Michigan is one of a handful of states with a strict liability dog bite law. That means the dog’s owner may owe you compensation for your injuries regardless of whether the dog has bitten anyone before.
You do not need to prove the owner was careless or that they knew the dog was dangerous. The law puts responsibility squarely on the owner.
A Sterling Heights dog bite lawyer at Goodman Acker handles these claims for adults and children across Macomb County.
If a dog attacked you or your child in Sterling Heights, whether it happened on a sidewalk, at a neighbor’s house, or inside a retail store, we review the facts at no cost and explain exactly where you stand under Michigan law.
Call 248-483-5000 to speak with an attorney about your dog bite claim.
How Goodman Acker Handles Dog Attack Cases in Macomb County
We have represented dog bite victims across Michigan for over three decades, including cases involving children with facial scarring, adults with nerve damage, and postal workers attacked on residential routes.
Our results include a $100,000 recovery 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, they reflect real experience litigating these specific claims.
How We Build a Dog Bite Case
Every dog bite case requires proof that ties the injury to the specific animal and its owner. We gather veterinary records, animal control reports, witness statements, and medical documentation to build that connection.
Homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance typically covers dog bite liability, and we handle all communication with the insurer on your behalf.
One Legal Team, Start to Finish
Goodman Acker assigns one attorney, one paralegal, and one assistant to your case. You get their direct phone numbers.
That team handles your matter from intake through resolution, and you speak with the same people every time you call.
We take dog bite cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Why Michigan’s Strict Liability Law Strengthens Your Dog Bite Case
Michigan’s dog bite statute (MCL 287.351) holds a dog owner strictly liable when their dog bites someone who was not provoking the animal and who was lawfully on the property where the bite occurred.
Strict liability means you do not need to prove the owner acted negligently or that the dog had a history of aggression.
What Strict Liability Means for Your Claim
Under most personal injury claims, you must prove the other party was careless. Dog bite cases in Michigan work differently.
The statute removes that burden and creates liability based on two conditions: you were not provoking the dog, and you had a legal right to be where the bite happened.
A mail carrier on a delivery route, a guest at a friend’s home, and a child playing in a neighbor’s yard all generally meet this standard.
When Negligence Still Applies
Michigan law also allows a separate negligence-based claim in certain dog attack situations.
If a dog knocked you down but did not bite, or if the owner violated a local leash ordinance and the dog caused injury, a common law negligence claim may apply alongside or instead of the strict liability statute. Our attorneys evaluate both legal theories when building your case.
That dual approach often increases the total value of a Sterling Heights dog bite claim.
What Injuries Do Dog Bite Victims in Sterling Heights Commonly Suffer?
Dog bite injuries range from minor puncture wounds to permanent disfigurement, and the severity often depends on the size of the dog and the location of the bite on the body. Children face the highest risk of facial and head injuries because of their height relative to most dogs.
Dog attacks in Sterling Heights frequently cause the following types of injuries:
- Deep puncture wounds and lacerations that require stitches or surgical closure
- Crush injuries to hands, arms, and legs from the force of a large dog’s jaw
- Facial scarring and disfigurement, particularly in attacks involving children
- Nerve damage that results in numbness, tingling, or loss of function in the affected area
- Infections from bacteria in the dog’s mouth, including cellulitis and, in rare cases, sepsis
Many dog bite victims also develop a lasting fear of dogs that affects their daily routines, especially children who were attacked in a neighborhood where dogs are commonly present. The psychological impact of a dog attack may be compensable alongside the physical injuries.
What Compensation Might Be Available After a Dog Bite in Sterling Heights?
Compensation in a Michigan dog bite case depends on the severity of the injury, the cost of medical treatment, and whether the bite caused lasting physical or emotional harm. Michigan law allows recovery for both economic and non-economic damages in dog bite claims.
| Type of Damages | What It Covers |
| Medical Expenses | Emergency care, surgery, stitches, wound care, infection treatment |
| Future Medical Costs | Scar revision surgery, physical therapy, psychological counseling |
| Lost Wages | Time missed from work during recovery |
| Pain and Suffering | Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, fear of dogs |
| Scarring and Disfigurement | Permanent visible marks, especially on the face or hands |
| Property Damage | Damage to clothing, personal items, or glasses during the attack |
Dog bite claims involving children often carry higher non-economic damage values because of the long-term impact of visible scarring during formative years.
A scar on a child’s face may require multiple revision surgeries as they grow, and the emotional toll of those procedures adds to the claim’s overall value.
What Role Does Provocation Play in a Michigan Dog Bite Case?
Provocation is the primary defense that dog owners raise in Michigan bite cases. Under MCL 287.351, a dog owner is not liable if the person who was bitten provoked the dog.
Michigan courts have defined provocation broadly, but the standard asks whether a reasonable person would expect the specific action to cause the dog to react aggressively.
Actions that dog owners commonly claim as provocation include:
- Petting or reaching toward the dog without the owner’s permission
- Stepping on the dog’s tail or paw, even accidentally
- Approaching the dog while it was eating or guarding a toy
- Running past the dog in a way that triggered a chase instinct
- Teasing or making sudden loud noises near the dog
Courts evaluate provocation on a case-by-case basis, and the defense does not succeed simply because the victim interacted with the dog before the bite. A child who reached out to pet a neighbor’s dog, for example, is not necessarily provoking the animal under the legal standard.
