Dog Bite Lawyer in Grand Rapids

A dog bite attack can be frightening and result in serious physical injuries. Your dog bite injuries may also cause severe emotional trauma and financial hardship because of ongoing medical care and lost wages.

If you have sustained serious injuries from a dog bite in Kent County, you may be eligible to file a dog bite lawsuit. Rather than suing the pet owner directly, you need to file a dog bite claim for compensation with their home insurance company.

Our dog bite attorneys at Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., can guide you through the legal process of negotiating a dog bite settlement from the insurance company. A personal injury attorney with extensive experience in Michigan’s dog bite laws and insurance claims can help you gain fair compensation for injuries suffered in the attack.

Understanding Michigan’s Dog Bite Laws

Michigan is one of a handful of states with strict liability laws regarding dog bite liability for attacks. The pet owner is fully liable for the actions of their dog. The owner cannot claim to be ignorant of the dog’s aggressive behavior, even if the dog does not have a previous history of violence.

For a dog bite victim to be eligible to make a personal injury claim, the incident must meet the following criteria according to Michigan dog bite statute MCLA 287.351:

• The dog bite victim did not provoke the dog to aggression, causing the attack
• The attack must have occurred while the victim had lawful entry to the owner’s private property or on public property
• The injury was serious enough to receive medical attention and directly resulted from the dog bite

The following circumstances allow someone to be on private property lawfully:

• If they are an invited guest, commercial customer, or client
• If they are performing a legal duty under U.S. postal laws
• If they had the legal duty under Michigan state laws

The Michigan court may also consider whether the dog was dangerous with these conditions:

• The dog bites or attacks another person
• The attack resulted in a serious injury like permanent, severe disfigurement, health impairment, or impairment of an important body function

If you can prove that you were on the property legally, then the dog owner is liable for any damages caused by their dog. You can work with a personal injury lawyer at our law firm to file a dog bite claim.

Personal injury lawsuits, including those pertaining to dog bite injuries, must be filed within the three-year statute of limitations. If the suit is not filed in time, the court may reject your case, and you cannot get compensation.

What Common Injuries Can You Get from a Dog Bite?

Dog bite injuries are a wide range of injuries, from bite marks to catastrophic injuries requiring long-term care. A dog bite wound may develop an infection, and you may need emergency medical care to treat it. Common types of injuries may include:

• Broken bones
• Bone fractures
• Cuts and bruises
• Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
• Nerve damage
• Puncture wounds

You may have also suffered psychological injuries like emotional distress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The doctor documents your symptoms in your medical records. These records are helpful to prove your dog bite attack injury to the insurance company.

At Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, our senior partner, Eileen Kroll, worked as a registered nurse before becoming an attorney. She can use her medical and legal expertise to connect your injuries to the dog bite attack. She can also work with expert medical witnesses to prove the severity of your injury and its impact on your quality of life.

You Can Get Help from a Dog Bite Lawyer

To successfully file your suit and win your case, you need to work with a personal injury attorney in Kent County. They can put together a strong claim to file against the insurance company, prove the owner is liable for injuries, and recover compensation on your behalf.

Prove you had the right to be on the property

Your lawyer might use various strategies to prove that the dog bite attack was unprovoked on private property and that you received injuries. Testimonies from bystanders who witnessed the attack can offer more insight, talking about the events leading up to it and what happened afterward.

Calculate damages for your dog bite claim

Your attorney can calculate the compensation for injuries from the dog bite attack by identifying all sources of damages. The claim for damages may include current and future medical expenses, loss of earning capacity, and psychological damages. If a dog bite results in property damage, such as broken glasses, you may receive compensation for them.

Negotiate for maximum compensation

Our dog bite lawyers have the knowledge and experience to assist you in obtaining maximum compensation. Each case is unique, and we can help negotiate with the insurance adjusters to determine a fair settlement.

Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. successfully represent clients across a range of personal injury cases in Michigan, including dog bite cases. We have helped clients win compensation in these cases:

• $250,000 for a Monroe woman with injuries after a dog bite attack in Ann Arbor
• $1.5 million for a Westland construction worker who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a Detroit construction site

Work with Knowledgeable Dog Bite Injury Lawyers

Dog bite lawsuits can be complex to prove that you were legally on private property and didn’t provoke the attack. If you have suffered an injury in an unprovoked dog bite attack in Grand Rapids, Michigan, reach out to the law firm of Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., to help you with your case.

Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 1-866-MICH-LAW (1-866-642-4529) and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.