Detroit Dog Bite Lawyer

Michigan does not follow a one-bite rule. That distinction matters more than most dog bite victims realize. Under Michigan law, a dog owner faces strict liability the first time their dog bites someone, regardless of whether the dog has ever shown aggression before. 

You do not need to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous or that they acted carelessly. The law puts responsibility on the owner from the very first incident.

A Detroit dog bite lawyer at Goodman Acker files claims under this strict liability statute for adults and children across Wayne County. 

We handle the medical documentation, the insurance claim against the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s policy, and the liability case in Wayne County Circuit Court when a fair settlement is not available.

Call 248-861-8100 to find out where your dog bite claim stands under Michigan law.

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Goodman Acker’s Track Record with Michigan Dog Bite Claims

Dog bite cases are deceptively simple on the surface. The statute favors the victim. The insurance policy usually exists. 

But the defense side fights these claims hard, especially in Wayne County where the volume of animal attack reports gives insurers plenty of practice raising objections.

How Our Attorneys Have Handled These Cases

We recovered a $100,000 settlement in an Oakland County dog bite case and a $40,000 trial verdict for a child who suffered a laceration from a dog bite in Wayne County. 

Although past results do not guarantee future outcomes, we have taken dog attack claims through both negotiation and trial. When the insurer refused to pay fair value in the Wayne County case, we put the evidence in front of a jury and won.

The One-Team Model

Every dog bite client at Goodman Acker works with one attorney, one paralegal, and one assistant throughout the case. 

You reach the same people every time you call, and they know the details of your claim without needing a refresher. 

We take dog bite cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

How Does Michigan’s Strict Liability Dog Bite Law Actually Work?

Michigan’s dog bite statute (MCL 287.351) holds a dog owner strictly liable for bite injuries when two conditions are met: the victim did not provoke the dog, and the victim was lawfully present where the bite occurred. 

Strict liability means the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s temperament is irrelevant to the legal claim.

What Strict Liability Means in Plain Terms

In a typical negligence case, you must prove the other party acted carelessly. Dog bite claims under Michigan’s statute skip that step entirely. 

The only questions that matter are whether the dog bit you, whether you provoked it, and whether you had a legal right to be where the bite happened.

When Negligence Claims Apply Alongside the Statute

Michigan law may also allow a separate negligence claim in some dog attack cases. This can apply when a dog causes an injury without biting. 

For example, a dog may knock someone to the ground, or an owner may break a Detroit leash law and allow the dog to hurt someone. 

We look at both types of claims in every Detroit dog attack case we review. When the facts support both claims, it can give the injured person more ways to recover compensation in a Wayne County dog bite case.

What Makes Dog Bite Claims in Detroit Different from Suburban Cases?

Detroit dog bite claims involve patterns that suburban cases rarely present. 

Urban housing density, the prevalence of multi-family rental properties, and the volume of loose or stray animals in certain neighborhoods all create liability questions that go beyond the standard owner-versus-victim framework.

Several factors shape Detroit dog bite litigation in ways that matter for your claim:

• Multi-unit rental properties where landlords knew a tenant’s dog had aggressive tendencies but took no action to protect other tenants or visitors
• Loose dogs roaming residential streets in neighborhoods where animal control response times lag behind the volume of complaints
• Attacks that happen on public sidewalks, at bus stops, or in shared outdoor spaces where the victim had every right to be present
• Properties with inadequate fencing that allows dogs to escape yards and reach pedestrians on the street
• Situations where the dog’s owner is a tenant, raising questions about whether the landlord also bears liability

When a landlord knew about a dangerous dog on their property and failed to act, the claim may extend beyond the dog’s owner to the property owner as well. 

That additional layer of liability opens a second insurance policy and a second source of potential recovery.

What Damages May a Detroit Dog Bite Victim Recover?

Compensation in a Michigan dog bite case depends on the severity of the bite, the medical treatment required, and whether the attack caused lasting physical or psychological harm. 

Michigan law permits recovery for both economic and non-economic damages in dog bite claims filed under the strict liability statute.

