Dog Bite Attorneys Serving Livonia, Redford & Southeastern Michigan

If you or your child have been bitten by a dog, seek medical attention immediately.

After consulting with a medical professional to ensure that you or your child are safe from further injury and infection, give our dog bite lawyers a call!

Our attorneys have been practicing personal injury law for over 30 years. In that time they have helped countless people get the most out of their injury claims, many of whom were bitten by dogs.

Dog Bite Checklist

1. As soon as possible, wash the dog bite wound thoroughly with anti-bacterial (if possible) soap and warm water.
2. Call your physician for additional care and advice. If you fear the situation is grave enough, call an ambulance or go to the emergency room immediately.
3. After ensuring your safety and health, report the dog attack to the Animal Control agency in your community. Tell the officer every detail you know about the dog. If you know the name and address of the dog’s owner, be sure to include those details.
   If the dog is a stray, you may not have a case, but you still should make a report to your local Animal Control agency to protect others from getting bitten as well.
   Tell the animal control officer what you know about the dog. What it looked like, where you saw it, whether you have seen it before, and the direction it went after the attack.
4. The final step is to call our dog bite lawyers as soon as possible so they can begin building your case.

Dog Bite Statistics in America

People get attacked and bitten by dogs more often than most people think. A national study revealed that approximately 4.5 million people in America are bitten by dogs every year.

About 1 in 5 dog bite victims requires medical attention; and unfortunately half of the total victims that require medical attention are children.

Michigan Dog Bite Laws

What the Statute States

The Dog Bite Statute, MCL 287.351, states:

If a dog bites a person, without provocation while the person is on public property, or lawfully on private property, including 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.

The Two Essential Elements to File a Claim

1. That a dog bite occurred and
2. That the defendant is the owner of the dog that executed the attack.

Statute of Limitations of Dog Bite Cases in Michigan

Michigan law allows a dog bite victim to take legal action against up to 3 years from the date of the attack. It is not wise to delay; your case is on the line. Seek immediate legal help if you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite attack.

There are certain exceptions to the above statute of limitations, allowing the victim of a dog bite to file a claim after the statue of 3 years has expired.

For instance, if a child under the age of 18 is bitten by a dog, they receive more time to file their personal injury claim. As a legal minor, a child bitten by a dog has until his or her 19th birthday to start formal legal proceedings.

However, waiting to file the dog bite case is not always in the best interest of the child.

A parent or legal guardian of the child involved in the dog bite attack should seek legal counsel to discuss what is the best course of action.

How Much is Your Dog Bite Case Actually Worth?

There is no definitive answer to this question as each dog bite injury case is different. For example, the courts in Livonia are different from the courts in Redford and Farmington Hills. Each of these courts has different judges who reward injury cases in different ways.

Additionally, the cost of medical bills resulting from the dog bite attack are not always a good indicator of what your personal injury case is worth, because there may be long-lasting damage that will affect your life for many more years to come.

In order to get the most out of your dog bite case, you need to contact personal injury attorneys who are well versed in Michigan personal injury laws and have the experience of handling various dog bite cases in various cities.