The State of Michigan is one of several states that have a strict liability dog bite statute. If you are a dog owner it is imperative that you understand Michigan’s dog bite laws. If you have been injured by a dog bite, or are the parent of a child who was injured by one, it is equally important that you understand what strict liability means as it applies to Michigan dog bite injury claims.
The area of the law that addresses injuries to people or property is known as “torts”. All personal injury accident lawsuits are a type of “tort”, including dog bite cases. A tort can be based on one of three types of “means rea”, or state of mind of the defendant. Those three are:
- Intentional torts – an intentional tort is one committed “intentionally” or with pre-planning on the part of the defendant. Assault is an intentional tort. Though it may also be a criminal offense, assault can be the basis of a civil lawsuit for damages as well.
- Negligent torts – most personal injury lawsuits are based on negligent torts. Negligence occurs when the defendant owed a duty of care to the victim and breached that duty of care causing injury to the victim. A car accident caused by a driver who was texting while driving is an example of negligence.
- Strict liability torts – strict liability does not look at the defendant’s state of mind. In a strict liability tort the defendant is liable for damages regardless of any intention to harm on the defendant’s part or on any attempts to prevent harm by the defendant. In Michigan, dog bites are a strict liability tort.
Michigan’s dog bite law is found in Mich. Comp. Laws Ann., sec. 287.351, which states, in pertinent part:
“Sec. 1. (1) If a dog bites a person, without provocation 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.”
In essence, the statute makes the owner of a dog liable for injuries caused by the dog if the dog bites someone who did not provoke the dog and who was lawfully on the owner’s property or who was on public property at the time of the attack.
Contact an experienced Michigan dog bite attorney if you were injured by a dog bite or if you are the parent of a child who was injured by an attack.
When we visit a doctor or other healthcare provider we expect to leave feeling better, or at least with a treatment plan that will address the injury or illness that brought us to the office. In most cases that is precisely what occurs; however, sometimes a medical error is committed and a patient is actually harmed by the care the patient received from a doctor or other healthcare provider. When that happens the victim may be entitled to compensation for his or her injuries through a medical malpractice lawsuit. If you believe you are the victim of a medical error it is very important that you do not talk to the doctor’s (or other defendant’s) insurance company until you have first consulted with an experienced Michigan medical malpractice attorney.
An auto accident can cause serious, even fatal, injuries to the victims involved in the collision. Sometimes those injuries are obvious immediately following the accident while in other cases the injuries (or the severity of the injuries) do not present themselves until weeks, even months, after the collision. If you have been injured in a Saginaw, Michigan auto accident, or you are the surviving family member of a victim who was fatally injured in a collision, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries or loss. While the law provides a mechanism by which victims can be compensated by a negligent party, the law also limits the time within which victims of auto accidents must pursue that compensation. Failing to pursue compensation in the time frame allotted by law means a victim will forever lose the right to compensation.
When you are sick or injured you go to a doctor with the expectation that the doctor will heal you. Unfortunately, the opposite sometimes happens – the doctor actually makes you sick or causes you injury. When that occurs, you may ask “Can I sue my doctor?” The simple answer to that question is “yes”, you can sue your doctor. Whether or not the lawsuit will be successful depends on a number of factors.
Disability can strike anyone at any time. If you suddenly find yourself unable to work because of a catastrophic accident or debilitating medical condition you may be entitled to financial assistance from either the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI), the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI), or both. Understanding the difference between the two programs is essential if you plan to apply to either or both.
People are injured, even killed, every day in Michigan in what we refer to as an “accident”. These “accidents”, however, are often not truly accidents. Instead, they are frequently the result of negligence on the part of another party. When the negligent acts or omissions of another party are the cause, or a contributing factor, in an injury “accident” or a death, the injured party or the survivors may be entitled to sue the responsible party for damages.
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Southfield, Michigan, you may have suffered more than just physical injuries. Chances are good that you also suffered emotional trauma as well as financial hardship as a result of the accident if it was more than a fender-bender. Exactly what damages you are entitled to be compensated for will depend on a number of factors.
Most of us depend on our ability to work for a living in order to support ourselves and/or a family. What happens though, if you suddenly find yourself unable to work because of a debilitating injury or medical condition? Fortunately, in the United States there are several federal assistance programs that might be able to help. Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, is one of those programs. Only an experienced SSDI attorney in Southfield can review your specific situation and provide you with an opinion as to your eligibility; however, a better understanding of Social Security Disability Insurance in Southfield and the basic eligibility guidelines is a good place to start.