Dog Bite Injury Attorneys Serving Michigan
Head Murphy Law handles dog bite injury claims from our Farmington Hills law office, across the Detroit area, including Oakland County, Wayne County, and Macomb County. If you or your child was bitten by a dog, our personal injury lawyers can help you pursue compensation for resulting injuries. And if you’re a dog owner facing a citation or a dangerous animal proceeding, we can help you too. Beyond animal law, we also assist clients with a variety of other general legal services.
Michigan's Strict Liability Dog Bite Law
Michigan’s dog bite statute, MCL 287.351, provides some of the strongest victim-protection standards in the country. State law holds dog owners strictly liable when their dogs bite anyone who is lawfully on public or private property. In this context, “strict liability” means you do not need to prove that the dog had ever bitten anyone before or that the owner knew or should have known that the dog might act aggressively. If a dog bit you without provocation while you were in public or lawfully present on private property, the owner is responsible, full stop.
This law covers a wide range of situations. It applies to bites that occur on the owner’s property, in public areas such as sidewalks and parks, or on private property where the victim had permission to be. The key exceptions involve provocation or trespassing. If someone provokes a dog by teasing, hitting, or threatening it, or while they’re on private property without permission, the owner may not be liable. However, in most cases, the law favors the dog bite victim.
Michigan’s strict liability rule simplifies fault, but proving the facts still matters. You must show that the bite occurred, that you were lawfully present on the property where it happened, and that you did not provoke the dog. Medical records, photographs, witness statements, and animal control reports can all help you establish these points with the help of an experienced dog bite lawyer from Head Murphy Law.
When Strict Liability Doesn't Apply: Provocation, Trespass, and Non-Bite Injuries
Michigan’s dog bite statute is strong, but it has real limits. The two statutory defenses are provocation and unlawful presence. Insurers and defense attorneys raise both of them routinely.
On the provocation side, Michigan case law does not require intentional conduct, but the conduct must be sufficiently provocative to cause the dog to react. Normal movements, accidental contact, or a child reaching out to pet a dog may be enough to constitute legal provocation in certain circumstances. On the trespass side, the statute protects guests, invitees, mail carriers, delivery drivers, and anyone else with a lawful reason to be where they were. Being on a public sidewalk or in a park is always lawful presence.
Michigan’s strict liability statute covers bites specifically. If a dog knocked you down, jumped on you, or caused you to fall while you were trying to get away, the statute may not apply directly. Those injuries require a different legal theory, typically common-law negligence or what is sometimes called the “one-bite rule,” which requires showing the owner knew or should have known the dog was likely to cause harm. That is a harder case to build, and it is one reason you want an attorney reviewing your situation early.
Also, local leash laws and breed-specific ordinances in Michigan communities can support an independent negligence claim even when the strict-liability statute does not fit cleanly. If a dog was running loose in violation of a local ordinance and you were injured, that violation can be relevant evidence of the owner’s failure to exercise reasonable care. These local rules vary by municipality, so the specifics depend on where the bite occurred.
How Insurance Companies Pay Dog Bite Claims
In most dog bite situations, the source of compensation to the victim is not the dog owner personally. It is their insurance provider. Homeowners insurance policies typically include personal liability coverage, and dog bites are common claims filed under that coverage. Renters insurance works the same way. If the bite happened at a business, the business’s commercial general liability policy may apply instead.
That said, insurers can complicate things. Some policies exclude certain dog breeds. Some carriers limit or deny coverage if the dog had a prior bite history on record with that insurer.
And, regardless of what the policy says, insurance adjusters often move quickly to make an early offer that sounds reasonable but may not come close to reflecting the full value of your injuries, your medical costs, your time off work, or the lasting effects of scarring and trauma. Accepting an early offer before you know the full scope of your medical treatment can leave you without recourse later.
What to Do If You Are Bitten by a Dog
If you or a family member was just bitten, take these immediate steps:
- Seek medical care right away. Emergency rooms at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, or any urgent care center in the area can treat the wound and create a medical record that documents when and how the injury occurred.
- Get the dog owner’s information. Name, address, phone number, and any insurance information they share.
- Report the incident. Contact the Farmington Hills Police Department or Oakland County Animal Control. In Wayne County and Macomb County, reach out to the relevant local animal control authority. These reports create an official record and may trigger a quarantine or investigation of the animal.
- Photograph everything. The wound, the location, any torn clothing, and the dog (if it is safe to do so.)
- Collect witness information. Names and contact details for anyone who saw what happened.
- Do not give a recorded statement to an insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
If You're the Dog Owner: Citations and Dangerous Animal Proceedings
Did you receive a citation, an animal control notice, or a formal “dangerous animal” designation letter after your dog allegedly bit someone? Our dog bite lawyers can help you understand and protect your rights and your duties as a dog owner.
