Short answer: Michigan is a strict liability state for dog bites. Under MCL § 287.351, the owner of a dog that bites a person is liable for damages — even if the dog has never bitten before and even if the owner had no reason to believe the dog was dangerous. The two narrow defenses are provocation by the injured person and the victim being on the property unlawfully (trespassing). The statute of limitations is three years from the date of the bite under MCL § 600.5805. Most dog bite damages are paid by the dog owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance under the personal liability coverage. Koussan Law secured a $975,000 settlement in a Michigan dog bite case; the cases that produce that kind of value involve serious injury, clear strict-liability application, and detailed medical documentation.
Last updated 2026-05-23 by Ali H. Koussan, Founding Attorney at Koussan Law. This guide is for Michigan dog bite victims and the families of children who have been bitten. The legal framework is favorable to victims, but the practical execution — medical documentation, insurance claims, evidence preservation — determines what the case is actually worth.
Michigan's Strict Liability Dog Bite Statute (MCL § 287.351)
Michigan's dog bite law is codified at Michigan Compiled Laws § 287.351. The statute states that if a dog bites a person without provocation while the person is on public property, or lawfully on private property (including the property of the dog owner), the owner is liable for damages. The statute applies regardless of the dog's prior viciousness or the owner's knowledge of any propensity to bite.
This is a major departure from the common-law "one bite" rule that applies in some other states, where an owner is liable only after their dog has demonstrated dangerous propensities. Michigan's statutory framework rejects that rule for bite cases. The first bite is enough.
The practical impact: Michigan dog bite victims do not have to prove the owner was negligent. They do not have to prove the dog had ever bitten before. They do not have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. The statute does the work.
The Two Defenses: Provocation and Unlawful Presence
Michigan's strict liability is not absolute. The statute carves out two narrow defenses:
- Provocation. If the bitten person provoked the dog, the owner is not strictly liable. Provocation in Michigan law is a fact-specific inquiry. Petting a sleeping dog, walking too close to a dog eating, or stepping on a dog accidentally can be argued as provocation. Insurance defense lawyers routinely raise this defense. The factual record — photographs, witness statements, the position of the bite, the dog's history — determines whether provocation succeeds. Even an intentional act may not amount to legal provocation if the dog's response is grossly disproportionate (a child taking a toy from a dog is not the kind of provocation that defeats liability).
- Unlawful presence on the property. A trespasser — someone with no legal right to be on the property where the bite occurred — cannot claim strict liability under the statute. The trespass exception is narrow. Invitees (delivery drivers, mail carriers, guests, customers) are not trespassers. Licensees (social guests) are not trespassers. Even children on a neighbor's property who climb a fence to retrieve a ball are generally not treated as trespassers for Michigan dog bite purposes.
If neither defense applies, strict liability stands. The owner is responsible for the damages.
Who Pays: Homeowner's Insurance Almost Always
Most Michigan dog bite damages are paid by the dog owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance under the personal liability section of the policy. Standard homeowner's policies in Michigan cover dog bite liability up to the policy limit — typically $100,000 to $500,000 of personal liability coverage, sometimes more with an umbrella policy.
Exceptions:
- Breed exclusions. Some insurance carriers exclude specific breeds (pit bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, German Shepherds, etc.) from coverage, or require a breed-specific rider. If the dog owner's policy excludes the breed, coverage may be denied. The remedy is to pursue the owner personally, but collection is harder.
- Multiple-bite history exclusions. Some carriers exclude coverage for a dog that has bitten before, particularly if the prior bite was disclosed at policy renewal. This is a coverage dispute, not a liability dispute — the owner is still liable; only the source of payment changes.
- Commercial dog operations. Kennels, dog walkers, breeders, and groomers carry separate commercial general liability insurance, not homeowner's.
- Public agency dogs. Police dogs, military dogs, and other government-owned dogs have governmental immunity considerations under the Michigan Governmental Tort Liability Act (MCL § 691.1401 et seq.). The 120-day notice requirement under MCL § 691.1404 applies. These cases are difficult but not impossible.
The owner's homeowner's insurer is the first call after the bite. The injured person should not communicate with the insurer directly without counsel; recorded statements early in the process routinely undercut the claim's value.
Statute of Limitations: Three Years
The statute of limitations for a Michigan dog bite claim is three years from the date of the bite under MCL § 600.5805. For minor victims (under age 18), the limitations period is tolled until the child's 18th birthday, but the practical reality is that evidence degrades fast. Witnesses move. The dog's owner sells the home. Medical records become harder to assemble. Filing within the first year is strongly recommended.
