Are you in need of a canine injury lawyer near Auburn Hills? Sadly, you are not alone, as dog bites are a worryingly common occurrence in the area and throughout Michigan. The United States Postal Service ranks the state as one of the top ten in the country for dog bites of letter carriers and postal workers, while Detroit Animal Control reports that dog bites in the city are on an alarming upward trend in recent years. Dog bites can result in painful injuries, significant scarring, and psychological trauma, and no one should have to pay the price of these outcomes after an unprovoked attack.
Laws regarding dog bites are set at the state level. Michigan follows strict liability rules, meaning a dog owner is automatically responsible for bite injuries their animal inflicts on another individual in most circumstances. This rule applies even when the owner has no reasonable way of knowing whether their dog is dangerous. However, there are times when strict liability does not apply. Michigan dog owners might not be liable for injuries caused by their animal when the animal bites an individual trespassing or when an individual provokes the animal.
Michigan also employs criminal penalties for owners of “dangerous” dogs that harm others. Behavior that may indicate to a court that an animal is dangerous includes:
Dog owners who know their dog is a dangerous animal can face criminal penalties and even felony charges that carry heavy fines and a prison sentence in the event that the dog attacks someone.
Dogs descend from hunting animals that evolved to have strong jaws and sharp teeth. Even shallow dog bites can cause scarring, deformities, and significant infections and illnesses. Deeper wounds can be catastrophic and lead to chronic pain and disability.
Dog attacks can also be traumatic, especially for small children, and lead to mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. Dog attacks can also trigger symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
A dog’s saliva can also contain bacteria that can be transmitted through a bite and cause severe infections. Some studies suggest as many as 15 to 20 percent of dog bite wounds eventually become infected. Always watch for signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, pain, and pus oozing from the wound.
Always seek immediate medical attention for a dog bite so a medical professional can thoroughly clean and treat the wound. Prophylactic measures can also prevent illnesses like rabies. While rare, rabies is nearly 99 percent fatal when left untreated and symptoms develop.
No one wants to believe that their four-legged friend can hurt anyone. Unfortunately, some dog breeds are more inclined to display aggressive traits and tendencies than others. Every dog breed has unique genetic traits that humans have honed over hundreds of years. Some breeds were prized for their intelligence and herding abilities for working livestock. Other dog breeds excel at pointing and helping hunters find their kill.
This is not to say that dogs of these breeds are always violent. However, instinctually and genetically, there are some breeds more prone to lashing out with aggression and biting humans than others. Many of these breeds are large and robust, meaning they can also cause considerable damage when they attack. Due to the dangers they pose, many Michigan municipalities have moved to ban specific breeds deemed dangerous. Currently, Auburn Hills has no such laws.
The Insurance Information Institute estimates that the average cost per claim comes close to $665,450. Michigan ranks in the top five for the number of dog bite claims filed annually. This money can cover:
| Case | Settlement | Description |
|---|---|---|
“Confidential Dog Bite Case” | $325,000 | Michigan dog bite victim; details limited under confidentiality agreement. |
“Confidential Dog Bite Case” | $67,000 | Details withheld pursuant to confidentiality agreement. |
Contact us today for a free consultation with an Auburn Hills animal injury lawyer and find out what we can do for you.
