MICHIGAN -- Our Michigan dog attack lawyers recently settled claim for 25 year old female who was attacked and bitten multiple times by two boxer/pit bull mixed dogs which were loose and roaming a park. The incident occurred in Ferndale, Michigan.
Our client had been driving her motor vehicle and noticed the two dogs roaming loose in Geary Park in Ferndale, Michigan. She noticed the dogs had tags so she exited her vehicle and approached the dogs as a good Samaritan to attempt to read the tags to find out where the dogs belonged.
Suddenly, without provocation, both dogs attacked and bit our client. As it turns out, the dogs resided at a home near the park. The dog owner was away and the dogs were being babysat by someone at the home and the dogs had gotten loose from the property.
The police report indicated that the police were familiar with these dogs as they had investigated prior bite incidents involving these dogs in the past.
Sometimes, a dog attack does occur when a dog is let out of the house and bites the person. If a person is bitten while lawfully on the property, or on public property, such as in the street or in a public park, the dog owner or keeper of the dog can be held liable for the injuries under Michigan law. In fact, there are several dog bite laws in Michigan that can be used in favor of the victim and holds the dog owner liable. The main statute, called the Michigan Dog Bite statute, clearly states that an owner of the dog is strictly liable and can be sued for a victim’s injuries.
Our client sustained four puncture wounds on the right calf and three lesions on the left calf. She went to the hospital the day of the attack and the wounds were cleaned and treated with topical ointments. She followed up with a family doctor who prescribed medication. She also followed up with a counselor regarding nightmares she had had since the attack. The attack left very little residual scarring.
We filed a claim on her behalf seeking compensation against the dog owner for her pain and suffering and minor medical expenses. The home-owner’s insurance company for the owner of the dogs has agreed to pay her a $22,500.00 settlement. This case was settled before a lawsuit was ever needed to be filed.
(Buckfire & Buckfire - October 24, 2014)
