Dogs are a part of many households in Michigan, and owners often consider them family. However, even the most responsible owners cannot guarantee safe encounters with their dogs, and they should be held liable for any harm caused by their pets. If someone’s dog bit you, the personal injury lawyers at Christensen Law is here to help. We want to help protect your rights to compensation and get you the money you need to recover.
Our Saginaw, MI dog bite accident lawyers have helped people seek recovery for their emotional, financial, and physical losses for over 30 years, and now it’s our turn to help you. We aim to relieve you of some of the stress you’re dealing with so you can rest and recover. The sooner you call, the sooner we can get started on your case. Call us now for a free consultation.
Christensen Law Helps Dog Bite Victims Seek Justice
While you may want to take legal action, it can be hard to start without help. You may have serious injuries to deal with while also trying to communicate with insurers—this situation is stressful for many, and it’s easy to give up or accept the first offer. With Christensen law at your side, you will have a determined advocate looking out for your interests and protecting you from the stresses of the legal processes.
We have numerous resources at our disposal to help build your case, and our team is dedicated to give your case the time and attention it needs and deserves. We are not interested in any settlement offer—we’re interested in earning you a settlement offer that compensates you for every loss you have suffered. Your perspective and story are important, and we’ll make sure to champion your needs at every opportunity.
As your Saginaw dog bite lawyers, we will:
- Review your case for free during your initial consultation
- Gather evidence to support our claim
- Assess all of your current and future losses to make sure we pursue the full value of your claim
- Handle all communications
- Complete any necessary legal processes to get your case on track
- Negotiate a settlement out of court when possible
- Take your case to trial if we cannot get the other party to agree to a settlement
We believe in preparing for court from the moment we take your case—we are ready to see your case through any possible scenario.
What Damages Can Saginaw Dog Bite Accident Lawyers Pursue?
Dog bite accidents can cause victims to suffer serious, long-term injuries. Much of the harm done by dog bites is physical, but these are not the only losses someone can suffer. No matter what kind of injuries you’re dealing with, we’ll help you seek fair and full compensation for them. Our Saginaw injury lawyers can help you seek damages like:
- Medical bills related to surgeries, antibiotics, hospital stays, emergency room visits, physical therapy, cosmetic surgery expenses, and other procedures, treatments, and expenses
- Lost wages, if you had to miss work because of your injuries
- Lost earning potential, if your injuries prevent you from returning to your line of work in any capacity
- Pain and suffering from your injuries
- Emotional distress and anguish, which helps compensate you for intangible losses and harm like anxiety, PTSD, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic damages
- Wrongful death damages if the dog bite resulted in the death of a family member
Whatever your losses are, we will make sure to account for all of them when seeking compensation. Call our office now to get started with a consultation.
Holding Owners Liable for Your Dog Bite in Saginaw
Dog bite cases in Michigan follow a concept known as “strict liability,” outlined in Mich. Comp. Laws Ann § 287.351. In many other personal injury cases, our lawyers would have to establish that the other party was somehow negligent through their actions
However, this strict liability means dog owners do not necessarily need to be negligent to be held responsible for the harm caused by the canine. This does not mean your case is any less challenging, as:
- The other party’s representatives may try to argue you somehow provoked the animal to attack you.
- They may try to claim that you did not have permission to be on the property.
- The owner might argue your own actions helped contribute to the incident as an attempt to shift some percentage of blame onto you. This argument is used in order to reduce the damages you could pursue, per the modified comparative negligence rule in Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 600.2959.
Whatever tactics the owner and their representatives use, our lawyers can fight these attempts to blame you and work to win you fair compensation.
Time Limits for Saginaw Accident Lawsuits
When you are seeking damages, our team may need to file a lawsuit to pursue compensation in court. However, you do not have long to file the suit after the attack. Per Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 600.5805, you have three years from the date of the dog bite to file your lawsuit for damages. If you wait too long to take legal action, you may miss out on your opportunity for compensation.
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Saginaw
Whether you’re at Bark Park playing with your own furry friend or trying to enjoy the many sights and events along the Riverfront, dog bites can happen anywhere. If you are bit by a dog, make sure to:
- Seek medical attention to treat injuries and create medical records showing the severity of your injuries
- Get the owner’s information
- Call Saginaw County Animal Care and Control Department if you cannot locate the dog’s owner in order to contain the dog and potentially locate the owner
- Call a lawyer to see if you have a case
Call Christensen Law now for a free consultation. Our Saginaw, MI dog bite accident lawyers are here to help you get started.
