Updated for 2026 — reviewed and current with Michigan law as of 2026. Injured by a dog in Michigan? Get a free case review — we handle dog injury cases in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties and throughout Michigan.
Not every dog injury is a bite. Dogs knock people over, jump on them, and cause falls — and those injuries can be every bit as serious as a bite, especially for older adults. In Michigan, though, the law treats them differently.
Michigan’s bite statute is specific to bites
Michigan’s strict-liability statute applies to dog bites. Being knocked down or jumped on isn’t a bite, so that automatic, no-fault path generally doesn’t apply. For how the bite rule works, see Michigan dog bite law, explained.
Non-bite injuries usually require negligence
That doesn’t mean you have no claim — it means the path is different. To recover for a knockdown or a fall, you generally have to show the owner was negligent: that they failed to control or restrain the dog, or knew the dog had a habit of jumping or charging and didn’t take reasonable steps. It’s a different legal theory than a bite case, but a viable one.
What that means for your case
Because fault isn’t automatic, evidence of the owner’s carelessness matters more — whether the dog was leashed, whether it had done this before, whether the owner had control. Capturing those facts early can make or break a non-bite claim.
These injuries are real
A dog knocking someone down can cause broken bones, head injuries, and serious falls — a hip fracture in an older adult can be life-changing. Get medical care and document everything. Our First 24 Hours checklist and Incident Log apply just as well to a non-bite injury.
Insurance and value
As with bite cases, the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance can be the source of recovery, and the value depends on the seriousness of your injury. Our guides to homeowners insurance and dogs and how claims are valued explain how that works.
Related reading
- Bitten by a dog while walking or at the park
- The provocation defense in Michigan dog bite cases
- Evidence that wins Michigan dog bite claims
Knocked down or injured by a dog — without a bite?
These cases are more nuanced, and they’re worth a closer look. The Michigan Dog Bite Law Firm will review what happened for free, and you pay nothing unless we win.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Non-bite dog injury claims depend heavily on the specific facts — consult a licensed Michigan attorney about your situation.
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