Bitten By A Dog? We Bite Back. • Free Consultation 24/7 • Call: 1-800-LAWSUIT
Bitten by a dog in Detroit, Livonia, Dearborn, or anywhere in Wayne 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 walking to your car or saying hi to a neighbor’s dog, and the next you’re bleeding, shaken, and wondering who’s going to pay for the ER visit. If it happened in Wayne 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 Wayne County — from Detroit to the downriver communities to the western suburbs. We don’t dabble in dog bite cases between car wrecks and slip-and-falls. Dog bites are the whole practice. That focus is the point, and it’s why this page exists: to tell you exactly how these claims work where you live.
Some states make dog bite victims clear a ridiculous hurdle called the “one-bite rule” — basically, every dog gets one free bite before the owner is responsible. Michigan threw that idea out. Under Michigan’s strict liability statute (MCL 287.351), a dog owner is liable for a bite even if the dog never showed a hint of aggression before and even if the owner did everything “right.”
To recover under the statute, three things generally need to be true: you were actually bitten, you were lawfully where you were (not trespassing), and you didn’t provoke the dog. That’s it. You do not have to prove the owner was careless. For the full breakdown, see our guide to Michigan’s strict liability dog bite law 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 insurance company pay it instead of lowballing you. That’s where having someone in your corner changes the number. A lot.
The statute is statewide, but cases are won or lost on local ground — which court hears it, which agency investigated the dog, how fast you reported it. Here’s the lay of the land in Wayne County.
| County | Wayne County, Michigan — the state’s most populous county |
| Civil court for injury claims | Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan (Wayne County), in Detroit, for claims above the district court limit |
| Animal control | Detroit Animal Care & Control covers the City of Detroit; outlying communities use municipal or county animal control. We confirm the right agency for your exact city. |
| Reporting | Report the bite to local animal control and, for serious bites, file a police report. This creates the paper trail your claim runs on. |
| Deadline | Michigan generally gives you 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 Wayne County. City-specific guides are rolling out — here’s where we focus first:
Don’t see your city? We still serve it — we just haven’t written that page yet. Reach out and we’ll tell you straight whether you have a case.
Every case is different, so anyone who promises a number on day one is selling something. But the categories of compensation are well established: medical bills (past and future), lost wages, scarring and disfigurement, and the pain and emotional toll — which, after a dog attack, is often what lingers longest.
ER, surgery, reconstruction, follow-ups. Who pays the bills →
Especially facial scarring, which carries real legal weight. Your rights →
PTSD and fear of dogs are compensable injuries. Learn more →
Kids are bitten most — and have special protections. Protections for minors →
For the full picture, read how much your Michigan dog bite 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. And you don’t pay a dime unless we win money for you. That’s not a gimmick — it’s just how we do this.