Dog bites can be traumatic, painful, and confusing especially in the moments right after an attack. While your first instinct might be to shake it off or clean the wound at home, what you do next can significantly impact both your health and your ability to seek compensation. Michigan law gives dog bite victims strong legal rights, but taking the proper steps after the incident is critical to protecting those rights. This guide outlines exactly what to do after a dog bite, so you don’t miss key opportunities to build a strong claim.
Why Your Actions After a Dog Bite Matter
What you do in the minutes and hours after a dog bite isn’t just about medical care, it can make or break your legal claim. Insurance companies often look for any excuse to deny or reduce payouts, and failing to document your injuries, report the bite, or get proper treatment gives them the ammunition they need. Worse, waiting too long could lead to infection, permanent scarring, or even losing the right to file a lawsuit under Michigan’s statute of limitations. To help you act quickly and avoid common mistakes, we’ve outlined the most important actions to take and a few critical things to avoid in the table below:
| ✅ Do This | 🚫 Avoid This |
|---|---|
| 🏥 Seek medical attention immediately | Ignoring or underestimating the wound |
| 📸 Take photos of injuries and the scene | Waiting too long to document visible damage |
| 📇 Get contact info for witnesses and owner | Leaving without identifying the dog or its owner |
| 📞 Report the bite to animal control | Assuming the incident doesn’t need to be reported |
| 👕 Save torn clothing or evidence | Throwing away anything related to the attack |
Get Immediate Medical Attention
Dog bites aren’t like minor cuts or scrapes, they carry a high risk of infection, nerve damage, and permanent scarring. Even a bite that seems small on the surface can lead to serious medical complications if left untreated. That’s why getting medical care right away is one of the most important things you can do, both for your health and for your legal claim. When you go to the ER, urgent care, or your primary care doctor, make sure the provider documents:
- The location and severity of the bite
- Any signs of infection or damage to muscles, tendons, or nerves
- Whether rabies treatment or a tetanus shot was given
- Any prescribed medications, such as antibiotics or painkillers
This documentation becomes evidence in your case and helps show the full extent of your injuries. If you wait too long, the insurance company may argue that your injuries weren’t serious—or weren’t caused by the bite at all.
Report the Bite to Local Authorities
Reporting a dog bite isn’t just a formality, it’s a critical step that creates an official record of the incident. In Michigan, you should report the bite to local animal control, the police department, or your county health department, depending on your location. This report can help track dangerous dogs and is often a key piece of evidence in personal injury claims. Filing a report can:
- Trigger an investigation into the dog’s history
- Document the time, location, and parties involved
- Help verify rabies vaccination status
- Establish that the incident actually occurred
- Prevent future attacks by the same animal
Even if the dog’s owner seems cooperative, don’t rely on a handshake agreement or verbal promises. Without a formal report, you could have a harder time proving liability or recovering compensation down the road.
Document the Scene and Your Injuries
After a dog bite, documentation is everything. The more details you collect, the stronger your claim will be. Photos, witness information, and physical evidence can all help prove the severity of the attack and who is responsible. Even if the bite seems minor at first, it’s important to document everything from the start before injuries heal or evidence disappears. The checklist below highlights the most important things to document after a dog bite:
| 📝 Item to Document | 📋 Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| 📸 Photos of the injury | Shows the extent, location, and progression of the wound |
| 📍 Photos of the scene | Captures where the incident occurred (yard, sidewalk, public area) |
| 👔 Dog owner’s contact info | Essential for identifying liability and insurance coverage |
| 🧾 Witness names and numbers | Helps confirm what happened and who was involved |
| 🧥 Torn clothing or damaged items | Physical evidence of the attack’s severity |
| 🕒 Date, time, and weather | Adds context and clarity to the timeline of the incident |
Identify the Dog and Its Owner
One of the most important things you can do after a dog bite is to identify the dog and the person responsible for it. Without this information, it becomes much harder to pursue a claim, verify the dog’s vaccination status, or even know whether you’re at risk of rabies or other complications. If you’re physically able, try to:
- Get the dog owner’s full name and contact information
- Ask if the dog has been vaccinated, particularly for rabies
- Record the breed, size, and description of the dog
- Note whether the dog was on or off leash
- Take a photo of the dog if it’s safe to do so
If the dog’s owner is uncooperative or flees the scene, contact animal control or local law enforcement immediately. They can often help identify the owner based on prior complaints, microchip scans, or neighborhood reports. Failing to identify the dog and its owner early on can lead to treatment delays, claim denials, or even an inability to pursue legal action.
Avoid Speaking with Insurance Companies Alone
After a dog bite, you might get a call from the dog owner’s insurance company sometimes within hours. While they may seem helpful or sympathetic, remember this: they’re not on your side. Their goal is to minimize payouts, not to make sure you’re fairly compensated. Insurance adjusters are trained to:
- Get you to admit partial fault
- Downplay the seriousness of your injuries
- Pressure you into accepting a quick, lowball settlement
- Record statements that can be used against you later
Even innocent comments like “I’m feeling better” or “It wasn’t that bad” can be twisted to reduce your claim. That’s why it’s best to avoid giving recorded statements or signing anything until you’ve secured trusted dog attack legal help. Let an experienced attorney handle these conversations and protect your claim from being undervalued or denied.
Contact a Dog Bite Lawyer to Protect Your Rights
Even though Michigan law favors dog bite victims under its strict liability statute, that doesn’t mean insurance companies will play fair. A skilled attorney can level the playing field, uncover all sources of compensation, and help you avoid the pitfalls that often sink dog bite claims. The earlier you contact a lawyer, the better. From preserving evidence to negotiating medical liens, your attorney takes the pressure off you so you can focus on healing. Explore what to do after an attack and how it connects to your legal claim in our dog bite injury claims guide. Here’s what a dog bite lawyer can do for you:
| ⚖️ Legal Support Area | 💼 How It Helps Your Case |
|---|---|
| 📑 Case investigation | Collects evidence, interviews witnesses, and documents liability |
| 🧾 Insurance negotiation | Handles all communication and pushes back on lowball offers |
| 💰 Damage valuation | Calculates both current and future compensation you may be owed |
| 🧭 Legal strategy | Builds your case for settlement or prepares for trial if necessary |
| ⏰ Deadline management | Ensures you don’t miss Michigan’s statute of limitations |
Frequently Asked Questions About What to Do After a Dog Bite
What is the first thing I should do after a dog bite?
Seek medical attention right away. Even minor bites can lead to serious infections, and medical records are important for your legal claim.
Do I need to report a dog bite in Michigan?
Yes. You should report the bite to animal control, the police, or your county health department to create an official record of the incident.
Can I file a claim if I didn’t go to the ER right away?
You can still file a claim, but delaying treatment may hurt your case. Insurance companies may argue that your injuries weren’t serious or related to the bite.
What if I don’t know who owns the dog?
Try to get identifying details of the dog and report the incident immediately. Authorities may be able to help track down the owner based on past complaints or records.
Should I talk to the dog owner’s insurance company?
No. It’s best to avoid speaking to them directly until you’ve talked to a lawyer. Insurance adjusters may use your words against you or pressure you into settling for less.
How soon should I contact a lawyer after a dog bite?
As soon as possible. Early legal help ensures evidence is preserved, deadlines are met, and your case is positioned for maximum compensation.