Denver Dog Bite Lawyer

What does Colorado law say about dog bites?

Colorado holds a dog owner responsible when their dog causes serious injury to someone who was lawfully on the property. If a dog causes serious bodily injury or death to someone lawfully on public or private property, the owner is liable for the economic losses (like medical bills and lost pay) even without proof the owner was careless. Exceptions apply, for example if the victim was trespassing or provoked the dog. (C.R.S. § 13-21-124)

That is a big deal for victims. In many negligence cases you have to prove the owner was careless. Under this rule, you generally don’t have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. Pain and suffering and other damages can depend on more facts, and we look at that with you.

What should you do after a dog bite in Denver?

Clean the wound, get medical care and gather the owner’s details. What you do in the first hours and days affects both your health and any claim.

1. Wash the wound with soap and water and keep it clean. Dog bites get infected easily. Watch for more redness, swelling, warmth or discharge.
2. See a doctor, even if the bite looks small. A doctor can check for infection, decide if you need antibiotics or a tetanus shot, and record your injuries.
3. Identify the dog and its owner. Get their name, address and contact information, and details about the dog.
4. Report the bite to local animal control or the police. This creates a record and may lead to the dog being quarantined or checked for rabies.
5. Document everything. Photograph your injuries as they heal, keep your medical records and write down what happened while it’s fresh. Our blog has more on what to do after a dog bite.
6. Be careful with insurance companies. The owner’s insurer may ask for a statement or offer a quick settlement. Understand the full extent of your injuries before you agree to anything.

What injuries do dog bites cause?

A dog bite can do much more than break the skin. The injuries we see most often include:

• Puncture wounds and deep cuts, which can reach muscle, tendon and nerve.
• Infections, because a dog’s mouth carries bacteria. Untreated wounds can turn serious.
• Torn skin and scarring, especially on the face, hands and arms.
• Broken bones, from a bite or from being knocked down.
• Nerve damage, which can cause numbness, weakness or pain that lasts.
• Face and eye injuries, which are common when a child is bitten.
• Rabies exposure, which can mean a series of shots if the dog can’t be checked.
• Emotional harm, including fear of dogs, nightmares, anxiety and trouble leaving the house.

Children and older adults are often hurt the worst. Our guide on common dog bite injuries goes into more detail. Tell your doctor about all of it, including how you feel, so it is in your records.

How do dog bites usually happen?

Most bites involve a dog that wasn’t under control. Some of the ways we see people hurt:

• A dog gets out of its yard and attacks someone on the street.
• A leash breaks and the dog bites a person who steps in to protect themselves or someone else.
• A young or untrained dog gets overexcited and bites a small child visiting its home.
• A large, excited dog jumps on someone who is elderly, frail or unsteady and knocks them down.
• An owner lets a dog run off leash outside its yard or a dog park, and it bites someone.

Dogs of any size can bite. Children and older adults are often hurt the worst. The injuries aren’t only physical. Fear of dogs after an attack can last long after a wound heals.

Who can be held responsible for a dog bite?

Usually the dog’s owner, but sometimes more than one person. The people and companies we look at include:

• The owner, who is the main target under the dog bite rule above.
• The person who had the dog at the time, such as a dog walker, a sitter or a friend, if they were responsible for it.
• A landlord or property owner, in some cases, if they knew about a dangerous dog on the property and did nothing. That depends on the facts and on who had control.
• A business, such as a boarding or daycare operator, if it let a dog out or left it unsupervised.

If you are not sure who owns the dog, tell us what you remember. We can often trace an owner through animal control records, neighbors and the place where the bite happened.

What evidence matters in a dog bite case?

Photos, medical records and a clear picture of what the dog and owner did. Evidence we look for includes:

• Photos of the wound on the day, then as it heals, and of the scene, the fence, the leash or the gate.
• Your medical records and bills, including follow-up visits and any scar treatment.
• The animal control or police report.
• Witness names and what they saw before, during and after.
• Records about the dog, such as earlier bites, complaints, warnings or neighbors who knew it was aggressive.
• Video from doorbell or security cameras nearby.
• Your own notes, written while they are fresh, on what led up to the bite.

