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When you or a loved one has been attacked by a dog, you need more than just legal representation—you need a battle-tested sword and shield fighting for your rights.
Keller & Keller has been maximizing client settlements and delivering justice since 1936, establishing our firm as one of Michigan’s leading personal injury law firms. With over 80 years of experience handling complex dog bite cases, we’ve recovered millions of dollars for our clients, proving that results matter when you’re seeking a Michigan dog bite injury lawyer.
Our St. Joseph dog bite attorneys understand that suffering a dog attack can change your life in an instant. Medical bills pile up for emergency room visits and reconstructive surgeries, insurance companies pressure you to accept inadequate offers, and you’re left dealing with both physical scars and psychological trauma. Nearly 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, and one out of every five requires medical attention. This is when having an experienced Michigan dog bite injury lawyer becomes crucial.
Why You Need a Dog Bite Lawyer After an Attack
The aftermath of a dog attack can be overwhelming. Victims face mounting medical expenses, potential disfigurement, and lasting emotional trauma, while dog owners and their insurance companies work to minimize their responsibility.
Navigating Complex Legal Claims
Understanding Insurance Company Tactics
Understanding Statute of Limitations
Navigating Complex
Legal Claims
Dog bite claims in Michigan involve complicated legal processes that most people aren’t equipped to handle on their own. Michigan operates under strict liability statutes for dog bites, meaning owners are responsible regardless of the dog’s history—but there are important exceptions and defenses that insurance companies exploit. Establishing liability, documenting injuries, calculating long-term damages including future reconstructive surgeries, and navigating homeowner’s insurance policies requires specialized knowledge that our Michigan dog bite injury attorneys possess.
Without proper legal representation, you risk accepting settlements that don’t cover future medical needs or failing to identify all available insurance coverage. Our lawyers know exactly what documentation is needed, what evidence to gather, and how to build a compelling case that demonstrates the full impact of your injuries.
Understanding Insurance Company Tactics
Insurance companies operate as businesses with financial objectives that may not align with your recovery needs. When it comes to dog bite claims, insurers often employ specific tactics to reduce payouts. They may argue you provoked the dog, claim you were trespassing, suggest the bite wasn’t as severe as documented, or pressure you into quick settlements before you understand the full extent of scarring and need for reconstructive procedures.
At Keller & Keller, we’ve seen every trick in the insurance company playbook. Our Michigan dog bite injury lawyers have decades of experience dealing with major insurance providers and know how to counter these tactics to protect your interests. We understand that dog bite cases often involve homeowner’s insurance policies with substantial coverage limits, and we know how to maximize recovery from these policies.
Understanding Statute of Limitations
Time is not on your side after a dog attack. Michigan has strict deadlines—known as statutes of limitations—for filing personal injury claims. You generally have three years from the date of the attack to file a lawsuit against the dog owner. However, acting quickly is crucial because evidence disappears, witnesses’ memories fade, and insurance companies become more difficult to deal with as time passes.
Missing the three-year deadline means forfeiting your right to compensation permanently. Our Michigan dog bite injury lawyers ensure all paperwork is filed correctly and on time, preserving your right to seek the justice and compensation you deserve.
What to Do After a Dog Attack
Taking the right steps after an attack can protect both your health and your legal claim.
See What Your Case Is WorthEven seemingly minor bites can cause serious infections or nerve damage—see a doctor immediately.
Official documentation from police or animal control creates crucial evidence for your case.
Take photos of your wounds, the dog (if safe), the location, and any torn clothing.
Get the dog owner’s name, address, phone number, and homeowner’s insurance details.
Names and contact details from anyone who saw the attack.
Keep all medical records, bills, and documentation of time missed from work.
Don’t give detailed statements to insurance companies without legal representation.
Early legal representation helps preserve evidence, identify insurance coverage, and prevent costly mistakes.
The Keller & Keller Approach:
Michigan Lawyers Who Fight to Win
From the moment you contact us, you’ll notice the difference in our approach. Our client-first philosophy means we take the time to understand not just the details of your accident but how it has affected your life, your work, your family, and your future in Michigan. We clearly communicate every step of the process in plain language you can understand—no confusing legal jargon. This approach has earned us countless 5-star reviews from real Michigan clients who’ve experienced the Keller & Keller difference firsthand.
We understand that being injured in an accident is stressful enough without having to chase down your lawyer for updates. That’s why we’ve built our practice around transparent, consistent communication.
When you hire us, you’ll have direct access to the Michigan-based attorney handling your case as well as a dedicated paralegal who monitors its daily status. We keep you informed throughout every stage of your claim, explaining what’s happening, what to expect next, and how it affects your case.
Our 80+ years of experience isn’t just about longevity—it’s about results. Our attorneys have successfully handled thousands of cases in Michigan and recovered thousands of millions of dollars for our clients. We’ve gone toe-to-toe with the biggest insurance companies and won. Our courtroom experience means we’re always prepared to take your case to trial if that’s what it takes to secure fair compensation. This willingness to fight—and our track record of success—often motivates insurance companies to offer better settlements to avoid facing us in court.
The Dog Bite Claim Process with Keller & Keller
When you choose Keller & Keller to handle your Michigan dog bite claim, you can expect a clear, structured process designed to maximize your compensation while minimizing your stress.
Types of Dog Bite Cases We Handle
Our extensive experience covers all types of dog attacks throughout Michigan, each with unique challenges and considerations.
