Once upon a time, it was postmen at risk from over-judicious guard dogs, now it’s the food delivery folk - as one unlucky Uber Eats driver discovered last week.

Except these days such an attack could take the family breadwinner out of commission and leave young families struggling without an income.

That’s the reality for one young south-western Sydney family after a vicious dog attack in Claymore.

For three years, father of three young children, Md Mahmudul Islam, has been feeding his family by delivering dinner to others as an Uber Eats driver.

But after a vicious dog attack left wounds up and down his right arm while he was dropping off a McDonald’s order, Islam will be unable to provide for his five and three-year-old daughters and two-year-old son.

Md Mahmudul Islam was attacked as he dropped off a McDonald's order. Credit: Supplied

Islam has been told he can’t drive for at least the next fortnight after the attack left at least eight to 10 deep puncture wounds up his left hand and a bad scratch on his right leg.

He won’t know until he heads back to the hand specialists at Fairfield Hospital on Wednesday.

Hours after talking to 7NEWS.com.au, Islam was informed by Uber that he was covered by insurance and receive income compensation.

'Safe and respectful'

Separately an Uber Eats spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au:

"The vast majority of deliveries using the Uber Eats platform are safe and respectful ... unfortunately no form of transport or delivery is 100 per cent safe."

The spokesperson said Uber Eats "delivery partners" were now insured by Chubb "for on-trip accidents, providing different types of payments if they are injured and unable to work".

But that income compensation is capped at $100-$150 per day for a five-day week and Islam said he worked a seven-day, 70-hour week for about $1500.

And he does not know how long the compensation will take.

Aftermath

Meanwhile, Islam is still coping with the psychological aftermath of the attack.

“When I sit alone, sometimes I feel it, I go into shock still when I remember the dog biting me.

“When I remember that scene I feel terrified,” he told 7NEWS.com.au.

The drama began shortly after 12.30am last Tuesday morning when Islam turned up at a Claymore home with the McDonald’s delivery.

He said that he sent a notification to say he had arrived but when there was no response he approached the house and pushed open the gate.

Md Mahmudul Islam and his family. Credit: Supplied

A woman was coming to meet him but so was a dog.

It burst through the gate and latched on to him.

'Dog's attitude not good'

Islam is not sure of the breed - he was too busy trying to get it off.

But it seemed about the same size as a bulldog and it had a strong bite.

A Campbelltown City Council spokesman later told 7NEWS.com.au the dog was an American Staffordshire.

“The dog’s attitude was not good. The lady told him to go inside, to go home but he didn’t listen,” Islam said.

Chevron Right Icon 'The dog’s attitude was not good. The lady told him to go inside ... but he didn’t listen.'

He had passed over the food and was trying to get the dog off his arm.

Two young men came out of the house and managed to get the dog off.

Islam says there was a warning sign but it was very small and could not be seen in the dark.

The residents went back inside and Islam went straight to Campbelltown Hospital.

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He was there all night and was then referred to hand specialists at Fairfield hospital.

Islam has reported the attack to the police and he has been interviewed by Campbelltown Council.

“But we have no income,” he said.

His wife Nurun Nhar is a full-time mum and so the family is stuck.

Islam said his Uber insurance did not include income support.

Campbelltown Council confirmed the attack and is investigating the circumstances around it.