Posted: January 17th, 2014
A teenager, who sustained grave injuries when she was attacked by an errant Rottweiler as a child, has received a six-figure settlement of compensation.
The accident occurred on the 26th December 2011 when Lauren Kelly, aged just nine, was playing in the street with her friends. During a game of “hunting the wren”, Lauren was walking around her town, Abbeylara in Co. Longford, when she came across the Rottweiler. The dog had been allowed to leave its owner’s property.
Lauren was attacked by the dog and, despite her mother trying to intervene, she sustained several bites to her right arm. She was then taken to hospital, where she received treatment for twenty-six puncture wounds. Since the attack, Lauren has also had several skin grafts and has been left with dramatic scars.
Acting on Lauren’s behalf, her father – Michael – made a claim against William Crawford, the owner of the stray Rottweiler. Crawford admitted that he was responsible for Lauren’s injures and entered negotiations with the family concerning compensation. Eventually, a settlement of €150,000 was agreed between the parties.
The case proceeded to Dublin’s High Court for approval of the settlement. Mr Justice Kevin Cross heard evidence of how Lauren had been violently shaken by the dog during the attack, and of how she continues to experience nightmares. Though these, and her bouts of sleepwalking, have stopped, Lauren is still afraid of large dogs.
Judge Cross proceeded to approve the settlement of compensation for the dog attack. The settlement will be held in a trust until Lauren reaches adulthood. However, it will still be accessible by her parents should Lauren require further medical treatment for her injuries.
Categories: Dog Bite Injury
