Grand Rapids Dog Bite Attorney

Dog attacks are painful, emotionally traumatic, and may require numerous surgeries or other expensive medical care. After a serious injury due to an unprovoked Kent County dog bite attack, we encourage you to seek legal help.

Jay Trucks has been the greatest help to me during my injury. He answered my questions with the greatest of knowledge...

– M. Curtis

At Jay Trucks and Associates, our attorneys have 30-plus years of experience and are dedicated to providing legal help to injured victims. We have represented clients all over Michigan state and have experience handling dog bite lawsuits including a case involving a 5 year old boy that suffered facial injuries in a dog attack, where our lawyers were able to recover $98,000 in compensation.

Contact our firm today to arrange for a free consultation with one of our reputable Grand Rapids dog bite lawyers. If we determine that you have a case, there is no obligation to proceed with litigation. If we do represent you, there are zero upfront costs. You do not pay for our services unless we recover compensation for your damages.

Do I Have An Eligible Dog Bite Case?

According to Michigan statute 287.351, if you were bitten by a dog in an unprovoked attack and had a legal right to be on the premises, you may be eligible to recover damages.

To be on the premises legally, you must have been either a licensee or invitee of the individual who owns the property. For example, if you were bitten while you were visiting as a guest at the home of a friend or neighbor, you may have an eligible claim.

Although you do not have to establish negligence for a dog bite attack, you do need to prove you did not provoke the animal, such as if you kicked it or pulled its tail. If the owner does not corroborate your story, and there were no other witnesses, it can be tricky to prove.

Additionally, if you were trespassing on private property when the attack occurred, the owner will likely not be liable for any damages you sustained. The only exception could be if a younger child trespassed unknowingly and was attacked. While you may be able to pursue a claim in this situation, you would have to prove the owner was negligent in some way.

At Jay Trucks and Associates, our qualified lawyers have extensive knowledge of Michigan’s dog bite laws, and we can review the situation to determine whether you may be eligible to recover damages from the dog owner.

How Much Is My Dog Bite Claim Worth?

It is difficult to place a specific value on your claim until we understand more about how the attack happened and the severity of your injuries. However, claims where injuries are more serious typically have greater value. This is because there are often more extensive medical treatments and longer recovery times. If your case is valid, these are some of the types of damages you could recover:

• Economic damages – These damages are tangible and easier to quantify. They could include costs, such as lost wages, medical bills, surgical interventions, prescription medication, emotional counseling and more.
• Non-economic damages – These intangible damages may include mental anguish, pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life and loss of consortium.

Our Grand Rapids dog bite attorneys understand that no amount of money can change what happened or relieve you of your pain and suffering from the attack. However, compensation can help you to get the medical care, counseling, surgery and other treatments you may need to recover. Our experienced lawyers are well-versed in calculating and negotiating for maximum compensation on injury claims.

Is There a Deadline For Filing a Dog Bite Claim in Michigan?

The statute of limitations in Michigan for dog bite cases is the same as for other personal injury claims. The state allows victims three years from the date of the accident or injury to file a claim, otherwise you will likely be barred by the court from recovering any damages.

There are a few exceptions that could apply in your situation, but it is best to have a knowledgeable attorney assess your potential claim to confirm your filing deadline. We welcome the opportunity to review your potential claim, even if you think you may have already missed your filing deadline.

What is Michigan’s Definition of a Dangerous Dog?

When determining whether a dog is dangerous in Michigan, the breed does not have any bearing. The determination is based solely on the animal’s behavior. State law defines a dangerous dog as one that bit or attacked an individual or injured or killed another dog.

However, dogs are not considered dangerous, as defined by state law, if they:

• Attacked a trespasser on personal property belonging to the dog’s owner
• Bit someone who deliberately tormented, antagonized or otherwise provoked the animal
• Responded in a situation where they were responding in a protective manner, such as if someone was trying to assault the dog’s owner

How May A Grand Rapids Dog Bite Attorney Benefit My Claim?

Our knowledgeable lawyers are dedicated to protecting your rights and pursuing maximum compensation on your behalf. Additionally, if you have a case, we are prepared to:

• Thoroughly investigate your dog bite attack
• Gather supportive evidence, including medical records, pictures of your injuries and eyewitness accounts
• Communicate with the insurance company and any third parties
• Keep you current on the status of your dog bite claim

Our licensed attorneys have extensive knowledge of Michigan’s personal injury laws, and we are well-prepared to pursue a dog bite injury claim on your behalf. Injured victims who hire an attorney typically recover larger settlements than those who attempt to pursue a claim alone.

First Steps After a Dog Attack

Being attacked by a dangerous dog is a terrifying experience, and many victims may be initially in a state of shock. The best approach is to remain calm and attempt to:

• Get to safety and away from the attacking animal as quickly as possible.
• Seek medical attention as soon after the attack as you can. Even small bites can cause scarring or lead to a serious infection. In addition to minimizing damages, seeking medical care will create a record that links your injuries to the attack.
• Dog bites must be reported to Kent County Animal Control so they can create a record of the incident and investigate what happened.
• Attempt to locate witness and obtain contact details, and a statement, if possible.
• Take photos of your injuries to help document and validate them.
• Keep records of all related medical bills and receipts, including travel to and from appointments.
• Contact a reputable dog bite attorney for legal help.

Our Grand Rapids dog bite lawyers can review the details of your attack, along with other contributing factors to determine whether you may have a valid case.

Contact a Grand Rapids Dog Bite Attorney Today

Dangerous dogs can inflict a lot of damage in only seconds. These wounds may be severe and disfiguring or become seriously infected. Many victims continue to suffer from mental anguish long after their physical recovery.

Contact Jay Trucks and Associates today to find out whether you may be eligible to pursue compensation against the dog owner to help cover your medical costs, lost wages, emotional distress and other damages. We have more than three decades of experience and a proven track record of recovering millions in compensation for our clients.

A legal consultation with one of our qualified attorneys is completely free and just a phone call away. If you have a valid case and decide to retain our services, there are no upfront costs to pay. There is no financial risk, because you will only pay our fees if we win a settlement or verdict for you.