Dog Bite Lawyer

If a dog bit you or your child, the owner is very likely responsible under Michigan or Ohio law, even if the dog never bit anyone before. Neither state follows the old "one free bite" rule for statutory claims.

Our dog bite lawyers at Ronald S. Weiss, Attorney & Counselor have represented people hurt in animal attacks since 1967. With offices in West Bloomfield, MI and Toledo, OH, we accept clients from every county in both states. Contact our firm today to set up a time to discuss your case and learn how we can help.

Dog Bite Injuries and Compensation

Dog bites cause more than puncture wounds. The injuries we see most often include deep lacerations that need stitches or surgery, infections, nerve and tendon damage in the hands and arms, broken bones from being knocked down, and facial scarring. Many clients also develop anxiety around dogs that lasts long after the wounds close.

• Medical costs: Emergency treatment, antibiotics, rabies shots if needed, and follow-up care are all part of the claim.

• Reconstructive surgery: Scar revision and plastic surgery can continue for years, especially when a child's face is involved.

• Lost wages: Time away from work during treatment and recovery is recoverable.

• Pain and suffering: Insurers often use the bite's severity to set this figure, and a pain and suffering calculation should account for scarring and emotional harm, not just the stitches.

Good records drive the value of a claim. The medical records from the first visit, photos taken as the wounds heal, and notes from any counselor all become evidence.

Why Choose Our Dog Bite Attorneys?

Gerald Weiss has centered his practice on injury victims for more than five decades. He handles bites, maulings, and attacks by other animals, and he's a longtime member of the State Bar of Michigan's Negligence Law Section. Gerald is licensed in Michigan.

Ron Weiss holds licenses in both Michigan and Ohio. He graduated from Wayne State University Law School in 1993 and was admitted in Ohio a decade later. That dual licensing means one firm can handle your claim whether the bite happened in Oakland County or Lucas County, and Ron can appear in the federal courts of both states if a case ends up in either.

Dog Bite Laws for Michigan Clients to Know

Michigan dog bite law starts with MCL 287.351, which makes the owner liable when a dog bites someone without provocation. The injured person must be on public property or lawfully on private property, and the owner's own home and yard count. The dog's history and the owner's knowledge of that history don't matter under the statute.

"Lawfully on the property" has a specific meaning. It covers invited guests, licensees, and anyone performing a duty under state or federal law. That is why postal carriers and meter readers bitten on a customer's porch can bring a claim under the statute.

Owners usually raise two defenses:

• Provocation: The owner argues that the victim's conduct caused the bite. Courts look closely at the facts, and stepping on a dog's tail by accident is treated very differently from hitting it.

• Unlawful presence: The owner argues that the injured person was trespassing or entered the property to commit a crime.

The Michigan statute applies to bites only. A dog that knocks a jogger down or chases a cyclist into traffic creates a negligence claim instead. For most Michigan lawsuits, the deadline is three years from the injury under MCL 600.5805.

Local ordinances add another layer. Michigan leash laws vary by city and county, and a violation can strengthen a negligence claim.

Dog Bite Laws for Ohio Clients to Know

Ohio dog bite law differs from Michigan's. Under R.C. 955.28(B), the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog is liable for any injury, death, or property loss the dog causes. Bites are included, but so are knockdowns and other injuries. A keeper is someone caring for the dog, such as a dog sitter. A harborer is someone who lets the dog live on property they control, which can include a landlord in some cases.

The statute excludes three situations. The owner, keeper, or harborer is not liable if the injured person was committing criminal trespass on their property, committing a crime more serious than a minor misdemeanor, or teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog on their property. Door-to-door salespeople are protected by name, permit or no permit.

Ohio's filing deadline depends on how the claim is brought. Ohio courts have applied the six-year period in R.C. 2305.07 to strict liability claims under the dog statute. A common-law negligence claim must be filed within two years under R.C. 2305.10. We file well inside the shorter window whenever we can.

A relative watching the dog for a weekend, or a landlord who let a tenant keep a dog on the property, can be named alongside the owner. Deciding who counts as a keeper or harborer is often the first dispute in an Ohio case.

Proving Who Is Responsible in Dog Bite Cases

Strict liability takes the dog's history off the table. It does not prove the claim for you. We still have to show who owned or controlled the dog, where the bite happened, and how badly you were hurt.

Ownership is sometimes the hardest part. Dog licenses, veterinary records, and statements from neighbors help establish who the dog belonged to, and in Ohio they can also show who was keeping or harboring it that day. Animal control reports fix the date, the location, and the dog's identity. Hospital records document the injury itself.

Severity shapes the value of the case. Insurers and doctors often describe bites using the Dunbar scale, which runs from a snap with no skin contact to a fatal attack. A Level 4 bite, with punctures deeper than half the length of the dog's canine teeth, tends to produce a very different settlement than a Level 2. We collect the photos, records, and witness accounts needed for proving your claim well before we open negotiations with the insurer.

Dog Bites Involving Children

Children are bitten more often than adults, and their dog bite injuries often involve critical and traumatic areas like the face and neck.

The liability rules are the same for children and adults. The settlement process, though, is not.

In Ohio, R.C. 2111.18 requires probate court approval before a minor's injury claim can be settled. Michigan's court rules impose a similar approval step. The settlement money is often placed in a restricted account until the child turns 18. Ohio also generally pauses the filing deadline until the child reaches adulthood under R.C. 2305.16.

We handle these approval steps for parents from start to finish. Parents also need to account for future scar revision and counseling, which are two elements that often follow a child's dog bite injury, and can raise a settlement well above your initial hospital bill.

Dog Bite FAQs

What should I do right after a dog bite?

Get medical care that day, even for a bite that looks small, because dog bites become infected easily. Report the bite to animal control or the local health department. Photograph the wound, the location, and the dog if you can do so safely, and get the owner's name and insurance information. Avoid these common mistakes, such as giving a recorded statement before you've talked with a lawyer.

Can I file a claim against a friend or neighbor?

Yes. The claim is made against the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance policy in most cases. A claim over a neighbor's dog is usually handled between our office and the insurer, so your neighbor isn't the one writing the check.

How long do I have to file a dog bite claim?

Michigan allows three years for most injury lawsuits. Ohio allows six years for a claim under the dog statute and two years for a negligence claim, with extra time for children in both states.

I was bitten on the job. Do I have a claim?

You likely have two claims. A delivery driver, meter reader, or home health aide may have a workers' compensation claim and a separate claim against the dog's owner.

Workers' compensation pays medical bills and part of your lost wages, but it pays nothing for pain, scarring, or emotional harm. The claim against the owner can cover those losses, which is why the second claim matters so much for delivery drivers and utility workers. We evaluate both claims at the first consultation.

Read more answers to common questions on our Dog Bite FAQ guide.