The Hard Truth
Michigan Dog Bite Statistics That Demand Action
When we talk about dog attacks in Michigan, we’re addressing a crisis that affects thousands of families every year. As your advocates in the fight for justice, Keller & Keller believes you deserve to know the sobering facts behind our mission.
Nearly 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, and approximately 885,000 of these victims seek medical care. Children are particularly vulnerable, with approximately 70% of all emergency department visits for dog bites involving children. One study estimates that approximately one-half of all children aged 12 and younger have been bitten by a dog.
According to the CDC’s National Vital Statistics System, during 2011-2021, a total of 468 deaths from being bitten or struck by a dog occurred, averaging 43 deaths per year. The annual number of deaths ranged from 31 (2016) to 81 (2021). From 2018 to 2021, deaths more than doubled for both males (from 15 to 37) and females (from 20 to 44).
In 2024, more than 6,000 U.S. Postal Service employees were attacked by dogs while delivering mail, representing a 5% increase from 2023 and a 15% increase from 2022. Michigan recorded 19 dog bite attacks on postal workers in Detroit alone in 2023. The average cost per insurance claim for a dog bite reached nearly $70,000 in 2024.
Common Causes of Dog Attacks in Michigan
Understanding what triggers dog attacks helps establish liability and prevent future incidents.
Dog Bite Injuries We Represent
Dog attacks cause a wide range of injuries, from relatively minor puncture wounds to catastrophic, life-altering trauma. Understanding these injuries and their long-term impact is crucial for your claim.
Compensation Available for Michigan Dog Bite Victims
If you’ve been injured in a dog attack due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to various types of compensation.
Economic Damages
These are quantifiable financial losses, including:
- Medical expenses (emergency room visits, surgeries, reconstructive procedures)
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Future medical costs including additional reconstructive surgeries
- Psychological counseling and therapy costs
- Scarring treatment and cosmetic procedures
- Medication and ongoing care costs
Non-Economic Damages
These more subjective damages compensate for:
- Pain and suffering from the attack and recovery
- Emotional distress and PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
- Anxiety and fear of dogs
- Loss of consortium (impact on family relationships)
Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance
Under Michigan’s no-fault insurance system, courts require clear and convincing evidence for exemplary damages, a higher standard than is typically required in other cases. Our experienced attorneys know when exemplary damages may be available and fight for maximum compensation as your courtroom advocates.
Wrongful Death Damages
When motorcycle accidents result in fatalities, surviving family members may recover compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and the pain and suffering of their loved one before death.
How Keller & Keller Investigates Michigan Dog Bite Cases
Our meticulous approach to evidence gathering builds the strongest possible foundation for your claim:
Setting the Michigan Standard:
Cutting-Edge Investigation Technology
While other law firms rely on outdated methods, Keller & Keller leverages cutting-edge technology to build stronger cases and win bigger settlements for our Michigan dog bite injury clients
Professional drone documentation
Captures attack locations from angles impossible with traditional methods, documenting property layouts, fencing conditions, warning signage, and sight lines that help establish whether owners took reasonable precautions to prevent attacks
Advanced voice-over-IP networks
Enables real-time collaboration between attorneys, medical experts, animal behavior specialists, and plastic surgeons, ensuring no detail is overlooked in documenting both physical injuries and psychological trauma
Advanced medical documentation
Our network includes professional medical photographers who document injuries at various healing stages, creating compelling visual evidence of scarring progression and the need for future reconstructive procedures
Cloud-based case management
Provides you 24/7 access to your case information, medical records, and status updates, keeping you informed throughout the legal process while you focus on physical and emotional recovery
Rapid-response investigation units
Allow us to conduct on-site evidence gathering within hours of an attack, preserving crucial evidence like blood evidence, torn clothing, witness statements, and photographs of the dog before conditions change or evidence disappears
Service Areas
Michigan
Cities We Serve
What Sets Keller & Keller Apart
With so many law firms advertising their services, why choose Keller & Keller? The differences are clear.
Zero Fee Guarantee
We believe everyone deserves quality legal representation, regardless of their financial situation. That’s why we work on a contingency basis—you pay absolutely nothing unless and until we win your case. No upfront costs, no hidden fees, no financial risk to you.
No Fee Until We Win!
Get Started TodayDon’t Take Our Word For It!
See what our clients have to say about their experience with Keller & Keller.
View More Testimonials“It felt like they just wanted to take care of me and put me at ease.”
Brianna
My first encounter was Keller & Keller was very good. The people were very warm. You know, when I came in, it was just very comforting to me, it felt as if it wasn’t more like a business deal. It felt like they just wanted to take care of me and put me at ease and, you know, help me out with what I really needed as a person.
Take Action Now
Your Michigan Dog Bite Claim Starts Here
Free Consultation
We’ll evaluate your case honestly and explain your options in plain English. We’ll come to you—whether you’re at home, in the hospital, or wherever is convenient.
We Fight
Our experienced team fights to investigate thoroughly, deal with insurance companies, and handle all the legal complexities while you focus on getting better.
You Recover
Focus on healing while we handle the rest. We’ll fight for you like we’d fight for our own family, because that’s exactly how we see you.
Zero Fee Guarantee
We believe everyone deserves quality legal representation, regardless of their financial situation. That’s why we work on a contingency basis—you pay absolutely nothing unless and until we win your case. No upfront costs, no hidden fees, no financial risk to you.
The Keller Tradition
Nearly Nine Decades of Legal Excellence in Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about your dog bite case? We’re here to help.
Injured and not sure what to do next?
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