Dog Bite Lawyer in Sterling Heights

Responsibility for a dog’s behavior and aggressive actions, such as a dog bite, usually lies with the dog owner. Filing a personal injury claim can help you receive compensation for your dog bite injuries. However, if you do not file a personal injury claim on time, you may be left paying out-of-pocket costs for your bills.

If you have been attacked by a dog in Oakland County and have suffered a personal injury, you need the help of a personal injury law firm to pursue a dog bite claim. Our results-driven personal injury lawyers at Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. have extensive legal experience in dog bite injuries and can help you pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering from your injuries.

Our law firm represents clients in Farmington Hills, Wayne County, and Macomb County, and we work hard to ensure that clients obtain a positive outcome. Our track record of successful verdicts includes $250,000 for a Michigan homemaker after sustaining a dog bite injury.

What to Do After a Dog Bite

Following a dog bite attack, take steps to protect your rights and ensure you receive appropriate medical attention for your injuries.

Get immediate medical attention

Dog bites can result in these common injuries, including:

• Broken bones
• Infections including rabies
• Bleeding
• Numbness
• Scarring and disfigurement from severe cuts, scrapes, and gashes

If a dog knocks you over or bites your head, the attack can cause a traumatic brain injury. Brain damage symptoms may not appear for several hours or days after the incident with a closed-head injury. Seek immediate medical attention to ensure that any internal injuries receive proper care.

Call 911 right away to receive medical care for brain injuries from emergency technicians. They can transport you to an emergency room for further medical assistance.

Even if your injuries seem minor, a doctor can ensure proper treatment and prevent delayed injuries. Medical records of your recovery process prove a direct link between the attack and your injuries.

Report the dog bite to the authorities

Report the dog bite attack to a local animal control agency near you. Let the animal control officer know the details of the dog bite, including the dog owner’s name and contact information. The officer can put together a report of the animal attack that can help you file an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the owner.

A report of a dog bite attack can trigger an investigation by animal control officers. Be sure to cooperate with them, as they may investigate the dog owner, question witnesses, and issue subpoenas. Officers may hold hearings to determine what happened and if they need to issue citations or take the dog away from the owner.

Keep a record of the dog bite attack

It’s critical to document everything that occurred during and after a dog bite to collect the evidence you need if you choose to file a claim. Document the progression of your injuries in photos and videos, especially if you suffer permanent scarring.

Don’t forget to document the damage to your clothes or eyeglasses in your claim for property damage. Take notes on what you remember from the dog bite accident and speak to other witnesses. Get a copy of the dog bite report and request your dog bite injury medical records.

Contact a dog bite attorney

You should consult a Michigan dog bite accident lawyer immediately following the incident. While you must put your health first, it is also vital to safeguard your legal rights following an accident.

You are likely to undergo extensive medical treatment due to a dog attack. Depending on how severe your injuries are, you could require ongoing treatment. Significant and irreversible injuries may permanently alter your life.

A dog bite lawyer can offer legal advice regarding adequate compensation for your injuries. You may be entitled to a financial settlement for damages, including medical bills and pain and suffering caused by a dog bite in Michigan.

Michigan’s Dog Bite Laws and Liability

Michigan is a strict liability state, meaning a dog owner cannot claim they were unaware that their animal might bite. The dog bite lawyers at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates P.C. can help you understand how Michigan’s dog bite laws apply to your claim.

Under Michigan’s dog bite law, there are strict guidelines for dealing with this type of personal injury case. There are three fundamental rules your legal team will seek to prove for your case:

• The dog bite caused the injury
• The victim did not provoke the dog in any way
• The animal attack occurred in a public area or when the victim was lawfully on private property

Property owner liability in a dog bite case

Landlords can be liable for dogs in their rental properties if they knew the dog was dangerous and could have taken action to remove the animal from the property. Injured claimants can receive compensation from the homeowner’s insurance policy if the landlord is found to be at fault.

Dog Bite Compensation

Our dog bite lawyers can assist you in obtaining financial compensation from the dog owner and their insurance company, who may attempt to refute the dog claim. The following compensation types are typically recoverable in a settlement:

Medical bills

Your compensation for your accident injury may cover these medical expenses:

• Doctors’ appointments
• Hospital stays
• Medications
• Assistive medical devices such as wheelchairs and braces
• Surgical procedures and other treatments

Our senior partner and registered nurse, Eileen Kroll, has combined experience in the legal and medical fields to help you with your claim. She can use your medical records and bills to link your injuries to the attack and calculate a fair settlement.

Loss of wages

A dog bite can result in severe injuries that prevent you from returning to work or even prevent you from returning ever again. Pay stubs and wage verification from your employer can prove lost wages.

Pain and suffering

The pain and suffering you face due to your psychological injuries are damages that don’t have a monetary value. A dog attack can cause emotional distress such as anxiety, depression, and a fear of dogs.

You may be entitled to damages for loss of enjoyment of life if your injuries prevent you from engaging in your favorite hobbies and performing daily tasks. Emotional pain may not be visible, yet it leaves a lasting impression on the dog bite victim.

The amount of medical bills, loss of wages, and other actual damages can factor into your total compensation for your injuries. An attorney knowledgeable about dog bite law can help you during insurance company negotiations on your behalf.

Call the Dog Bite Attorneys in Sterling Heights for Legal Advice Today

The personal injury attorneys at the law office of Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. ensure you receive appropriate compensation for the injuries you have sustained by obtaining a fair settlement from the owner’s insurance company. If their insurance won’t pay, we can help you file a claim for damages in Michigan’s court system.

We have years of legal experience handling dog bite claims and protecting the rights of personal injury victims. Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 1-866-MICH-LAW and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.