When you are injured by someone else’s dog, you have legal rights. Under Michigan’s dog bite laws, injured parties can recover compensation for medical bills, treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma after a dog attack. There is strict liability for dog bites, meaning that dog owners are responsible for any injuries their dog causes, whether or not their dog has previously hurt anyone.

If you were bitten by someone else’s dog, a Sterling Heights dog bite lawyer could help. Our trusted legal professionals have worked with countless clients to recover damages after they are attacked. Dog bites can cause serious damage, including permanent scarring and infection, and you should consider taking legal action.

Dog Owner Liability

Under Michigan’s dog bite statute, dog owners are liable for their dog’s actions even if they were not aware of any previous violent actions. Some states follow a “one bite rule,” meaning owners are only responsible for injuries their dog causes if the dog previously bit someone. After the first bite, dog owners are responsible in those jurisdictions. In Michigan, the law does not follow this approach. Even if a pet has no history of violence, someone injured by a dog bite can recover their damages if they are attacked.

Under the law, people bitten by dogs need to prove that the dog attacked them and that they suffered injuries as a result. The person seeking damages must not have provoked the animal and must have been lawfully on the owner’s property. Dog owners may not be liable to a trespasser.

Michigan’s dog bite laws only apply to dog attacks. If a dog does something that incidentally injures a person, like knocking over something that falls onto a person, the victim cannot recover under the dog bite statute. Instead, the injured person would seek damages through a personal injury lawsuit and would need to prove the property owner’s negligence. A Sterling Heights dog bite lawyer could help someone determine if they have a claim.

Pursuing Compensation in Dog Bite Cases

Dog bites can leave people with life-changing physical and emotional trauma. After a dog attack, they should seek the appropriate medical care. Not only are medical records crucial evidence in a lawsuit, but medical care can also help avoid serious complications like infection.

In a dog bite lawsuit, plaintiffs can recover compensation for the cost of past and future medical care, lost wages, loss of earning potential, and other quantifiable losses. Injured parties can also recover non-economic damages for their pain and suffering or emotional trauma. After a dog attack it is not uncommon for those injured to experience PTSD, anxiety, or depression. When calculating damages, it is harder to quantify the physical and emotional pain, so it is important to work with an experienced Sterling Heights dog bite lawyer when pursing damages.

Hire a Sterling Heights Dog Bite Lawyer

When you are bitten by someone else’s dog, a Sterling Heights dog bite lawyer could help you pursue damages. We have helped people recover compensation through insurance settlements and lawsuits.

Injuries from a dog attack can be devastating. We want to help you obtain the compensation needed to pay for expensive medical care like rehab, surgical reconstruction, hospital stays, and more. If you are considering legal action against a dog’s owner after an attack, contact us about your potential dog bite claim.

For a report filed with local Animal Control, you should request the Animal Control report at the following location:

Sterling Heights Police Department
40333 Dodge Park Rd
Sterling Heights, MI 48313
586-446-2800
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