Updated for 2026 — reviewed and current with Michigan law as of 2026. Bitten in Michigan? Get a free case review — we handle dog bite cases in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties and throughout Michigan.
Few things are more frightening than a dog biting your child. Children are bitten more often than adults, and because of their height, they’re far more likely to be injured on the face, head, and neck. If it just happened, take a breath — here’s what to do, and what makes a child’s dog bite case different.
1. Get medical care, and think long term
Have your child seen right away, even for a wound that looks small. Facial and hand injuries in particular should be evaluated by someone who can speak to scarring and whether a specialist is needed. Keep every record — pediatrician, ER, plastic surgery, counseling. A child’s injuries can have consequences that unfold over years, not weeks.
2. Document the injury and the incident
Photograph the injuries the day it happens, and keep photographing them as they heal — with children, scar progression over time is an important part of the picture. Write down exactly what happened while it’s fresh, and get the names and numbers of any witnesses.
Free tools to help: the First 24 Hours checklist, the Dog Bite Incident Log, and a Witness Statement form.
3. Report the bite
Report it to local animal control or your county health department. That creates an official record and confirms the dog’s vaccination status — important for your child’s medical care and for flagging a dangerous dog.
Why a child’s dog bite claim is different
Children’s cases carry considerations adults’ cases often don’t. Scarring on a young face is permanent and can require revision surgeries as the child grows; the emotional aftermath — fear, nightmares, anxiety around dogs — is real and compensable; and claims involving a minor are handled with extra care, often requiring court approval of any settlement to protect the child’s interests. Our pages on child dog bite injuries and facial dog bite injuries go deeper, and our guide to how claims are valued explains what a case should account for.
Michigan’s law protects bitten children
Michigan’s strict-liability dog bite statute means an owner can be responsible even if the dog never bit anyone before, as long as the child was lawfully present and didn’t provoke the dog. In practice, very young children are rarely found to have “provoked” a dog in the legal sense — but every case turns on its facts.
Helping kids avoid bites
Once everyone’s safe, prevention matters. Our free dog bite prevention guide for kids and families covers how to teach children to read a dog’s signals and stay safe.
Related reading
- Facial scarring from a dog bite: compensation in Michigan
- PTSD and emotional trauma after a dog attack
- Dog bite infection and medical complications
Was your child bitten by a dog?
We handle dog bite cases for Michigan families with the care these claims deserve. We’ll review what happened for free and tell you how to protect your child’s rights — and you pay nothing unless we win.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Children’s claims and outcomes depend on the specific facts — consult a licensed Michigan attorney about your situation.
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