Under Michigan’s animal control statutes, a dangerous animal designation is not just a formality. It can carry real consequences, including mandatory confinement requirements, muzzle orders, registration obligations, and in serious cases, criminal exposure. A second incident involving a designated dangerous animal can escalate quickly.
Our attorneys’ background in criminal defense and general civil litigation means our law firm, Head Murphy Law can represent you. We know how to respond to a dangerous animal designation in a way that protects your rights and your dog. If you receive a citation or a notice and you are not sure what it means or what comes next, a conversation with one of our attorneys will give you a clearer picture.
How Our Michigan Lawyers Handle Dog Bite Claims
The attorneys with Head Murphy Law begin each dog bite case by investigating what happened and identifying all potential sources of compensation, including the dog owner’s homeowners or renters’ insurance policy. Then, we collect medical records, witness statements, and photos to prove the extent of your injuries and financial losses.
Insurance companies often try to settle claims quickly and for far less than they are worth. Our lawyers work hard to push back by reviewing every offer carefully and negotiating for full compensation that reflects your medical costs, income losses, and pain and suffering. If an insurer refuses to play fair, we will not hesitate to take your case to court and present the facts to a judge or jury.
Get Help From an Experienced Dog Bite Lawyer
We handle cases throughout the Detroit area, including Farmington Hills, and across Oakland County, Wayne County, and Macomb County. If you were bitten by a dog and you are not sure where to start, schedule a consultation by contacting our Farmington Hills law firm, Head Murphy Law. You deserve to understand your options before you make any decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bite Claims in Michigan
Who is responsible for a dog bite?
Under MCL 287.351(1), the dog’s owner is responsible when their dog bites someone who was lawfully present on public or private property and did not provoke the animal. This applies regardless of whether the dog had ever bitten anyone before or whether the owner had any reason to expect the dog might act aggressively. The two exceptions are provocation and unlawful presence on private property. Outside of those two situations, liability generally falls on the owner.
What should I do immediately after a dog bite?
Seek medical attention first. Even wounds that look minor can become infected quickly, and a medical record from the date of the incident is important documentation. Get the dog owner’s contact and insurance information if you can. Contact local police or animal control to file a report. Take photographs of the injury, the location, and the dog if it is safe to do so. Collect names and contact information from anyone who witnessed the incident. These steps protect your health and preserve the evidence that supports your claim.
Can I recover compensation for a dog bite injury?
If you were bitten without provocation while lawfully present on public or private property, you may be entitled to compensation under Michigan’s strict liability statute. Recoverable losses can include medical expenses, lost wages if the injury kept you from working, and compensation for pain, suffering, and any lasting effects such as scarring or emotional distress. Outcomes depend on the specific facts of your case, the severity of your injuries, and the available insurance coverage.
Does homeowners’ insurance cover dog bite claims?
In many cases, yes. Homeowner and renter insurance policies typically include personal liability coverage that applies to dog attack claims. This is often the source of payment rather than the dog owner’s personal funds. That said, some insurers exclude certain breeds from coverage, and some policies limit or deny claims if the dog had a documented prior bite history with that carrier. Policy terms vary significantly, which is one reason it is worth having an attorney review the applicable coverage before you accept any offer.
How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in Michigan?
Michigan’s personal injury statute of limitations is generally three years from the date of the bite for most adult claimants. However, this is not a flat deadline that applies to every situation. Claims involving minors and claims against government-owned property or government entities may involve different rules and shorter notice requirements. This deadline should be verified against current Michigan law before relying on it for your specific circumstances.
The practical point is this: even if you believe you have time, waiting works against you. Evidence fades, witnesses become harder to locate, and medical documentation becomes less complete. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better position you are in.
Do I need a lawyer for a dog bite case?
You are not required to have one. But insurance companies know that unrepresented claimants are less likely to understand the full value of their claim, less likely to push back on a low offer, and more likely to settle quickly. Adjusters work on behalf of the insurer, not on your behalf. Having an attorney who understands Michigan’s strict liability statute, local insurance practices, and what your injuries are worth can make a difference in the amount of compensation you recover. We fight for full compensation, and we push back on offers that fall short.
How much is a dog bite case worth?
There is no standard answer, and any attorney who gives you a number before reviewing your situation is not giving you useful information. The factors that affect value include the severity of the injury, whether it required surgery or hospitalization, whether there is permanent scarring or nerve damage, how much time you lost from work, the limits of the applicable insurance policy, and the strength of the evidence. At Head Murphy Law, our lawyers fight for full compensation that reflects the real impact of what happened to you, and we do not accept lowball offers just to close a file.
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