Personal Injury Cases in the News

Dog Bite Cases

     The old adage is wrong. It used to be said that every dog is entitled to one bite. In other words, no liability unless the owner knows of a dangerous propensity. However, that is not what the statute says. It provides for almost strict liability at MCL 287.351, which states:

“Sec. 1.(1) If a dog bites a person, without provocations while the person is on public property, or lawfully on private 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, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.

Sec. 1.(2) A person is lawfully on the private property of the owner of the dog within the meaning of this act if the person is on the owner’s property in the performance of any duty imposed upon him or her by the laws of this state or by by the laws or postal regulations of the United States, or if the person is on the owner’s property as an invitee or licensee of the person lawfully in possession of the property unless said person has gained lawful entry upon the premises for the purpose of an unlawful or criminal act.”

     If you or a loved one have suffered an injury from a dog, or other animal, you may have a remedy in court for monetary compensation. Guy Vining of the Vining Law Group, PLC has represented a dozen or more victims of animal attacks with settlements ranging from $15,000 to more than $300,000. Please feel free to call Guy Vining for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights.

[Guy Vining practices personal injury law from his Metro-Detroit office in Taylor, Michigan. He has represented clients in personal injury actions for over 25 years in such areas as: car, boat, motorcycle, and truck accidents; slip, trip, and falls including black ice and defective design; medical and dental malpractice, denial of insurance benefits for wages, medical and home assistance to automobile accident victims.]