When all of this is collected early, it is harder for an owner to say you provoked the dog or that the bite wasn’t serious.

What if the owner says you provoked the dog?

Provocation and trespassing are the main exceptions to the owner’s responsibility. The owner may say you provoked the dog or went where you weren’t allowed. Those defenses depend on the facts, so they are worth a careful look rather than taking the owner’s word.

Colorado also applies its fault rule to injury claims. You can still recover money if you were less than 50% at fault (C.R.S. § 13-21-111), though your award shrinks by your share. We look into whether you held any fault at all.

How long do you have to file a dog bite claim?

Most dog bite lawsuits must be filed within 2 years (C.R.S. § 13-80-102(1)(a)). The clock starts on the day you are hurt. Building a solid case can take weeks or months, so it helps to start early. Over time, witnesses forget details and bite wounds heal, which makes your injuries harder to show.

What can you recover after a dog bite?

You can claim the money the bite cost you and, depending on the facts, the harm it did to your life. That can include:

• Medical bills, including emergency care, antibiotics, surgery and follow-up visits.
• Plastic surgery or scar treatment when the bite leaves permanent marks.
• Lost pay for time away from work.
• Pain and suffering, including fear and anxiety after an attack.
• Scarring or disfigurement.

Our page on common dog bite injuries explains what doctors often see.

Whose insurance pays for a dog bite?

Often the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. Part of our job is learning what coverage exists. We can help you decide whether to bring an insurance claim, a lawsuit or both. Your own health insurance may pay for treatment while the claim is open; see our answer on health insurance and dog bites.

What if the bite happened on someone’s property?

A bite in a yard, a rental or a business can also be a premises liability case. Owners and landlords have duties to keep property reasonably safe, and that can open more ways to pursue a claim. Our premises liability page explains how those rules work.

What about attacks by other animals, or by a stray?

The dog bite rule above applies to dogs, and other animals can be a different question. If a pet other than a dog, a farm animal or a loose animal hurt you, the owner’s responsibility depends on the facts, such as whether the owner knew the animal was dangerous and failed to control it.

If a stray or wild animal attacked you, report it to animal control and see a doctor right away, especially for rabies risk. There may be no owner to claim against, but other coverage, such as your own health insurance, may still help. Tell us what happened and we can look at your options.

What if a child was bitten?

Children are bitten often, and they can be hurt badly. A child may be at face height with a dog and can’t read the warning signs an adult would. The harm can include scarring, fear of dogs and trouble sleeping. Parents often worry about the cost of a child’s long-term care, such as scar treatment or counseling.

If your child was bitten, get medical care right away, take photos, report the bite and write down what happened. Then talk to us about how the claim works for a child.

If a dog attack caused a death, a wrongful death claim may be possible. We are sorry for your loss, and we can explain what the law allows.

How do we help with a dog bite claim?

We build the claim, deal with the insurer and prepare to go to court if we have to. Here is how a case usually goes:

• We collect evidence, like photos, witness accounts, animal control reports and the owner’s information.
• We review Colorado’s dog bite law and how it applies to your facts.
• We gather your medical records and future care needs to build a demand.
• We help you file the insurance claim against the owner.
• We file a lawsuit in time if the insurer won’t make a fair offer.
• We negotiate, and if the case can’t settle, we take it to trial.

We can also help you find doctors to treat your injuries. How we are paid is explained on our fees page. Talk to us for a free case review.

Where can you find help after a dog attack in Denver?

Start with medical care and the city’s animal control office. Local ERs, including Denver Health and Rose Medical Center, treat bite wounds. The CDC publishes guidance on rabies risks and exposure. City of Denver Animal Control takes bite reports and can tell you what happens to the dog. Our blog explains what happens to a dog after it bites someone.