Bitten By A Dog? We Bite Back. • Free Consultation 24/7 • Call: 1-800-LAWSUIT
Bitten by a dog in Troy, Southfield, Farmington Hills, or anywhere in Oakland County? You may be owed far more than an apology. Let’s talk — free, and no fee until you win.
A dog bite is one of those things nobody plans for. One second you’re minding your business, the next you’re bleeding and wondering who pays for the ER. If it happened in Oakland County, here’s the short version: Michigan law is firmly on your side, and you don’t have to navigate this alone.
The Michigan Dog Bite Law Firm represents dog bite victims across all of Oakland County — from Troy to Royal Oak to the lake communities, and including Southfield, where our firm is rooted. We don’t dabble in dog bite cases between car wrecks and slip-and-falls. Dog bites are the whole practice. That’s why this page exists: to tell you exactly how these claims work where you live.
Some states make victims clear a ridiculous hurdle called the “one-bite rule” — every dog gets one free bite before the owner is responsible. Michigan threw that out. Under the strict liability statute (MCL 287.351), a dog owner is liable even if the dog never showed aggression before and even if the owner did everything “right.”
Three things generally need to be true: you were bitten, you were lawfully there (not trespassing), and you didn’t provoke the dog. You do not have to prove the owner was careless. See our strict liability guide and how to sue for a dog bite in Michigan.
It means the fight usually isn’t about whether the owner is responsible — it’s about how much your injuries are truly worth, and making the insurer pay it instead of lowballing you. Oakland County juries and the 6th Circuit Court are where serious claims are resolved, and knowing that landscape matters.
The statute is statewide, but cases are won or lost on local ground. Here’s the lay of the land in Oakland County.
| County | Oakland County, Michigan — the state’s second-most populous county |
| Civil court for injury claims | 6th Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan (Oakland County), in Pontiac, for personal injury claims exceeding $25,000 |
| Animal control | Oakland County Animal Control & Pet Adoption Center serves most communities; some cities run municipal animal control. We confirm the right agency for your city. |
| Reporting | Report the bite to animal control and, for serious bites, file a police report — this builds the record your claim runs on. |
| Deadline | Generally 3 years from the bite to file — see our statute of limitations guide. |
Court assignments and animal control coverage can change and vary by city — we confirm the specifics for your exact location when we review your case.
We help dog bite victims throughout Oakland County. City-specific guides are rolling out — here’s where we focus first:
Don’t see your city? We still serve it. Reach out and we’ll tell you straight whether you have a case.
Every case is different, so anyone promising a number on day one is selling something. But the categories are well established: medical bills, lost wages, scarring and disfigurement, and the emotional toll — often what lingers longest.
ER, surgery, reconstruction. Who pays →
Facial scarring carries real legal weight. Your rights →
PTSD is a compensable injury. Learn more →
Kids are bitten most. Protections →
Full picture: how much your case is worth.
Common questions we hear, answered honestly. Each links to a full guide.
The legal foundation of every Michigan dog bite case. Read the guide →
Settlement value, damages categories, and what insurers don’t want you to know. See the breakdown →
The first 24 hours matter most. Step-by-step. Read the checklist →
Homeowner’s insurance, no-insurance cases, your own coverage. Get the full picture →
Children have special rights under Michigan law. Parents’ guide →
How long you have to act — and why waiting is risky. Statute of limitations →
The call is free. The advice is straight. You don’t pay a dime unless we win money for you. That’s not a gimmick — it’s just how we do this.