Dearborn Dog Bite Injury Attorney
According to dogsbite.org, almost 1,000 people in the United States are treated in hospital emergency departments each day for nonfatal dog bite-related injuries. Almost 27,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery in 2018 as a result of being bitten by a dog. Of the 4.5 million dog bites that occur each year in the U.S., one in five of those bites will become infected, causing long-term issues.
You are more likely to be bitten in a rural area than in an urban area, possibly due to stricter leash laws in urban areas. Being bitten by a dog can be an extremely stressful and painful event, resulting in both physical and emotional trauma. Having a strong dog bite injury attorney from the Dan Makled Law Firm can make a significant difference in the outcome of your injuries.
Why Choose Dearborn Dog Bite Injury Attorney Dan Makled?
When you or a loved one have been bitten by or attacked by a dog, the resulting physical and emotional injuries can be devastating. If the victim is a child, the effects of the attack can be compounded because there may be facial scarring that will have an effect on the child for life (A child’s face is on the same level as a dog’s mouth and is often the area bitten by a dog).
As a parent of a child bitten by a dog—or the victim of a dog bite yourself—you may feel helpless, unsure of where to turn. When you choose attorney Dan Makled, you can trust the fact that the legal aspects of the dog bite will be completely taken care of in an experienced, thorough manner. Dan will keep you informed every step of the way as he handles all the legalities associated with securing a full and fair settlement on your behalf.
At the Dan Makled Law Firm, we understand that you or your loved one need time to heal, both physically and emotionally. The emotional pain resulting from a dog attack can run deep, causing lasting issues. If this is the case, we will ensure you are compensated not only for your physical injuries but for your pain and suffering as well. Our firm has recovered multi-million-dollar results for our clients. In one instance, we recovered $700,000 on behalf of a client when the initial offer was $75,000. Dan Makled will be the fierce advocate in your corner that you need, allowing you the time to concentrate on healing and your future.
How Do Dog Bites Typically Occur—and Who Are the Most Common Victims?
Children are often the victims of dog bites and dog attacks, and because they are so much smaller, they are also much more likely to be bitten in the face. This can lead to severe disfigurement and the necessity of multiple surgical procedures to reduce the scarring. While even a dog that has never been the least bit aggressive can potentially bite, aggressive dogs are more likely to do so. Dogs bite for a variety of reasons, but typically as a reaction to something.
When a dog finds itself in a stressful situation, it may bite to defend itself, its owner, or its territory. A dog can also bite when it has been scared, startled, hurt, or threatened. The vast majority of dog bites happen at the dog owner’s home. A guest may be bitten in the owner’s yard, a passerby can be bitten if the dog gets out of the yard, or if a person reaches over the dog’s fence to pet the dog. Whatever the situation, if you have been bitten by a dog, you need legal assistance to ensure you are compensated for your injuries and other damages.
What Are the Most Common Injuries Resulting from Dog Bites?
While your injuries resulting from a dog bite or dog attack will be unique to your specific situation, some injuries are more common than others, including:
- Puncture wounds may close on their own, although in some cases they can be very serious, especially when infection sets in. Puncture wounds can lead to nerve damage that can, in turn, affect your day-to-day life and your ability to perform certain tasks. Puncture wounds can also lead to blood poisoning, tetanus, and rabies, so it is important that the dog that attacks you is identified.
- Broken bones are not as common unless a dog or dogs attack you and knock you to the ground, then you may suffer a broken wrist, arm, or leg.
- Eye injuries are common from dog bites or attacks, including a scratch (corneal abrasion), eye tissue tearing (avulsions), orbital fractures (broken bones surrounding the eyeball), intraocular hemorrhage (bleeding from the eyeball), and loss of an eye.
- Scars can result from dog bites, leading to years of corrective surgeries, as well as emotional trauma if the scars are visible.
- Facial injuries are most common among children who have been bitten by a dog and can be extremely severe.
- Emotional effects from a dog bite may set in soon after the physical injuries have been addressed. Bites can leave scars and disfigurement that damage self-esteem. Some who are bitten or attacked by a dog are left with an intense fear of all dogs and may not want to leave their home because of this fear. Others may find themselves reliving the attack over and over, leading to constant anxiety. Some victims of dog bites or dog attacks can even develop PTSD which causes traumatic memories or dreams that interfere with their daily lives.
- Rabies is always a worry after a dog bite. If you can identify the dog, it can be determined whether the dog has had rabies shots, however, if the dog that bites you runs away and you can’t identify the owner, you might have to undergo a series of painful rabies vaccinations—5 doses over a period of 30 days.
How is Liability Determined Following a Dearborn Dog Bite Injury?
Although some states have a “one bite rule” that essentially gives a dog’s owner a free pass for the first time the dog bites, Michigan does not have a one bite rule. Under the Michigan dog bite statute (MCL Section 287.351), the owner of the dog is liable for the first bite so long as the victim was lawfully on the property and did not provoke the dog. Under Michigan common law, the victim must only prove the owner of the dog knew or should have known the dog had a propensity to bite.
This means that unless you were on another’s property unlawfully or you deliberately provoked the dog, the dog owner is strictly liable for injuries caused by the dog, regardless of any other circumstances. Being lawfully on a property means you were either in a public place (like a park), or you were lawfully on the owner’s property (you were not trespassing or committing a crime). If you were invited onto the dog owner’s property as a potential customer or a guest, then you were lawfully on the property. The dog owner’s only defense is provocation. It is important to note that you do not necessarily have to intentionally provoke the dog, you may have accidentally provoked it by doing something that would have caused a regular dog to bite.
What is the Dog Bite Injury Claim Process?
Your dog bite injury attorney from the Dan Makled Law Firm can guide you through the process that begins with filing a claim against the owner of the dog, or, more specifically, his or her insurance company. Your attorney will negotiate with the insurance company after determining your damages, including your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If the insurance company simply will not agree to a reasonable settlement that will fully cover your expenses, your attorney will file a lawsuit.
In many cases, filing a lawsuit is enough to convince the insurance company to settle the claim, but if it is not, a trial date will be set. The claim can be settled at any time, right up until the jury returns a verdict. If the insurance company is willing to negotiate a full, fair settlement, your claim could be settled in as little as six months. If you must go to trial, it could take as long as a year or more, depending on how busy the courts are.
Dearborn Dog Bite Attorney Dan Makled—Ready to Fight for You
Without quality representation, you risk being taken advantage of by the insurance company. Attorney Dan Makled will step into the fray, fighting the insurance company at every turn to make them do the right thing for your Dog Bite Injury. At the Dan Makled Law Firm, you will never be handed off to a new associate; you will be consistently taken care of as you receive experienced, compassionate representation from attorney Dan Makled himself. Dan is confident in his abilities and believes you will benefit from contacting the Dan Makled Law firm regarding your dog bite injury case.
