Should You Talk to the Insurance Company After a Dog Bite? (Almost Always No)

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.

An insurance adjuster called you about your dog bite. Maybe within hours of the bite, maybe a couple days later. They were friendly. They wanted to take a statement. They said they wanted to “help you wrap this up.” And you’re wondering: should I talk to them?

Short answer: not yet, not without legal advice, and almost never the way they want you to. Here’s the longer answer — including the rare situations where it’s fine to talk and the much more common situations where it’s a mistake.

Why Adjusters Call So Fast

It’s not because they want to help you. It’s because the first 48 hours after a bite are the single best time for them to get statements that hurt your case. Here’s what’s working in their favor in that window:

• You’re in pain and not thinking strategically
• You don’t know yet how bad the injury really is — infection might be brewing, scarring is unknown, surgery might be needed
• You haven’t talked to a lawyer yet
• You don’t know what your case is actually worth
• You’re emotionally rattled and want the situation to be over

Adjusters know all of this. The early call is not customer service. It’s a tactic, deployed deliberately, against people in a vulnerable state. That’s not paranoia — it’s industry training.

What Adjusters Are Actually Trying to Get From You

A locked-in version of events

Once you describe what happened on a recorded line, that becomes your story. Any later detail you remember — the dog growling first, the owner saying something incriminating, the prior bite history — gets framed as “changing your story.” They want the first version, because the first version is usually the least complete.

Anything that supports a defense

“Were you petting the dog when it bit you?” sounds friendly. It’s actually setting up the provocation defense. “Where were you standing?” sets up the trespassing angle. “Had you been drinking?” sets up comparative fault. Every question has a reason.

A minimization of injuries

“How are you feeling today?” sounds like polite small talk. If you say “a little better,” that’s now in their file as evidence that your injuries weren’t serious. Even if you’re actually in pain. People say “a little better” out of habit; insurance companies preserve it as a quote.

A quick, cheap settlement

The early offer is almost always a fraction of the case’s real value. They’re hoping you take it because you’re tired and want to be done. Once you accept and sign a release, the case is closed forever — even if you later discover the injury was much worse than you thought.

When It’s OK to Talk to the Adjuster

There are a few narrow situations where some conversation is fine:

• Confirming basic identifying info. Your name, address, date of the incident. Nothing about the injury or what happened.
• Providing your lawyer’s contact info. “My attorney will handle this. Their name is X, phone Y, please contact them directly.” That’s the ideal early call.
• Through your lawyer. Once you have representation, all communication funnels through them. They know what to say and what not to say.

What to Say When the Adjuster Calls (Before You Have a Lawyer)

Here’s the script. Memorize it. Adjusters call when you’re tired and you don’t want to fumble on the phone:

“I appreciate you calling. I’m still being treated for my injuries and I’m not in a position to discuss the incident or my injuries yet. I’m planning to consult with an attorney before continuing any conversation. I’ll be in touch once I have representation.”

That’s it. Polite, firm, no opening for follow-up questions. If they push, repeat the same line. Don’t engage. Don’t apologize. Don’t explain why you’re “being cautious.” Just hang up.

What NOT to Do

• Don’t give a recorded statement. No legal requirement. Decline politely.
• Don’t sign anything they send you. Medical releases, statement forms, settlement releases — all of them get reviewed by a lawyer first.
• Don’t accept an early settlement offer. First offers are systematically lowball. Read the settlement value guide for why.
• Don’t describe your injuries in detail. “I’m being treated and not discussing it” is all they need to hear.
• Don’t agree to a quick visit, photo session, or in-person meeting. All of these are evidence-gathering, not customer service.
• Don’t use words like “fine” or “getting better.” They get preserved out of context.
• Don’t post about the bite on social media. Adjusters look at your accounts. It’s the single most common self-inflicted wound.

What Happens After You Decline

Honestly? Usually not much in the short term. The adjuster might call again. They might send a letter requesting a statement. They might warn that “your claim could be affected” if you don’t cooperate. None of that has any legal weight — you have no obligation to give a statement to the dog owner’s insurance company, ever.

What you should do in the meantime: get medical treatment, document everything, talk to a Michigan dog bite lawyer. Once you have representation, the lawyer takes over all communication with the insurance company — and the adjuster has to deal with someone who knows what the case is worth.

Your Own Insurance Company Is Different

One nuance worth flagging: your own health insurance, if it’s covering bite-related medical bills, may ask about how the injury happened (because they may have subrogation rights against the dog owner’s insurer). That’s a different situation — your own insurer is contractually entitled to that information.

The general rule: be cautious with the other side’s insurance (the dog owner’s) and reasonably cooperative with your own. Still talk to a lawyer first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to talk to the dog owner’s insurance company?

No. There’s no legal obligation to speak with the other side’s insurance adjuster. You can decline and let your lawyer handle communication.

What if they say my claim will be denied if I don’t cooperate?

That’s a pressure tactic, not a legal reality. The insurance company can’t deny a valid Michigan strict-liability dog bite claim just because you declined a recorded statement.

What if I already talked to the adjuster before reading this?

Don’t panic. Talk to a Michigan dog bite lawyer immediately. Most early conversations don’t fatally damage a case, but it’s important to course-correct and not have any more conversations.

Should I respond to the adjuster’s letter or email?

You can respond briefly — in writing — with the same script: “I’m still being treated and will respond once I have legal representation.” Don’t answer specific questions or fill out their forms.

What if the dog owner is my friend and asks me to cooperate with their insurance?

Awkward, but the answer is still no. The insurance company is not your friend’s friend either — they’re trying to minimize a payout, period. Be polite, redirect through your lawyer.

This article is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Every case depends on its specific facts — consult a licensed Michigan attorney about your situation.