Dog Bite Injury Attorneys in Grand Haven, Grand Rapids, Muskegon & Holland, MI

If you are the victim of a dog bite injury and you live in the Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Muskegon, or Holland areas, please contact Van Tubergen, Treutler & Hayes, PLLC to discuss your rights with one of our experienced attorneys. (616) 844-3000.

A dog bite can be one of the most painful and traumatic experiences an individual can go through. A dog bite experience will often involve puncture wounds, and can even involve significant trauma that includes 

skin tears that require stitching or skin grafts to repair. The wounds frequently leave permanent scars, which remain as a constant reminder of the attack, as well as cause increased self-consciousness due to the victim’s permanent disfigurement. Often dog bite victims experience significant anxiety, with symptoms including sleeplessness and a pronounced fear of dogs. 

Michigan is a strict liability dog bite state. This means that if a person is bitten by a dog, the owner will be liable for the dog bite if (1) the victim was lawfully on the property, and (2) the victim did not provoke the dog. MCL 287.351. The dog owner, therefore, only has one defense, provocation. If the dog was provoked, then recovery may be barred. If the dog was not provoked, however, the dog’s owner could be found liable for medical expenses, psychological anguish, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other forms of recovery. 

Attorney fees for dog bite cases are based on a contingency fee agreement. This means that the attorneys working on the case will not get paid until there has been a recovery for the client. This arrangement provides experienced legal representation without the financial risk. Contingency fees are generally one-third of the damages awarded.