Your attorney’s job is to counter the provocation defense with evidence showing that your actions were reasonable under the circumstances.
How Does Sterling Heights Handle Dangerous Dog Complaints?
Sterling Heights follows Macomb County’s animal control process for dangerous dog complaints. After a bite, the victim or a witness may file a report with Macomb County Animal Control, which then documents the incident, quarantines the dog, and may classify it as a dangerous animal.
Why the Animal Control Report Matters for Your Claim
The animal control report creates an official record of the bite, the dog involved, and the circumstances surrounding the attack. That report becomes a key piece of evidence in your legal claim.
It may also reveal whether the same dog has bitten before or whether the owner has prior animal control violations, both of which strengthen your case.
Local Leash and Containment Ordinances
Sterling Heights enforces local ordinances requiring dogs to be leashed or contained on the owner’s property.
When a dog escapes a yard or is running loose without a leash in violation of these rules, that violation may serve as additional evidence of the owner’s negligence.
A separate negligence claim based on an ordinance violation may run alongside the strict liability claim under the state statute.
What Steps Help Protect a Dog Bite Claim in Sterling Heights?
Taking specific steps after a dog attack strengthens your legal position and preserves evidence that your attorney needs. Once you have received medical attention, there are several actions that help protect the value of your claim.
Steps that support a strong dog bite case include:
- Photographing the bite wounds, torn clothing, and the location where the attack happened
- Getting the dog owner’s name, address, and homeowner’s or renter’s insurance information
- Filing a report with Macomb County Animal Control as soon as possible
- Keeping records of every medical visit, prescription, and follow-up appointment related to the bite
- Writing down what happened while the details are fresh, including the dog’s breed, size, and behavior before the attack
The sooner you document the injury and report the incident, the harder it becomes for the dog owner or their insurer to dispute the facts of your case.
FAQs for Sterling Heights Dog Bite Lawyers
What if the dog that bit me was a stray with no known owner?
Recovery becomes more difficult when the dog’s owner is unknown. Without an identifiable owner, there is no homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy to file against.
However, if the attack happened on someone else’s property, the property owner may face liability for allowing a known stray to remain on the premises. An attorney may help identify potential sources of recovery based on where the bite occurred.
What if the dog owner says the dog has never bitten anyone before?
The dog’s bite history does not matter under Michigan’s strict liability statute.
Unlike states that follow a one-bite rule, Michigan holds dog owners liable for a first bite as long as the victim was not provoking the animal and was lawfully on the property.
Prior behavior is irrelevant to the strict liability claim, though a history of aggression may strengthen a separate negligence claim.
Do I need to go to the emergency room after a dog bite?
Seeking medical attention promptly after a dog bite is a good idea for both health and legal reasons. Dog bites carry a high risk of infection, and deeper wounds may require stitches, antibiotics, or even surgery.
From a legal standpoint, your medical records create a direct link between the bite and your injuries, and any delay in treatment gives the insurer a reason to question whether the bite was as serious as you claim.
What if I was bitten by a dog while visiting a business in Sterling Heights?
You may have claims against both the dog’s owner and the business. The dog owner faces strict liability under Michigan’s bite statute, and the business may face a premises liability claim if it allowed the dog on its property and failed to protect customers from the risk.
Retail stores, outdoor dining areas, and service businesses that permit dogs on site all owe a duty of care to their visitors.
Is the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance the one that pays for my injuries?
Yes, in most Sterling Heights dog bite cases, the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance policy covers the claim. The dog owner does not typically pay out of pocket.
We file the claim directly with their insurer and handle all negotiations on your behalf. Some policies exclude certain dog breeds, which may affect coverage, but most standard homeowner’s policies include dog bite liability.
My child was bitten by a neighbor’s dog. Do I have a case?
Yes, you likely have a strong claim if your child was lawfully present and did not provoke the dog. Michigan’s strict liability statute protects children who are bitten while playing in a neighbor’s yard, visiting a friend’s home, or walking on a public sidewalk.
Children’s cases often carry significant value because of the potential for lasting scarring and emotional trauma during their developmental years.
How long do I have to file a dog bite lawsuit in Sterling Heights?
Michigan’s statute of limitations (MCL 600.5805) generally gives you three years from the date of the bite to file a lawsuit.
For claims involving minors, the deadline may extend until one year after the child turns 18, under MCL 600.5851. Filing a report and consulting an attorney promptly still helps preserve the strongest evidence for your case.
Get Answers from a Sterling Heights Dog Bite Lawyer Now
A dog bite claim has a limited window for gathering the strongest evidence. Animal control records, medical documentation, and witness accounts all become harder to obtain as time passes.
The dog owner’s insurance company is already evaluating its exposure, and the sooner you have an attorney reviewing the facts, the better positioned your claim becomes.
Goodman Acker represents dog bite victims from our Sterling Heights office at 13854 Lakeside Circle. We review your case at no charge and collect no attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Call 248-483-5000 to get a direct assessment of your dog bite claim under Michigan law.
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 ]
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