Have you or a loved one recently been and sustained personal injury? If so, we recommend reading through our resources on dog bite claims and our related blog posts listed at the bottom of this page.
In this blog post, we explain when dog owners can be held liable and how you can get the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma. For more information, we recommend calling an experienced Grand Rapids attorney near you.
Identify Dog Owner
The first and most important step in a dog bite claim is getting the contact information of the dog owner. If the dog was running loose when it bit you, try talking to any witnesses. If the dog belongs to someone in the neighborhood, they may be able to identify the dog’s owner.
Contact the dog owner as soon as possible to determine if the dog has been vaccinated for rabies. It’s also important to get contact information for witnesses in case you need them to testify during a . If you’re with other people when you get bit, they can get the contact information from the dog owner and witnesses while you seek medical attention.
Seek Medical Treatment
Immediate action after a dog bite is important. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend washing wounds immediately with soap and water to decrease your risk of infection, especially if you suspect rabies.
Your doctor will be able to treat the dog bite wound and determine if treatment for rabies is needed. The extent of your injury will also be documented by your doctor, which will be helpful to prove your injury. If the injury is serious enough, call an ambulance to receive emergency medical treatment.
Hire a Dog Bite Attorney
You have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit, which includes dog bite cases. For the best results, we recommend hiring a dog bite lawyer. While some dog bite cases are resolved without a lawsuit, it may be necessary to hire a dog bite attorney. An attorney will fight to make sure that you get the compensation you need for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma.
Michigan is a “strict liability” state, which means dog owners are held liable regardless of whether they knew the dog was likely to bite. This means that the dog owner can’t argue that they aren’t liable because they weren’t aware their dog was dangerous. You also don’t have to prove that the dog owner was negligent to receive compensation.
Your dog bite attorney can help you prove that:
- Personal injury was caused by a dog
- The dog bite was unprovoked
- You were on public property at the time of the bite or on private property with permission
A lawyer specializing in dog bites will know what evidence needs to be gathered to prove your case and will also be able to negotiate with the other party so you can receive the best dog bite settlement.
Contact Us
The Grand Rapids dog bite attorney at Beurkens Law is dedicated to making sure clients receive financial compensation for dog bites. If you are interested in scheduling a free consultation with Attorney Jerry Beurkens, call our at (616) 459-5344.
Related Blog Posts
Do I Need a Dog Bite Attorney?
How to Prove Personal Injury from a Dog Bite
This blog post has been updated.
