned upside down by an unprovoked attack whilst carrying out my duties for amazon. My fears were further compounded in the aftermath of the attack as it appeared Northern Ireland had no dedicated dog bite specialists. Fearfull, i would be left stranded and isolated, I started a search by contacting many law firms that I had known over many years in business. Initial impressions were frightening to say the least. This was clearly a niche market which would require a distinct set of skills and in simple terms, would need a dedicated specialist with a clear understanding of this type of market. However, it was during a call to a leading law firm in Belfast which gave me my first chink of light in a very dark room. The answer was clinical. Call “Neil Mc Granaghan of Boyd Rice solicitors.” I knew intuitively my worries were over. Flawless communication, seemless integration, and an astute legal eye steered this matter to conclusion in a matter of months. I was struck by the forensic synchronicity within the practice. Neil Mc Granaghan was absolutely impeccable. Outstanding. Readers should take note of the exceptional settlement amount in this case. Individual settlements will of course vary depending on the merits of a particular case. However, this figure was achieved singularly by forensic application of Neil Mc Granaghan to the case. Without hesitation the top dog attack solicitor in the country. Thank you Neil. “

Boyd Rice Solicitors were instructed to act on behalf of Mr Win in relation to his personal injury claim. On the date of the incident our client was out for a cycle on his pushbike. He was cycling past a house with a concealed pillar at the entrance. As he cycled past the property he heard a dog chasing him. The dog bit his left leg. He pedaled as fast as possible. The dog then ran into the property. When he got off his bike he realised that there was blood from multiple puncture wounds on his left calf. He contacted his General Practitioner and was given antibiotics. He did not require stitches. There was swelling around the puncture marks.

Our client instructed us to seek compensation from the dog owner for the injuries sustained. He had already reported the incident to the local Council and therefore the first step in the investigation process was to make a freedom of information request to the Council requesting details of the dog owner. Once those details were confirmed we issued a letter of the claim to the dog owner however they did not respond.

We arranged a medical examination with a Consultant Plastic Surgeon and upon receipt of the medical report had to decide how best to proceed in light of the fact that the dog owner did not even respond to the letter. We were given authority by our client to issue Court proceedings against the dog owner. We served the proceedings and to our surprise, did not hear from either the dog owner, their pet insurer or their home insurer.

We then instructed a process server to personally serve the Court proceedings on the dog owner as it appeared that they were determined to evade service of proceedings. The process server certainly earned every penny of their fee as he was able to advise that he was met by two intimidating dogs as he walked up the driveway to give the dog owner the Civil Bill!

Shortly thereafter, at long last, we received confirmation that a Solicitor had been appointed by the dog owner’s insurance company and we successfully argued that liability clearly rested with the dog owner for our client’s injuries. The case was settled out of Court in our client’s favour in the sum of £8,750 plus his legal costs.

Neil McGranaghan was instructed in this case. Our client was asked for his comments following successful conclusion of his case and commented as follows:

I contacted Boyd Rice immediately after sustaining a dog bite while riding my bicycle about a half mile from my home in April 2020. My case was passed to Neil McGranaghan who was promptly in contact to procure the details of the incident. After assessing the details Neil believed there was a strong case for compensation and I instructed him to act on my behalf. An independent medical assessment was organised and performed and Neil contacted all relevant parties for information. The case was not straightforward in that the incident occurred during the first covid-19 lockdown making normal procedures and communications with third parties extremely difficult. The situation was complicated further when the owner of the dog in question remained completely unresponsive to all communications from Boyd Rice. At each step of the process Neil kept me informed about exactly what each course of action was, how long each step might take and the time-frame to wait before proceeding to the next step in the plan. Neil was also completely transparent and kept me informed of the pro’s and con’s in pursuing a case against an owner who was determined to avoid responsibility and gave me his professional opinion at each stage on the likelihood of a favourable outcome. After many months of silence from the dog owner Neil and I made the decision to issue notice of formal court proceedings. Once again after a period of non-responsiveness by the dog owner, Neil decided to serve the notice of court proceedings via a formal process server. This strategy worked and the owner contacted their insurance company and appropriate parties were appointed to deal with the matter. Not long thereafter, the case was settled strongly in my favour, greatly exceeding expectations. I am very grateful to Neil and Boyd Rice, not just for taking on my case but for having the expertise and strategy to work through the difficulties encountered that ultimately led to a good outcome.

