Michigan Dog Bite Lawyer

Michigan Dog Bite Attorney

Every year in the US, about 12,480 citizens are hospitalized due to dog bite injuries, which results in approximately 17,000 filed dog bite claims. If you’re facing such an incident, consulting with an experienced Michigan dog bite lawyer can help you navigate the legal process.

Getting bitten by a dog, or any type of domestic animal, can be a very serious issue. Luckily, our Michigan dog bite lawyers at Wigod & Falzon on our personal injury team can help. We’ve handled dozens of these cases and can work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.

Understanding Michigan Dog Bite Law

Knowledge of the dog’s violent propensities, called scienter in the law, was a requisite to establishing a dog bite case. However, Michigan passed its dog bite statute in 1939, establishing that dogs are no longer entitled to one free bite.

Believe it or not, Michigan dog bite laws used to state that every dog was entitled to “one free bite.” That’s right—one of the defenses used in dog bite cases was that the dog simply had never bitten anyone before. However, Michigan statutes now establish that the owner of a dog is liable for damages to anyone the dog bites, whether the dog has a previous history of biting or not.

What To Do When You Get Injured By A Dog

Dog-related injuries led to 22,658 homeowners’ insurance liability claims nationwide in 2024, totaling nearly $1.57 billion. After being attacked by a dog, you must remember to identify the dog and the dog’s owner. Call the police right away after suffering injuries incurred by a dog attack.

A dog attack can leave scratches, tears, and/or broken bones. There have even been cases where victims have lost limbs. This is where documentation is important, and another reason why seeking immediate medical help/calling the police is necessary, and especially consulting with a personal injury lawyer.

Michigan law permits the collection of damages for the aftermath of a dog attack, including infection. Always be on your guard with strange dogs and remember—let sleeping dogs lie.

How Do Dog Bite Cases Work?

So, what defense does a dog owner have to these claims? Only one: provocation. If the dog is provoked by the victim prior to being bitten, it establishes a statutory defense to the action. Of course, this is typically up to a jury to decide.

Examples of provocation could be anything from rough housing with the dog to more insidious things like taking away the dog’s toy, removing its food while it was eating, or grabbing the dog around the head or neck.

Any action by the victim that placed the dog on alert could be found to be provocation by a jury. If provocation is found, the dog owner may not be found liable for the attack, similar to considerations in slip and fall cases. This is why it’s extremely important for a dog bite victim to speak to a knowledgeable attorney before giving any statement to an insurance company.

Types of Compensation For a Dog Bite Victim

Dog bite victims are entitled to recover adequate compensation for their losses and damages. These may include a wide variety of harms suffered by the victim:

Economic Damages

These types of damages include medical costs, expenses of transportation for medical reasons, future medical costs for operations, or the cosmetic treatment of scars. Other damages may include loss of income in the past, loss of income or opportunity in the future, and more.

These damages can also cover defensive measures. Some examples of these are listed below:

• Putting up a fence
• Loss of the value of a home due to the proximity of dangerous dogs
• Counseling expenses
• Future mental health costs
• Damaged property

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages include the pain of the injury and the treatment, mental suffering when confronted by dogs or when remembering the attack, or humiliation caused by scars. Other examples are the loss of quality of life due to disability and other similar damages.

Dog Bites in Michigan: What You Should Know

As of 2024, there were an estimated 2.582 million pet dogs that live in Michigan, with roughly 41.9% of households owning at least one dog. As a result, there were an estimated 1,138 homeowners’ insurance claims involving dog bites and other dog-related injuries filed in Michigan that year. Those claims averaged $63,656 each and totaled approximately $72.4 million. Michigan ranked fourth nationally in the number of claims that year.

Wigod & Falzon compiled a comprehensive look at Michigan dog bite laws that everyone should know. Whether you are searching for a Detroit dog bite lawyer, a Warren dog bite lawyer, a Southfield dog bite attorney, or representation in Michigan, our law firm has you covered.

Our attorneys understand the physical, emotional, and financial setbacks that can follow a serious dog attack. We can help by performing the services listed below:

• Investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
• Document your injuries and resulting losses.
• Identify available insurance coverage.
• Negotiate with insurance carriers.
• Pursue the compensation you are owed under Michigan law.

When insurance negotiations do not result in fair compensation, our attorneys can pursue damages through a civil court action. Litigation may involve filing a complaint, exchanging evidence through discovery, taking depositions, or negotiating with the opposing party. If necessary, we are prepared to present your case at trial.

