Royal Mail Letters - Dog Attack Compensation Scheme

[POSTMAN]

LTB 488/10 - Royal Mail Letters - Dog Attack Compensation Scheme


No. 488/10
Ref P18/10
Date: 2 June 2010

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues

Royal Mail Letters - "Dog Attack Compensation Scheme"

It has come to our attention in the Health, Safety & Environment Department that many members injured in Dog Attacks are not aware of and do not make applications under the Royal Mail Letters Dog Attack Compensation Scheme.
If injured and off work sick as a result of the dog attack, benefits are available to members under the Royal Mail "Dog Attack Compensation Scheme". The scheme pays compensation amounting to the difference between full rate sick pay and an individual's average weekly earnings over the previous 13 weeks but excludes Christmas/Summer Pressure periods and Annual Leave. This is paid out regardless of any Personal Injury Litigation Compensation which may be recovered by the Union Soplicitors acting for the member.

A Royal Mail Letters - "Dog Attack Compensation Scheme" Claim Form is attached which Branches can print off and keep available in the branch office for members when needed.

What you need to do and Using the Legislation we currently have [Until it's changed and improved!]:

- Report all dog attacks no matter how minor - the next time it could be more serious and it's important that aggressive history is established.
- Report the incident to the Police. The member may not be the first victim. NB: Remember to get the crime/accident reference number
- Contact the local dog warden
- Identify the dog owner or person in charge of it and the address
- Obtain the contact details of any witnesses
- Obtain photographs of the injury/scarring as soon as possible
- Enquire if the animal has attacked anyone else
- Make sure the dog attack is reported to the individuals your manager and complete an accident on duty form
- If the attack resulted in injuries and was in a public place, on the street or road then the Police should investigate a prosecution under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and may consider proceedings under other legislation.
- If the attack was on Private property (e.g. front garden, footpath, drive, private access road etc) civil proceedings can be brought under the Dogs Act 1871 at a Magistrates' Court and this can be done by the Police, Local Authorities Dog Wardens, or the individual. Defra, the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers advise that this legislation should always be taken into consideration when enforcers are investigating any incidents relating to dogs or when concerns are raised over an allegation of irresponsible dog ownership, in particular it can be effective when dealing with dog attacks on Postal Workers. If the court is satisfied that a dog is dangerous and not kept under proper control, it may make an order for it to be controlled or destroyed.
- If injured and off work sick as a result of the Dog Attack benefits are available under the Royal Mail "Dog Attack Compensation Scheme" The scheme pays compensation amounting to the difference between full rate sick pay and an individual's average weekly earnings over the previous 13 weeks but excludes Christmas/Summer Pressure periods and Annual Leave. [Some Dog Owners are uninsured making the securing of compensation damages difficult. During the CWU 'Bite-Back' Campaign we have argued that Insurance should be compulsory].
- Report the matter to the Union Solicitors to investigate a claim for Personal Injury (PI) compensation or Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) claim and the victim should keep copies of all correspondence and a note of receipts of all expenses (which the Solicitors will want to recover for the individual) such as: (a) Travelling expenses to and from the hospital /GP (b) Prescription charges (c) Over the counter medication (d) Loss of earnings (e) Any other losses you may have incurred as a direct result of the dog bite

Yours Sincerely


Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[Glenno]

Has anybody got the Claims Form mentioned in paragraph 2 cheers in advance

[Stormproof]

Do they do a cat one?

[Glenno]

Has anybody got the Claims Form mentioned in paragraph 2 cheers in advance

Found it, if you scroll down further its there, posted by BM, dont know how to do that link thing

Dog Attack COMPENSATION SCHEME Claim Form.pdf
Dog Attack Compensation Scheme Claim Form
(104.02 KiB) Downloaded 8 times

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 28&t=27481" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Supermario]

Can anyone tell me if you can still claim on the dig compensation scheme if you have been bitten by a dog but don't have time off work , I was bitten and have had no time off and been through the process and have been told I am 1% disabled by Atos
Thanks