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In Michigan, if a dog bites a person without provocation while the person is on public property, or lawfully on public 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. This is regardless of the former viciousness of the animal. The statute says a person is lawfully on private property of the owner of the dog if the person is on the owners property in performance of a duty imposed upon him by any state law or US postal regulation or if the person is an invited guest, customer or client of the person lawfully in possession of the property. Damages are not available to a person committing a criminal act.
The owner of a dog that has dangerous tendencies or a propensity to attack is held strictly liable for the harm it caused to others under Michigan common law. Also, there can be an issue of provocation. Insurance companies will defend cases and claim that an injured party did some act which provoked the animal. This also opens the door to arguments about comparative fault or negligence.
The Law Offices of Gerald R Stahl has prosecuted numerous dog bite cases since 1982. If you have been bitten by a dog you may have permanent injuries and scares. It is important for you to contact an attorney and make a recovery that will adequately compensate you for the injuries.
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