For bites by a government-owned dog (police K-9, etc.), the 120-day notice requirement under MCL § 691.1404 also applies. Miss the 120-day deadline and the claim against the government entity is barred regardless of the three-year statute.
Damages: How Michigan Dog Bite Cases Are Valued
Dog bite case value depends on the severity of injury, the visibility of the scarring, the age of the victim, and the strength of the strict liability application. Typical ranges:
- Bite with minor injury, full recovery, no scarring: $5,000 to $25,000. Settlement covers medical bills, lost wages, and modest pain and suffering.
- Bite with stitches, moderate scarring, some psychological impact: $25,000 to $100,000. Adds permanent scarring damages and ongoing psychological treatment.
- Bite with surgery, permanent scarring, lost work, PTSD diagnosis: $100,000 to $500,000. The case value steps up substantially when reconstructive surgery is needed, when the victim is a child (lifelong scarring + psychological effects), or when documented PTSD requires extended treatment.
- Severe disfigurement, multiple reconstructive surgeries, child victim with permanent facial scarring: $500,000 to $2,000,000+. Particularly for facial bites to children, modern jury verdicts and structured settlements regularly reach seven figures. Koussan Law's $975,000 dog bite settlement fits in this tier.
- Fatal bite (wrongful death): $500,000 to $5,000,000+ under MCL § 600.2922, depending on the deceased's age, family circumstances, and conscious pain and suffering before death.
Two factors drive case value more than any others: visibility of scarring (face, hands, exposed skin) and age of victim (children command higher non-economic damages because the scarring is lifelong and the psychological impact is more significant).
What to Do Immediately After a Michigan Dog Bite
- Get medical care the same day. All dog bites should be evaluated for infection risk (Pasteurella, MRSA), rabies exposure, and tendon/nerve damage. ER or urgent care is appropriate; a regular doctor's visit days later is not equivalent. The medical record is foundational evidence.
- Report the bite to your local health department or animal control. Michigan public health rules require reporting of animal bites that break skin to track rabies exposure and assess the dog's vaccination status. This creates an official record that supports the case.
- Photograph everything. The wound, multiple angles, with date stamps. Photograph again every 24–48 hours during healing to document the progression. Photograph any clothing damage.
- Get the owner's information. Name, address, phone number. Photograph the dog if possible. Get the dog's vaccination records if the owner will provide them; if not, animal control will obtain them as part of the rabies investigation.
- Identify witnesses. Get names and contact info of anyone who saw the bite or its immediate aftermath.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the owner's insurer. Once you have medical care and have reported the bite, the insurer will contact you. Decline to give a recorded statement until you have consulted an attorney. Statements taken in the days after a bite, before you understand the full extent of the injury, routinely undercut the case value.
- Consult counsel within weeks. Surveillance video at commercial properties typically overwrites within 30 days. Witness memories degrade. The dog's behavior history may need to be subpoenaed from animal control, prior employers, prior owners, or veterinarians.
Frequently Asked Questions About Michigan Dog Bite Law
Is Michigan a strict liability state for dog bites?
Yes. Under MCL § 287.351, Michigan imposes strict liability on dog owners for bites that occur in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property. The owner is liable regardless of whether the dog has bitten before, regardless of whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous, and regardless of negligence. The only statutory defenses are provocation by the victim and unlawful presence (trespassing).
What is the dog bite law in Michigan?
Michigan's primary dog bite statute is MCL § 287.351. It imposes strict liability on the dog owner for any bite that occurs in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property. The statute is supplemented by local ordinances (typically county or municipal animal control laws) that govern reporting, quarantine, and dangerous-dog designations. The common-law "one bite" rule does not apply in Michigan — the first bite is sufficient to establish liability.
Do doctors have to report dog bites in Michigan?
Yes. Michigan public health rules require medical professionals to report animal bites to the local health department for rabies exposure assessment and tracking. The reporting is administrative; it does not create a separate claim against the dog or owner. The report does, however, create a contemporaneous record of the bite that supports a personal injury claim.
Do you have to report a dog bite in Michigan?
Yes. Michigan public health rules require animal bites that break skin to be reported to the local health department or animal control. The reporting process triggers a rabies risk assessment, may result in the dog being quarantined for 10 days (the standard rabies observation period), and creates an official record. Failure to report is not itself a crime in most cases, but it weakens any subsequent personal injury claim by removing a key piece of contemporaneous evidence.
