You have three years to file a . However, our dog bite attorneys in Grand Rapids and Ionia, MI, don’t recommend waiting that long. The longer you wait, the fuzzier the details may become for both you and any witnesses to the dog bite. This can hurt your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma.
Here’s how to file a dog bite claim in Michigan with the help of our personal injury lawyers.
First, our West Michigan dog bite attorneys recommend that you identify who owns the dog who bit you. This may not be so obvious if the dog was running loose when it bit you. However, we recommend talking to people in the neighborhood and any witnesses who may recognize the dog.
Make sure you get the contact information from any witnesses. From there, you’ll be able to track down the owner and ask if they vaccinated their dog for rabies.
About 4.7 million happen in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of these dog bites, around 800,000 need medical care.
The first thing you should do is immediately wash the wound with soap and water. This will help reduce the risk of infection, especially if you suspect the dog had rabies. While your doctor tends to the wound, they’ll be able to document the extent of the injury. Your attorney can later use this information to validate your claim.
Hire a dog bite attorney who has experience with cases similar to yours. During your case, the other party may make false accusations about your conduct of behavior on the day of the dog bite. For example, they may falsely accuse you of trespassing on their private property or provoking their dog.
Both of which would make you ineligible to receive compensation for a dog bite injury. This is why it’s best to hire a West Michigan dog bite lawyer from the very start.
In the state of Michigan, you have three years to file a dog bite claim. However, we recommend filing your claim as soon as possible. As time passes, witnesses may move away from the area or not remember the event as clearly.
Also, it’s best to take action right away so you can get compensation for your injury as soon as possible. Right now, you’re probably dealing with medical bills and other expenses due to the injury. An attorney will help you file your claim in a timely manner.
Keep in mind that once the deadline passes, you won’t be able to file a claim at all. This is regardless of how much your personal injury claim deserves compensation.
Ready to file a dog bite claim in Michigan? Call Peterson Paletta Balice to request a consultation with one of our dog bite attorneys in Grand Rapids and Ionia, MI. You may also fill out our online contact form to get started.
This blog post has been updated.