Michigan Dog Bite Injury Attorney

Few things are more frightening than dog bite attacks. Dog bite injuries can leave the victim severely injured and traumatized. Injuries can include permanent scarring, nerve damage, broken bones, and long-standing mental pain. The Lee Steinberg Law Firm at 1-800-LEE-FREE will review your Michigan dog bite or dog attack case at no charge.

Our injury lawyers have been successfully handling Michigan dog bites and Michigan dog attack cases for over 50 years. Our team of experienced Michigan dog bite lawyers is dedicated to helping injured dog attack victims get the justice and compensation they deserve.

We represent a wide variety of dog bite victims. This includes utility workers, delivery people, children, parents, and seniors. We have helped our clients recover millions for medical treatments, permanent scarring, puncture wounds, nerve damage, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.

We offer free consultations, and as always, you pay nothing until we settle your Michigan dog bite case.

What is the Michigan Dog Bite Law?

Michigan is a strict liability state for dog bite claims. This means in almost all situations, the dog owner is liable for any injuries caused by their dog from a bite. The Michigan Law, dog bite statute is MCL 287.351, which reads:

“if a person is bitten by a dog, without provocation while the person is …lawfully on … the property of the owner of the dog, the owner of the dog shall be liable for any damages suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.”

Under this rule, so long as the injured person was not trespassing and did not provoke the dog, the dog bite victim is entitled to all injuries the dog caused, regardless of whether the dog had attacked before.

The dog bite statute can only be used by a plaintiff (dog bite victim) when an actual bite occurs. This statute cannot be used if the dog only knocked a person over, but did not bite. 

Statute of Limitations for a Michigan Dog Bite

In most cases, the statute of limitations for a dog bite case is 3 years. This means you have 3 years to file a lawsuit in court, or you may forever lose your ability to obtain compensation. However, our law office urges you to contact an attorney because the statute of limitations can vary depending on whether a minor is involved and the defendant.

Michigan Dog Leash Law

The Michigan Leash Law has remained mostly unchanged since its original enactment in 1919. The law mandates that, except for so-called working dogs, guard dogs, farm dogs, hunting dogs, or other such dogs, no dog owner shall allow his or her dog to stray unless it is held properly on a leash.

The Michigan dog leash law also requires all dogs 6 months or older to be licensed and wear a collar and tag approved by the director of agriculture.

The statute is MCL 287.262, which states the following:

It shall be unlawful for any person to own any dog 6 months old or over, unless the dog is licensed as hereinafter provided, or to own any dog 6 months old or over that does not at all times wear a collar with a tag approved by the director of agriculture, attached as hereinafter provided, except when engaged in lawful hunting accompanied by its owner or custodian; or for any owner of any female dog to permit the female dog to go beyond the premises of such owner when she is in heat unless the female dog is held properly in leash; or for any person except the owner or authorized agent, to remove any license tag from a dog; or for any owner to allow any dog, except working dogs such as leader dogs, guard dogs, farm dogs, hunting dogs, and other such dogs, when accompanied by their owner or his authorized agent, while actively engaged in activities for which such dogs are trained, to stray unless held properly in leash.

What is Provocation under the Michigan Dog Bite Law?

The primary defense in dog bite lawsuits used by dog owners is provocation. To prove provocation, the defendant must establish the victim commenced a definitive act or actions to incite, instigate or anger the animal and further, the dog’s response must be proportional to the victim’s actions. See Bradacs v. Jicabone, 244 Mich. App 263, 276; 625 N.W. 2d 108 (2001). In most situations, simply petting a dog or reaching down towards a dog is not provocation.

It is essential to contact a Michigan dog bite lawyer following an attack so you can run the scenario by a legal professional and get answers.

Can You Sue for Negligence from a Michigan Dog Attack?

Yes, besides using the Michigan dog bite law, a person can file a lawsuit against a dog owner for negligence. In these situations, the dog owner did something or failed to do something unreasonable, and it was foreseeable that an injury could occur.

Dog negligence cases involve not only situations where a dog bites a person, but also include cases where a dog knocks a person over and causes personal injury.

Another way a dog bite owner can be held responsible is under Michigan common law strict liability. Under Michigan common law, a dog owner is responsible for harm caused by his or her dog when (1) the owner knows of the dog’s abnormal dangerous propensities and (2) the injury is caused by the dangerous propensities that were known or should have been known. 

Common law strict liability involves situations where the dog owner knew their dog was already a danger, as the dog had bitten, attacked, or acted unreasonably dangerously in the past. The dog bite victim has to prove the prior dangerous behavior to be successful in this type of case.

