Denver Dog Bite Attorneys

Colorado Law Protects Victims of Dog Bites

If you’ve been bitten by a dog while lawfully on public or private property in Colorado, you’re protected by law. The attorneys at CO Injury Law have years of experience advocating for dog bite victims and recovering the money they deserve.

What Should I Do After I'm Attacked?

Your actions immediately following an animal attack could affect your eventual dog bite claim. We recommend taking the following actions:

Seek appropriate medical care. Your medical records will serve as official documentation of the injuries you suffered.
Ask to file a police report. A police officer will document your version of the events and include any other pertinent information, such as eyewitness testimony.
Find a witness. Ask any eyewitnesses to the accident for their name, phone number, and email.
Call an attorney. Contact an experienced Denver dog bite attorney. The attorneys at CO Injury Law will demand fair compensation for your injuries, pain, and suffering.

Who is Liable in a Dog Bite Case?

Colorado statute CRS 13-21-124 governs dog bites. This law imposes strict liability on owners when their dog bites a person who is lawfully on public or private property. The person who was bitten is entitled to recover economic damages against the dog owner even if the dog has never attacked anyone or displayed violent tendencies previously.

For the dog owner to be considered strictly liable, the following conditions must apply: The victim must suffer serious bodily injury or death as the result of a dog bite, and the victim must be lawfully on public or private property when the dog attack occurred.

Bodily Injury vs. Serious Bodily Injury

Serious bodily injury is different from bodily injury. The law defines bodily injury as any physical injury that causes bruising, muscle tears, or skin lacerations requiring medical treatment or corrective or cosmetic surgery.

Serious bodily injury involves a high risk of death and a significant risk of severe, long-lasting, or permanent disfigurement. A body part or organ is at risk of loss or impairment with serious bodily injury. The label covers broken bones, fractures, and second- or third-degree burns.

When a Dog Owner is Not Liable

The dog owner is not liable under these circumstances:

You were trespassing or ignored warning signs about the dog.
The dog is “on duty” with the police or military.
You purposely aggravated the dog.
You’re a professional who works with dogs.
The dog is a working dog who was hunting, herding, or controlling predators on the dog owner’s property.

In all of these situations the owner of the dog is not liable for damages even if you sustained serious bodily injury.

Injured? Contact Us to Evaluate Your Case.

Dog Bite Economic Damages

Under the Colorado statute, a person bitten by a dog is only entitled to collect economic damages, which include:

Medical bills
Future medical bills
Psychological counseling costs
Loss of income
Future loss of income
Loss of earning power

A person is not entitled to collect “non-economic” damages, like pain and suffering, under the statute but can do so under a regular negligence action.

Non-Economic Damages

The victim of a dog attack cannot collect non-economic damages, which include:

Pain and suffering
Loss of companionship or sex, grief, and psychological harm

Proving negligence can be complicated. If you have any questions about your case, contact us for a free consultation.

We Can Help with Dog Bite Cases

If you’ve been attacked by a dog, we can help sort out the elements of your situation and determine if you qualify to recover damages. Call us today.