What happens if my dog bites someone in Michigan?
As the owner, you face strict liability under MCL § 287.351. The bite victim can recover damages from you regardless of whether your dog has bitten before or whether you knew the dog could be dangerous. Most claims are paid by your homeowner's or renter's insurance. The dog will likely be quarantined for 10 days (rabies observation period) regardless of vaccination status. Depending on the severity of the bite, local animal control may classify the dog as a "dangerous dog" under your municipal ordinance, which can require muzzling, special enclosures, or in extreme cases euthanasia. The bite victim can also sue you personally for damages above your insurance limits.
What happens if your dog bites someone in Michigan?
The legal framework is the same as above. You face strict liability for damages, your homeowner's insurance is the primary source of payment, the dog faces a 10-day rabies quarantine, and the dog may be classified as dangerous under local ordinances. The bite victim's recovery is reduced only if they provoked the dog or were trespassing.
What to do if a dog bites you in Michigan?
Get medical care the same day. Report the bite to your local health department or animal control. Photograph the wound and document the dog and owner. Identify witnesses. Do not give a recorded statement to the owner's insurer without consulting counsel. Consult a Michigan dog bite attorney within weeks — evidence preservation is time-sensitive. See the seven-step list above for the complete protocol.
Can your dog bite a trespasser in Michigan?
Under MCL § 287.351, an owner is not strictly liable for a bite that occurs when the victim is on the property unlawfully. The trespass defense is narrow, however. Children, delivery personnel, mail carriers, utility workers with an easement, and guests are not trespassers. True trespassers — burglars, people on the property without any legal right — fall outside the statute's protection. The owner may still face common-law negligence or premises liability claims even in trespass cases, particularly if a known dangerous dog was left unrestrained.
Does Michigan have strict liability for dog bites?
Yes. See the analysis above. Michigan is one of the more victim-favorable states in the country for dog bite cases.
What is the deadline to file a dog bite claim in Michigan?
Three years from the date of the bite under MCL § 600.5805. Minor victims have until their 18th birthday plus three years. Government-owned dog cases require a 120-day notice under MCL § 691.1404. Earlier consultation with counsel is always better than later.
How much is a Michigan dog bite case worth?
Variable. Minor bites with full recovery: $5,000–$25,000. Bites requiring surgery and producing scarring: $100,000–$500,000. Severe disfigurement, child victims with permanent facial scarring: $500,000+. Fatal bites: $500,000–$5,000,000+. See the case-value section above for the detailed framework. Koussan Law's $975,000 dog bite settlement reflects the upper tier for severe-injury cases.
What if the dog owner does not have homeowner's insurance?
You can pursue the owner personally for damages. Collection is harder, but a judgment is enforceable through wage garnishment, bank levy, and asset seizure. Some Michigan attorneys also explore alternative coverage sources: umbrella policies, renter's insurance, business owner's policies for commercial premises, or auto insurance if the dog was in a vehicle at the time of the bite.
Will the dog be euthanized if it bites in Michigan?
Not automatically. The standard response to a dog bite is a 10-day rabies quarantine. Whether the dog is ultimately euthanized depends on local ordinances and the dog's behavior history. First-bite cases with no serious injury typically result in dangerous-dog designation (muzzling, fencing, leash requirements). Multi-bite history or severe injury can result in euthanization orders, particularly if the dog is determined to be a continuing public safety risk. Michigan's dangerous animal law is at MCL § 287.321 et seq.
How Koussan Law Handles Michigan Dog Bite Cases
We accept Michigan dog bite cases on contingency. You pay nothing unless we recover. We front the cost of medical records retrieval, expert witnesses (reconstructive surgery, psychiatric, vocational), scarring documentation, and litigation. Our experience in this practice area includes the $975,000 dog bite settlement and substantial recoveries in pediatric facial bite cases. The discipline that produces those results is the same discipline we apply to every dog bite case we accept.
If you or your child has been bitten by a dog in Michigan, contact us for a free consultation. Call (313) 800-0000, request a consultation online, or use our free case calculator. We will review the facts and tell you, honestly, whether we think the case has merit — at no cost.
Related Resources
- Dog Bite Injuries
- Premises Liability
- Catastrophic Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Michigan Personal Injury Statute of Limitations
- Average Settlement Amounts in Michigan Personal Injury Cases
This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship with Koussan Law. Past results, including the $975,000 dog bite settlement, do not guarantee future outcomes. The information about Michigan dog bite law reflects MCL § 287.351 as of the date of publication; the statute may be amended.
