Dog Bite Victim Protections Under the Michigan Dog Bite Law

by Sam Bernstein

Under Michigan Dog Bite Law, a dog owner is responsible for any damage caused by his/her dog in the event that it attacks another person. The Michigan 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.”

This means to prove a Michigan dog bite claim one must first prove that the defendant’s ownership of the attacking dog and that the dog caused injury. Licensing and vaccination records can be used to identify the dog owner, as well as witness testimony.

The occurance of injury can be demonstrated by medical records, witness statements, or any other evidence of the bite.The Michigan Dog Bite Law allows you to take legal action against a dog owner for up to 3 years from the date of the incident. Since important evidence may disappear or witnesses may forget or move away if you delay legal action, you should immediately seek legal help if you or a loved one was the victim of a dog bite in Michigan.

Dog attacks involving minors (children under the age of 18) may take exception to said time strictures. As a legal minor, a child bitten by a dog may have until his or her 19th birthday to start formal legal proceedings. As in the case of adults so for children: the benefits of waiting are scant at best. A parent or legal guardian should get immediate legal assistance and pursue the claim on the child’s behalf.

Determining the value of a Michigan dog bite claim is a complicated matter. If you were attacked by a dog, you should seek legal help immediately. A qualified attorney with experience with dog bite cases can carefully evaluate facts of your case — the physical and emotional harm you suffered, as well as the possibility of long-lasting damage — and advise you on the potential value of your dog attack claim and the best way to proceed.

About the Author:
The lawyers at Bernstein Law Firm Ohio and Michigan Dog Bite Law experts have championed the cause of seriously injured dog bite victims for three generations.

Published by: Sam Bernstein on July 31st, 2009 | Filed under Legal



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