Under Michigan Dog Bite Law, a dog owner is responsible for any damage caused by his/her dog in the event that it attacks another person. The Michigan Dog Bite Statute, MCL 287.351, states:
"If a dog bites a person, without provocation while the person is on public property, or lawfully on private property, including the property of the owner of the dog, the owner of the dog shall be liable for any damages suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness."
This means to prove a Michigan dog bite claim one must first prove that the defendant's ownership of the attacking dog and that the dog caused injury. Licensing and vaccination records can be used to identify the dog owner, as well as witness testimony.
To demonstrate that injury occured in the dog attack, one can use medical records, witness statements, or any other evidence of the bite.The Michigan Dog Bite Law allows you up to 3 years from the date of the incident to take legal action against a dog owner. However, it is not wise to delay: important evidence may disappear or witnesses may forget or move away. Time being of the essence, you should immediately consult an attorney if you or a loved one was the victim of a dog bite in Michigan.
There are some cases in which time limitations are not as strigent. The most common instance is a dog attack injury to a child under the age of 18. As a legal minor, a child bitten by a dog may have until his or her 19th birthday to start formal legal proceedings. At any rate, as is true for adults, waiting is not in the minor's best interest; it vitiates the evidentiary strength of the case.
Determining the value of a Michigan dog bite claim is a complicated matter. If you were attacked by a dog, you should seek legal help immediately. A qualified attorney with experience with dog bite cases can carefully evaluate facts of your case -- the physical and emotional harm you suffered, as well as the possibility of long-lasting damage -- and advise you on the potential value of your dog attack claim and the best way to proceed.
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