Dog bite claims involving children in Detroit frequently carry higher non-economic values because facial scarring during childhood often requires multiple revision surgeries over time. 

The emotional impact of being attacked by a dog at a young age may also produce lasting anxiety that affects the child’s daily life and social development.

What Defenses Do Dog Owners Raise in Wayne County Bite Cases?

Provocation is the primary statutory defense available to dog owners under MCL 287.351. If the dog owner proves that the victim provoked the animal, strict liability does not apply. 

Michigan courts define provocation based on whether a reasonable person would expect the action to trigger an aggressive response from the dog.

Insurance companies and dog owners in Wayne County raise provocation and related defenses aggressively. The arguments they commonly make include:

• Claiming the victim reached toward the dog’s face or food without permission
• Arguing that a child’s normal play behavior, like running or yelling near the dog, constituted provocation
• Suggesting the victim entered a fenced area where the dog was contained, implying they assumed the risk
• Asserting that the victim was trespassing, which would negate the lawful presence requirement of the statute

Courts evaluate these defenses case by case, and the argument does not succeed simply because the victim interacted with the dog before the bite. 

A mail carrier delivering packages, a guest entering a friend’s home, or a child petting a neighbor’s dog on a public sidewalk are all situations where provocation defenses typically fail.

Who Pays for a Dog Bite Injury in Detroit?

The dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy typically covers dog bite liability in Michigan. The dog owner does not usually pay out of pocket. We file the claim directly with their insurer and manage all negotiations from there.

What Happens When the Owner Has No Insurance

Some Detroit dog owners carry no homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. When that happens, collecting compensation becomes more difficult because there is no insurance policy backing the claim. 

Your attorney may explore whether a landlord’s policy covers the incident or whether another responsible party has applicable coverage.

Breed Restrictions and Policy Exclusions

Some insurance policies in Michigan exclude specific dog breeds from coverage. If the owner’s policy contains a breed exclusion and the dog falls within that category, the insurer may deny coverage entirely. 

Identifying that issue early prevents wasted time negotiating with a carrier that has no obligation to pay. Call 248-861-8100 to have us review the insurance picture on your Detroit dog bite claim.

What Steps Protect a Dog Bite Claim After an Attack in Detroit?

Documenting a dog bite claim properly in the first days after the attack strengthens your position and limits the defenses the owner’s insurer may raise. 

Once you have received medical attention, several actions help build the evidentiary foundation. Steps that protect a Detroit dog bite claim include:

• Photographing the bite wounds at multiple stages of healing, along with any torn clothing or personal property damaged during the attack
• Filing an animal control report with the City of Detroit or Wayne County animal control as soon as possible
• Collecting the dog owner’s name, address, phone number, and homeowner’s or renter’s insurance information
• Asking witnesses for their contact information, especially anyone who saw the dog loose or aggressive before the bite
• Keeping detailed records of every medical appointment, prescription, and therapy session related to the bite

The animal control report creates an official record that ties the specific dog and owner to the attack. That document becomes a key piece of evidence if the owner later denies responsibility or claims a different animal caused the injury.

Hold the Dog Owner Accountable Through a Detroit Dog Bite Lawyer

Michigan’s strict liability law gives dog bite victims in Detroit a legal advantage that victims in many other states do not have. 

The owner’s history with the dog, their awareness of its temperament, and their excuses after the attack are all irrelevant to the core liability question. If the dog bit you and you had a right to be where you were, the law is on your side.

Goodman Acker represents dog bite victims across Detroit, Wayne County, Southfield, Sterling Heights, and the Metro Detroit area. We take these cases without upfront fees and collect no attorney fees unless we recover compensation.

Call 248-861-8100 to have a dog bite attorney review the facts of your case and explain your options under Michigan’s strict liability statute.

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LEGALLY REVIEWED BY BARRY J. GOODMAN

Barry J. Goodman has devoted his professional life to keeping courthouse doors open for victims seeking justice. Always a tireless advocate for his own clients, Goodman sees his responsibility as a Detroit personal injury attorney in a broader sense as well. [ Attorney Bio ]