A Clinton Township dog bite lawyer can help if you or someone you care about was the victim of a dog attack. Our award-winning dog bite attorneys win top settlements from insurance companies in these cases. The lawyer you choose for your case is the difference between winning a great settlement and getting a small payout.
Clinton Township is in Macomb County, Michigan. Originally settled in 1782, the town is now home to a population of 100,513, making it the most populous township in Michigan. Northeast of downtown Detroit, the Clinton River flows through a portion of the township.
Founded in 1969, our team of lawyers at The Buckfire Law Firm has earned the legal profession’s highest accolades over the last 60 years, including:
The lawyer you choose for your Clinton Township Dog Bite case is the difference between a great settlement and no settlement. Make the smart choice and contact our award-winning lawyers today to get started on your case.
The Clinton Township Code of Ordinances includes specific regulations on dangerous animals:
(a.) No person shall keep, harbor, care for, be custodian of, or maintain in his or her possession any dangerous animal, except at a property maintained as a zoological park, licensed exhibit, circus, scientific or educational institution, research laboratory, veterinary hospital, or animal refuse in an escaped proof enclosure. Any owner of property shall be in violation of this section where any dangerous animals are present.
(b.) (1.) “Dangerous animal” means any animal other than domestic dogs or cats, which in a wild state is carnivorous or which because of their nature or physical makeup are capable of inflicting serious physical harm or death to human beings, including but not limited to such animals which belong to the cat family, snakes which are poisonous, or otherwise present a risk of serious physical harm or death to human beings as a result of their nature or physical make up, including all constrictors; and or poisonous or life threatening reptiles.
(2.) A “person” means any firm, association, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity.
(3.) “Owner” means any person any person who has a right of property in a dangerous animal, keeps or harbors such dangerous animal, or has a dangerous animal in his or her care, or acts as custodian or such a dangerous animal.
(c.) It is no defense that the person violating such section, has attempted to domesticate the dangerous animal. If there appears to be imminent danger to the public, any dangerous animal not in compliance with the provisions in this section shall be subject to immediate seizure. The owner shall be responsible for all costs connected with the seizure and confiscation of such animal. Such animal shall be maintained and secure in approved facilities, pending disposition of the animal. Approved facilities include but are not limited to, a zoological park, federally licensed exhibit, humane society, veterinary hospital or animal refuse.
These laws can be used to hold a dog owner accountable for a dog bite attack.
There is no ban on pit bulls, or any other dog breed in Clinton Township. The ordinance on vicious dogs is behavior-based only so you can own a well-behaved pit bull.
In general, you can sue for a dog attack in Clinton Township if you were attacked or bitten within the township limits. Under Michigan law, there is strict liability against the owner or keeper of the attacking dog who bites or injures an innocent person.
Strict liability means that negligence automatically attaches just from the fact that the dog bit someone. So, if a person is bitten by a dog on the street, at a park, and on private property can sue and demand money compensation for injuries.
There are a few legal defenses in dog bite lawsuits in Michigan. First, a person who is a trespasser, or unlawfully on another person’s property, may not be able to sue for a dog bite. Social guests and business invitees can pursue claims.
Second, there is a provocation defense to a dog bite. This means that someone that provokes the dog into biting them is barred from a claim. This defense is usually a disputed issue in these cases because many defendants argue that attempting to friendly hug or play with a dog is provocation. Our Clinton Township dog bite lawyers have successfully challenged this defense and won big settlements for our clients.
Our dog bite attorneys see a wide range of injuries caused in canine attacks. The most common injuries suffered in a Clinton Township dog bite attack include:
Victims of a dog bite or dog attack can be left with permanent scars and disfigurement. Often, dog bite victims will require emergency medical care for sutures, plastic surgery, and rabies shots. Many times, a plastic surgeon will not even attempt to repair the scar for several years after the attack, leaving the victim with a disfiguring and conspicuous scar for everyone to see.
If you were bitten by a dog in Clinton Township, the first thing to do is get medical attention from your doctor, an urgent care clinic, or at a local emergency room. You may need stitches, a tetanus shot, or even a referral to a plastic surgeon.
You should also take photographs of the injuries immediately after the attack. This serves as strong evidence in your case to support your claims for damages.
Finally, report the attack to both the police and animal control departments.
It is best to report a dog attack to the police and to the local animal control division in the city where it occurred. This documents the injury occurred for the purposes of your claim and alerts local authorities that of a potentially vicious dog.
In Clinton Township, you can call the below departments to file your complaint.
Macomb County Animal Control
21417 Dunham Road
Clinton Township, MI 48036
(586) 469-5115
Clinton Township Police Department
37985 Groesbeck Highway
Clinton Township, MI 48036
(586) 469-5502 (Non-Emergency Dispatch)
Our Clinton Township dog bite lawyers will get the reports to support your claim.
If you choose us for your dog bite case, we will send a letter to the dog owner requesting the incident be referred to their insurance company. Most times, this is either homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance. If the attack occurred at a business, we would send a letter to the liability insurance company for the business.
Most often, we will receive a letter from an insurance adjuster asking for more information about the case. This is the start of the claims process and the beginning of the settlement negotiation process for your case.
Next, we will order your medical records and get the police department and animal control reports. We may also track down eyewitnesses to the attack so we can take witness statements. We will also request you frequently take photos of your wounds so we can follow the healing process.
There is no formula or “dog bite calculator” to determine your settlement amount. Under Michigan law, you are entitled to the following damages from a dog attack:
Our attorneys will work up your case to ensure you receive the maximum possible settlement to compensate you for the harm you suffered from the dog attack.
$400,000 for a woman who suffered nerve damage from a dog attack.
$300,000 for a teenage girl bitten in the face by a pit bull.
$250,000 for a toddler bitten on the face by a family member’s dog.
$100,000 for a postal worker bitten on the legs and buttocks.
Many canine attacks come from dogs owned by family members, friends, and neighbors. Victims are often reluctant to file claims against these people for fear it will affect or destroy a close relationship. It is important to know that your claim will be made against the insurance company and will not demand payment from the dog owner. As a result, relationships are rarely affected by these claims.
In addition, the insurance premiums rarely go up even after the insurance company pays the dog bite settlement. And there is no requirement that the dog be put down or given away by the family so this should not be a concern to you.
We do not charge any money to start your Clinton Township dog bite case. We pay all the costs and only earn a fee if we win you a settlement. Our fee is a percentage of the settlement amount, so we work hard to maximize your settlement.
Call an award-winning Clinton Township dog bite lawyer now to start your claim. Our attorneys are ready and eager to help you win a great settlement. There are time deadlines for filing cases, so call us today to make sure you do not miss the unforgiving deadline.
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