Dog Bite Attorney in Traverse City, Michigan
Regardless of size, breed or gender, dog bites can cause significant physical and psychological suffering for victims and their families. Mounting medical bills to treat wounds and infections can also be costly.
Our legal team at Jay Trucks & Associates has spent decades helping injured victims in Grand Traverse County and throughout the state. We have successfully recovered more than $500 million in compensation for our clients and have succesfully handled dog bite cases including a recovery of $98,000 on behalf of a dog bite victim who suffered facial injuries.
I appreciate all of the work and effort that was put into my case. Thank you.
Our initial consultations are 100 percent free and come with no obligation to pursue a claim. Meet with a Traverse City dog bite lawyer from our firm to learn more about your available legal options. We receive no payment for our services, not even an upfront retainer, unless and until we help you recover compensation.
Zero Upfront Fees; Free Initial Consultation
(989) 601-2554
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Do I Have a Dog Bite Case?
You may have a valid case, but we cannot know for sure until our legal team reviews the specifics of your situation. Under Michigan law, the owner of a dog may be held legally liable for any dog bite or attack you suffered on public or private property as long as you did not provoke the animal.
You must also have been lawfully allowed onto the property, either as an invitee or licensee, by the legal property owner. For instance, if you were bitten by a friend’s dog while visiting him or her, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation.
However, if you were illegally on the property as a trespasser, you will likely be unable to take legal action.
Our Traverse City dog bite lawyers are prepared to help conduct a detailed investigation to help prove your legal status on the property at the time of your injury and gather supportive evidence to help you build a strong case. We know what it takes to establish liability in these cases.
How Michigan Defines a Dangerous Dog
In Michigan, a dangerous dog is one that bites or attacks a person, or attacks and causes serious injury or death to another dog or domestic animal that is on the property or under the control of its owner.
However, a dog is not considered dangerous if it:
- Bites or attacks someone who is trespassing on the dog owner’s property
- Bites or attacks someone who provokes or torments the dog
- Responds in a manner that an ordinary and reasonable person would view as protecting someone who is engaged in a lawful activity or who is the subject of an assault
What is the Value of My Claim?
This answer will depend on your particular circumstances, such as the extent and severity of your injuries, medical expenses incurred for treating these injuries, as well as the cost for anticipated future treatments that may be required.
Generally, most dog bite victims may be able to recover the following economic and non-economic damages:
Economic Damages
These are your monetary losses from the accident that can easily be quantified, such as:
- Medical bills
- Hospitalization
- Surgery, including skin grafts
- Imaging tests
- Costs to treat an infection
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Travel costs to doctor appointments
- Loss of income
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Medications, including antibiotics
Non-Economic Damages
These damages are harder to quantify because they carry no monetary value, such as:
- Pain and suffering, both physical and mental
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of companionship
- Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder
Although compensation cannot change the outcome, it may be able to help you obtain the continued treatment you need to make a recovery.
Time Limits for Taking Legal Action
Michigan requires most personal injury cases, including those involving dog bites, to be filed within three years from the date of the injury. Failure to file before the three-year window will likely result in a court dismissal and losing the opportunity to seek compensation for your injuries and damages.
There could be exceptions to the statute of limitations that require you to file sooner or later. This is why we recommend reaching out to a Traverse City dog bite lawyer from our firm as soon as possible to discuss your applicable filing deadline. It takes time to conduct a detailed investigation and gather evidence to support your claim.
Why You Should Seek Legal Representation
You may not realize that injury victims who seek legal representation are more likely to obtain higher compensation than those who decide not to hire legal help.
Our lawyers at Jay Trucks & Associates have over 150 years of combined legal experience advocating for injury victims and their families. We have obtained millions in recoveries for our clients in the Traverse City area, throughout Grand Traverse County and across the entire state of Michigan.
We are well-versed in dog bite laws and understand what it takes to handle these types of injury claims. If you have a case, we are prepared to communicate and negotiate with the other side’s insurer and legal team. We know the tactics often employed by insurance companies and defense attorneys to try to get you to admit guilt or seem less truthful in an effort to devalue or deny your claim.
Our Traverse City dog bite attorneys are ready to handle the legal process on your behalf while you focus on what matters most – your health.
Steps to Take After Being Bitten by a Dog
These are some important steps you can take after a dog bite or attack to help protect your well-being and potential legal claim for compensation:
Seek Medical Treatment
Medical records from your physician may also be beneficial to your claim by providing an official record of your injuries that your attorney can directly link to the dog bite or attack.
Report the Dog Bite
Gather Supportive Evidence
Speak With a Traverse City Dog Bite Lawyer Today
Dog bites can cause serious and potentially life-threatening injuries. If you have suffered physical or psychological damage after being bitten or attacked by a dog, we are ready to help.
Request a free consultation with a Traverse City dog bite lawyer from our firm today. You may be able to seek compensation to help pay for costs related to medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
There are no upfront fees. You only pay us at the end of the legal process if we help you obtain a recovery.
Zero Upfront Fees; Free Initial Consultation
(989) 601-2554
CONTACT US
Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog bite in Traverse City, Michigan, the experienced attorneys at Jay Trucks & Associates, PC are here to help. We will fight for your rights and work to secure the compensation you deserve. Call us today at 989-601-2554 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation.
Let our Traverse City Dog Bite Attorney handle your case while you focus on your recovery!
(989) 601-2554
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