If you have been bitten by a dog you can pursue a claim for damages against the dog owner. Please contact us by phone on 02891 817715 or by email claims@boydricesolicitors.com

Boyd Rice Solicitors are regularly instructed by clients who have been exposed to excessive noise at work and as a result have developed noise induced hearing loss or tinnitus. In this case, our client had been employed by Robert Hair and Company Ltd in the 1980s, he subsequently joined Short Brothers as an airframe fitter and worked for them for over 10 years until finally joining Northern Ireland Railways/ Translink. During the course of his employment with all three, he was exposed to excessive noise and was not provided with ear protection at all times. Our client instructed that the hearing tests carried out at work confirmed that he had sustained loss of hearing and we were confident based on his initial instructions that he had a meritorious claim. He also instructed that he suffers from Tinnitus or ringing in the ears when lying in bed at night. He was able to tell us that he has to ask people to repeat themselves regularly and listens to the television at an elevated volume at home.

We instructed a Consultant Otolaryngologist to carry out an Audiogram (hearing test) and to discuss our client’s employment history with him. The Consultant was provided with a schedule of our client’s employers which we obtained from HMRC. The Consultant’s detailed report confirms that our client was suffering from mild sensorineural hearing loss and mild to moderate Tinnitus. The Consultant attributed 80% of his hearing loss to exposure during the course of his employment.

We issued Court proceedings on behalf of our client against the three aforementioned employers. Their respective insurance companies nominated Solicitors to defend the claims. The Defendants’ Solicitors agreed that our client should be medically examined by an expert of their choice. Their expert also prepared a report.  Both medical experts were largely in agreement however negotiations were taking too long and we asked the Court to list the case for Hearing. The case resolved shortly after without the need for our client to attend Court in the sum of £9062.50 and our client’s legal costs were divided between and paid by the Defendants’ insurance companies.

Following the successful conclusion of their claim our client commented as follows;

“After years of working in a noisy environment I had some hearing loss. So I contacted Neil Mc Granaghan at BoydRice solicitors, Newtownards, County Down. From the first phone call to the last conversation the service was absolutely first class and completely professionally handled. I would completely recommend BoydRice Solicitors for all your legal needs. Thank you Neil and all the team for sorting my claim and winning it for me.”                                                                                                  

If you suspect that your hearing as deteriorated from working in a noisy environment you could be entitled to compensation. We offer a free initial consultation. To book an appointment please contact us by phone on 02891 817715 or by email claims@boydricesolicitors.com

Boyd Rice Solicitors were instructed to act on behalf of Mr A in respect of his injury claim and a claim for damage to his vehicle. Our client was driving along the Newtownards Road towards Belfast. He had moved off from a set of traffic lights when the vehicle behind collided with the rear of his vehicle causing damage to the rear bumper and light fitting.

Mr A rang Neil McGranaghan right after the accident occurred. He was going to speak to his insurance company and instruct them to arrange repairs to his vehicle however we decided to keep the accident away from his own insurance company, meaning that his insurance would not be affected going forward. An assessment of his vehicle and repairs were arranged via NI Accident Management Ltd who would then instruct Neil to recover the cost of repairs and hire from the at fault driver’s insurer.

Our client developed pain in his neck, shoulders and back. He rang his GP who prescribed naproxen.

Our client’s vehicle was repaired quickly and he was provided with a replacement vehicle whilst his repairs were carried out. The cost of repairs and the hire vehicle were recovered from the at fault driver’s insurer. This meant that our client’s insurance premium was totally unaffected by the accident. In respect of his injuries, we arranged a medical examination which was carried out 3 months after the accident. The examining Consultant confirmed that our client sustained a soft tissue injury of his neck,mid thoracic area and lower back in the accident and despite having made good progress with recovery at that stage indicated that it would take him a further few months to recover fully.

Once Neil received the Consultant’s medical report, negotiations with the at fault driver’s insurer began and the injury claim was settled in the sum of £3,250. In addition our client’s legal costs were paid by the at fault driver’s insurer. The case took just over 6 months to bring to conclusion.

Following the successful conclusion of his claim our client commented as follows;

“Having contacted Boyd Rice Solicitors after my road traffic accident I received a prompt response from Neil providing clear and helpful advice. Despite being only a few days before Christmas, a high-quality courtesy car was arranged while repairs where being carried out on my vehicle. Acting on my behalf, Neil was successful in achieving a quick resolution which exceeded my expectations. I would not hesitate in contacting Boyd Rice Solicitors in the future should the need arise.“                                                                                                

This case highlights the importance of contacting us at the earliest possible opportunity following a road traffic accident. We regularly take calls from our clients at the scene of the accident. We can then guide you through the process and ensure your insurance premium is unaffected, if possible. If you would like advice, free of charge, please contact us by phone on 02891 817715 or by email claims@boydricesolicitors.com