If you or a family member is injured by a dog bite, a Grand Rapids dog bite lawyer can provide legal representation to determine if you are entitled to compensation for your serious injuries. Call us for a free legal consultation with a Grand Rapids personal injury lawyer.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Grand Rapids Dog Bite Incident?
What Are Michigan’s Dog Bite Laws?
There is no “dangerous dog” component required to trigger owner liability under Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL 287.351). Dog owners are strictly liable for their dog’s behavior from the first bite, meaning their liability can include legal responsibility and financial responsibility for the harm suffered when their dog injures someone, even if they did not know the dog was dangerous. These laws apply exclusively to dogs not other animal attacks.
What Is Strict Liability?
To file a strict liability claim, all three conditions must be met:
- Lawful presence: the victim must have been in a public place or legally on private property. Trespassers generally are not covered.
- No provocation: the victim must not have teased, tormented, or abused the dog before the bite.
- A bite occurred: the injury must result from a bite. Injuries from being knocked down or scratched may support a negligence claim but not under this statute.
Michigan Leash Laws
State law (MCL 287.262) requires dogs to be leashed and under control when they are off the owner’s property or on public property. Many local ordinances impose stricter leash laws. If an owner failed to obey these laws, it may strengthen a negligence claim for injuries other than a bite.
How Long Do I Have to Make a Claim?
Michigan has a three-year statute of limitations for dog bite cases under MCL 600.5805. If you miss that deadline, you may lose your right to seek compensation. Minors may have a different deadline, so it is important to speak with a personal injury attorney about the facts of your case.
How Widespread Are Dog Bites?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are 88 million dogs in the United States, and 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year. Children are often dog bite victims and suffer severe injuries.
What Should I Do If I Have Been Bitten by a Dog in Grand Rapids?
After a dog bite incident, take legal action:
- Seek medical attention promptly and save your medical records. The treating physician or medical facility is required to submit the official bite report.
- Contact the authorities and save the animal control report. If you have been bitten by an animal, Michigan law requires that the incident be reported to the local health department within 24 hours. This is outlined in the Michigan Public Health Code (Rule 325.180).
- Collect contact details from the dog owner and any witnesses.
- Contact a Grand Rapids dog bite attorney to discuss a dog bite injury claim.
Common Injuries Suffered in a Grand Rapids Dog Attack
Get immediate medical attention following an attack from someone else’s dog in Grand Rapids and across Kent County. Dog attacks can do significant psychological harm and physical damage to a victim, especially a child. Common injuries include puncture wounds, facial injuries, lacerations, cuts, broken bones, nerve damage, rabies infection, permanent scarring, and emotional trauma.
How Can a Dog Bite Injury Attorney Help?
It’s important to know your legal rights. Our experienced dog bite attorneys can gather evidence (such as witness statements), negotiate with the aggressive dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance company, and pursue compensation victims deserve.
What Compensation Can Grand Rapids Dog Bite Victims Receive?
In Grand Rapids, MI, a dog bite accident victim may be entitled to:
- Medical costs for current and future medical treatment (that might cover medical bills for hospital visits, surgeries, and physical therapy)
- Lost wages—income lost while the victim recovers
- Physical pain and emotional suffering—physical and emotional distress like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Other damages
How Much Is My Grand Rapids Dog Bite Claim Worth?
Our Michigan dog bite attorneys value a personal injury claim, taking into account the severity of the injuries, amount of medical expenses, lost income during recovery, amount of the dog owner’s insurance company coverage, the impact on the victim’s quality of life, and (in the case of non-bite injuries) the degree of negligence on the part of the dog’s owner.
Call The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers, Today
The dog bite injury lawyers in our personal injury law firm have a thorough understanding of dog bite law. We have a proven track record of representing clients who are dog bite victims manage insurance claims to seek maximum compensation. We work on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay anything for our legal services unless we win your case.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Our legal team offers a free consultation for a person or their loved one who suffered dog attack injuries. They can meet with a lawyer who will review their personal injury case, explain Michigan law, and review their legal options to recover damages from parties held liable for injuries caused by their dogs.
(312) 223-1700