What If I Was Bitten by My Own Dog?

You generally can’t sue yourself, but there are scenarios where being bitten by a dog you’re handling — even one in your possession — creates a legitimate claim.

The Short Answer

You generally don’t have a claim against yourself for being bitten by your own dog. But if you were caring for someone ELSE’S dog when it bit you — boarding, dog-walking, pet-sitting, fostering — you may have a claim against that dog’s owner under MCL 287.351. Your own homeowner’s policy may also include Medical Payments coverage for self-inflicted dog bites. The key question is: whose dog actually bit you?

Video coming soon — Solomon Radner answers this question

The Detailed Answer

Self-inflicted dog bites raise different legal questions depending on the exact relationship. The law looks at who owned the dog, not who was holding the leash. Several common scenarios produce legitimate claims that victims don’t realize they have.

Scenario A: You own the dog and it bit you

This is the limited scenario where you generally don’t have a third-party claim. Under MCL 287.351, you’d be suing yourself, which doesn’t work.

However, you may still have:

Medical Payments coverage on your own homeowner’s or renter’s policy (typically $1,000-$5,000)
Your own health insurance covers the medical care
Disability insurance if available

Scenario B: You were caring for someone else’s dog

If you were watching, walking, boarding, fostering, or otherwise caring for another person’s dog, and that dog bit you — you have a potential claim against the dog’s owner. The fact that you were in possession of the dog at the time doesn’t transfer ownership to you. The statute looks at legal ownership, not physical possession.

Common scenarios:

Pet sitter bitten while caring for a client’s dog
Dog walker bitten while walking a client’s dog
Foster parent bitten by foster dog
Friend or family member bitten while watching the owner’s dog
Veterinary worker bitten (separate professional protocols may apply)
Groomer bitten (employment/workers’ comp issues may apply)

The “assumed risk” defense — does it apply?

Insurance defense lawyers sometimes argue that caring for a dog means assuming the risk of being bitten. Michigan courts have been reluctant to accept this argument:

For paid professionals (vets, groomers, walkers): a limited “firefighter’s rule” type doctrine may apply if the bite occurred from a known-aggressive dog the professional was specifically retained to handle
For casual pet sitting (friend watching a neighbor’s dog): no assumption of risk — full strict liability applies
For foster parents: depends heavily on what disclosure the dog owner/rescue made about the dog’s behavior

Scenario C: Joint ownership / family dog

When a dog is co-owned or considered the “family dog” but officially registered to one family member, ownership questions get complex. If your spouse legally owns the dog and you’re bitten, you may have a claim against the homeowner’s policy that covers the dog (which is also typically YOUR policy). This is a niche scenario worth discussing with an attorney rather than assuming there’s no case.

What This Means for Your Case

Don’t assume that holding the leash means you can’t recover. The question is who legally owns the dog. If you were caring for someone else’s dog when it bit you, you likely have a claim. Even if you owned the dog, your own homeowner’s policy may include coverage. A 20-minute free case review can sort out which scenario applies to you.

Bitten by a dog in Michigan? Call 1-800-LAWSUIT or request a free case review. No fee unless we win.