Depending on where the attack occurred, a case could proceed through the Third Judicial Circuit Court at 2 Woodward Avenue in Detroit or the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac. Both courts handle qualifying personal injury civil cases.

Why No-Upfront-Fee Representation Matters After a Dog Bite

Being attacked by a dog can leave you facing significant financial challenges. The last thing you need is to struggle to find funds for legal representation. When you partner with Wigod & Falzon, you gain steadfast support from a legal team that does not charge fees until we secure compensation for your case.

This means that you gain representation from our well-resourced law firm and dedicated staff with no need for up-front payment. This approach can reduce the financial stress you are under. Since our legal fees are tied to your settlement or court verdict, we share your goal of pursuing fair compensation for your claim, given the facts and circumstances of your case.

Common Injuries From Michigan Dog Attacks

Dog attacks can cause significant injuries when an animal bites, scratches, or knocks someone to the ground. Common injuries can include puncture wounds, deep lacerations, broken bones, torn muscles and ligaments, and damage to nerves or tendons. Bites to the face can also cause permanent scarring or disfigurement that may require reconstructive or cosmetic procedures.

Open wounds can cause additional health risks. Bacteria introduced through a bite can lead to infections. Urgent treatments at Henry Ford Hospital, University of Michigan Health, and elsewhere in the state may be needed to clean the wounds, stitch lacerations, or perform surgery and follow-up care. These attacks can also leave victims contending with lasting psychological harm, including anxiety, fear of dogs, and emotional anguish.

Why You Should Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer

A Michigan dog bite attorney can gather evidence, identify and document your damages, determine available insurance coverage, and calculate damages. Wigod & Falzon brings decades of collective experience to representing people injured through the negligence or misconduct of others.

Our case results include recoveries of substantial amounts and as much as $345,000 for our injured clients.* Our attorneys can manage every stage of your claim while pursuing the compensation you are owed. When you hire a dog bite lawyer from our firm, you gain steadfast and results-driven representation focused on your interests and financial recovery.

While other firms relegate new clients to support staff, everyone we represent is connected to one of our lead attorneys. By managing cases with a focus on our clients’ interests, we can pursue outcomes in legitimate dog bite claims and hold negligent dog owners accountable for the harm they cause. Our knowledge of dog bite laws and the evidence that is needed for these cases guides the steps we take and the decisions we make from day one.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Average Payout for a Dog Bite Claim in Michigan?

A: The average payout for a dog bite claim in Michigan can vary significantly based on the severity of the injury and the resulting losses. Factors that can affect compensation include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, permanent scarring, disfigurement, and nerve damage. An attorney can document these losses, determine available insurance coverage, and negotiate with the insurance carrier for compensation that reflects the full impact of the injury.

Q: Does Michigan Have a “One Bite” Rule?

A: No, Michigan does not follow a “one bite” rule for claims brought under its dog bite statute. Under Michigan statute, MCL 287.351, a dog owner can be held liable when their dog bites an individual who did not provoke the dog while that individual is lawfully on private or public property. The injured victim generally does not have to establish that the owner was aware that their dog was a dangerous animal or that their dog had previously bitten someone.

Q: Can You Pursue Compensation for a Dog Bite in Michigan?

A: Yes. You can pursue compensation for a dog bite in Michigan when the requirements for establishing the dog owner’s liability are met. Compensation may address medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, scarring, disfigurement, and other resulting losses.

Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance may provide coverage for the claim. Michigan generally provides three years after the date of an injury to begin a civil court action, although exceptions can affect the deadline.

Q: What Is a Level 3 Dog Bite?

A: A level 3 dog bite generally involves one to four punctures from a single bite, with no puncture deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. The injury may also involve minor lacerations. Although a level 3 bite is less severe than injuries higher on the commonly used Dunbar bite scale, it can still require medical treatment and support a claim for compensation when another party is legally responsible.

Get in Touch With Our Local Michigan Dog Bite Lawyers

If you or a loved one was attacked by a dog, contact our legal team for a free, no-commitment consultation. Our dog bite lawyer in Michigan can help you navigate the complexities of the aftermath of a dog bite, including filing a claim, speaking with the insurance companies involved, litigation, and more.

Our dog attack lawyer in Michigan can provide comprehensive and effective representation. We understand Michigan dog bite laws and know how to apply them. Remember, we work on a contingency fee basis, which means no recovery = no fee.

*Past outcomes are not a guarantee of future outcomes. Every case is different.