If you believe you have a dog bite case, the dog owners will usually be held liable. This means they need to pay for your medical bills and pain and suffering and any disfigurement the dog bite caused you. Rarely, does the dog's owner have a provocation defense – which might lead to a finding of no liability.
     In Warren Michigan, a dog owner is held responsible (sometimes called strictly liable) for injuries caused by their dog, but it is their homeowner's insurance policy that will actually pay for your pain and suffering, scarring, medical costs, or hospital emergency room visit.
How Much Can I Get If I Sue for a Dog Bite?
     This depends on the nature and extent of the severity of the dog bite injury. Some dog attack cases will have severe injuries or therefore lead to large monetary damage payout. Typically, larger money awards occur if an animal attack:
• Leave visible scarring or disfigurement (these cases can involve settlements over $200,000)
• Results in permanent disability (these cases can involve settlements over $300,000)
• Needed emergency medical attention
• Need surgery or extended medical care or rehabilitation
• Results in the need for mental health services such as therapy focused on victims of dog bites (such as Anxiety, Depression and PTSD counseling)
     On average, people in Michigan can expect around 75,000 for a moderately severe but typical dog bite injury, though it all depends on the actual injuries and financial damages suffered. An injury settlement or award will generally reimburse an injury victim for their medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, lost income, and other consequential damages.
     If a person receives a settlement that includes reimbursement for medical bills, they may be required to pay back a health insurance company or pay unpaid medical bills (if any). Some of the money recovered will go to covering these medical bills from your dog bite.
Dog Bites Filed in Small Claims Court
     If you have a minor dog bite, you might take your claim to small claims court without a lawyer — but Michigan law caps small claims court award at $25,000 or less. If your injury is permanent or severe, you may think your medical bills will cost more, you court belongs in County Circuit Court when you definitely may want to seek legal advice about filing a lawsuit. For example, if you live in a Utica you would file in Macomb County Circuit Court.
     Keep in mind: Small claims court still requires you to prepare your case, present evidence, and you may be required to take time off from work to do the appropriate legal research and attend court dates. For most people, paying an experienced personal injury attorney to handle a dog bite liability case is cheaper in the long run, and an experience dog bite lawyer tends to recover more money for you.
Dog Attack "Pain and Suffering" Compensation Calculator
     In most cases, people can also receive money for pain and suffering after a dog bite. Usually, this money (called "noneconomic damages") is for pain and suffering and the amount of the insurance payout will depend on:
• The severity of the injury
• How long the injury lasts
• The extent to which the recovery and injury disrupted a person's quality of life
• Amount of present and future medical bills and wage loss
     There is no set standard payment amount for pain and suffering. Your settlement offer will state an amount of money, and your personal injury attorney will accept or negotiate the right offer for your dog bite claim with the insurance company. You can always ask for more or say you will not accept the amount the adjuster offers for your dog bite claim. Dog bite adjusters tend to give low ball offers in negotiations with lawyers for dog bite claims. Never accept the first offer, no matter what the insurance company has said about your claim.
Should I Sue After a Dog Bit Me?
     After being bitten by a dog, you may be very angry to the point where you may consider filing a claim or suing hold the owner accountable or because it feels like you should make the dog bite owner rightfully pay for your damages. After all, the dog owner is responsible for retraining the animal.
     But you should consider the pros and cons of going to court for dog bite case. If you decide suing is the right decision to make, you should really consider where to bring your dog bite legal action and if your time is worth the effort to hold the dog bite owner responsible.
     A dog owner's homeowners or renters’ insurance provides coverage for dog bites, but not everyone has this type of insurance coverage. If the dog owner responsible for your injuries is uninsured and has no assets, there you may have to collect from the dog owner’s personal assets, or if none there may not be any way to actually collect a judgment or receive money. However, if you decide not to sue for this reason should be carefully evaluated by seeking the help of a “dog bite attorney near me”.
     Also, if you decide not to file suit, you may wish to re-evaluate that decision down the road. Small injuries can become worse over time, or injuries might not show up until weeks later, like a dog bite infection for example. In any event, it’s usually a good idea to get a medical doctor to evaluate and sanitize your dog attack injury. Then, consider speaking with a Utica dog bite attorney.
     A dog bite lawyer is the right skilled professional to evaluate the value of your dog bite lawsuit. In general, bigger injuries (or more traumatizing situations) mean larger money settlements paid by the dog owner’s household property insurance.
     But be warned, in Michigan a dog bite injury claims must be brought within three years, because of the state's dog bite personal injury statute of limitations.
Need A Dog Bite Lawyer? 
If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury as a result of a dog bite, contact us as soon as possible. We are ready to help you. Call 866-HIRE-JOE for a free dog bite case consultation.