Types of Compensation For Michigan Dog Bite Cases

An essential element in all Michigan dog bite cases, regardless of whether a statute is involved, is that the bite must have caused some harm. However, dog bite cases involve many different types of damage claims. These claims can include:

• Past, present, and future medical expenses
• Lost wages from time off work (including time spent going to doctors’ appointments)
• Pain and suffering from the dog attack
• Permanent scarring left by the dog bite attack

Can I Get Reimbursed for My Dog’s injuries and Vet Bills?

If another dog attacks your dog, you can get reimbursed for the injuries and the vet bills that follow. When this occurs, it is important to file a police report as soon as possible. You should also contact the dog owner’s homeowners’ insurance company to find out what it will cover, including the vet bills.

However, you cannot sue for the personal injury caused by the dog. Dogs under the eyes of the law are “chattel”, meaning personal property. And as much as we think that our dog is a member of the public, you can only recover the dog’s market value from the other party under the law. You cannot sue them for the injuries your dog sustained. There is one exception though. You can file a claim for your injuries if you were injured while breaking up a fight between your dog and the other person’s dog. Our law office routinely handles these cases and has recovered a lot of money for individuals in this situation.

What Steps Should I Take If I am Bitten by a Dog in Michigan?

A dog attacking a person is a highly traumatic event. But there are certain things you should try to do after getting bitten by a dog.

First, examine your entire body and see where you are bleeding. Make sure to clean your wounds with peroxide or water and stop the bleeding as best as possible. Then call the police. Let them know what happened so the responding officer can take statements and photographs, talk to witnesses, get the dog owner’s name and address and details about the dog, and give a ticket to the offending dog owner if necessary.

Next, go to the emergency room and seek medical attention immediately. Do not wait. A dog’s mouth is full of bacteria, and an open wound can lead to serious infection if antibiotics are not started soon after the attack. Even if it means just going to the local urgent care, it is vital to see a doctor.

Last, call an experienced and aggressive Michigan dog bite lawyer. The lawyer can answer your questions, let you know your rights, and set up a compensation claim.

Our Team Michigan Dog Bite Attorneys Come To You

We understand it can be difficult to travel to a lawyer. With offices throughout Michigan, we can come to you. We will meet with you regularly to update you on your case. We are always around to answer telephone calls and emails. And as always, you pay nothing until we settle your Michigan dog bite or dog attack case.

Helpful Ways to Avoid a Dog Bite

1. Don’t Pet: You should not pet a dog unless the dog has seen you and had the opportunity to sniff you first. This is especially true if you don’t know the dog or the dog is near puppies.
2. Don’t Grab a Dog’s Tail: This may sound logical, but many people have been hurt by reaching or grabbing a dog by its tail.
3. Pay Attention to the Dog’s Body Language: If the dog appears tense and has a stiff tail, it is in a hyper-aware state and should be left alone.
4. Don’t Turn Your Back: This may sound counterintuitive, but it is usually better to stare at the dog or turn sideways to it when trying to leave it alone. Turning your back on the dog completely may aggravate it and cause it to chase you.
5. Avoid Unleashed Dogs: Dogs running around a yard or park without a leash should be left alone. This is especially true if the dog is near its owner.
6. Avoid Aggressive Games: It may be fun to play aggressively with your own dog, but this should not be done with an unfamiliar dog, especially if the dog’s owner is in the vicinity.
7. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie: You’ve heard the phrase. If you see a dog sleeping or lying near its food bowl, it is a good idea not to come over and invade its space. Petting or stroking a dog without warning while in this position is inviting danger.

We Answer Your Michigan Dog Bite Questions

The Lee Steinberg Law Firm will answer any questions about your Michigan dog bite or attack case.

We investigate how the dog bite occurred, including reviewing police and animal control reports, public and vet records. We interview witnesses to the attack to get the whole story and win your case. We also review medical records, consult with medical experts, and find all possible insurance policies to ensure you get the most compensation possible.

Call a Michigan Dog Bite Injury Attorney

The Lee Steinberg Law Firm is a Michigan dog bite attorney experienced in dog bite and dog injury cases. Call 1-800-FEE-FREE for assistance.

Our experienced team of Michigan dog bite injury lawyers is dedicated to fighting to get you the compensation you deserve. Our Michigan dog attack attorneys have represented individuals attacked by dogs for 50 years.

Please call our Michigan dog bite lawyers at 1-800-LEE-FREE (1-800-533-3733) or fill out the Free Case Evaluation Form so we can answer any questions you may have about Michigan dog bite injuries and Michigan dog attack law. We are the Michigan dog bite experts. You pay nothing until we settle your dog bite case. Let us help you today.