Dog Bites
Dog bites and attacks happen suddenly and can cause serious or catastrophic damages. Many people require emergency medical attention, surgery, and
ongoing medical care. There is no way to predict which dogs will attack. As a Denver personal injury law firm, we have heard numerous stories of previously peaceful dogs (or other pets) who suddenly lashed out without warning.
We happen to be dog lovers here at Chalat Law, but we also understand
that pets must be controlled to prevent them from hurting others.
If you or a loved one have been bitten by a dog or injured in a dog attack,
contact us. Our law firm has over 30 years of experience holding negligent
dog owners responsible and guiding injured victims in Colorado through the aftermath of a dog bite attack.
Understanding Dog Bite Claims
in Colorado
Colorado has a state law that specifically addresses a dog owner’s liability
for their pet. This statute, commonly called The Colorado Dog Bite Statute, is
found in C.R.S. § 13-21-124(6)(a), (b). The law makes dog owners liable for any
“serious bodily injury or death” caused by their dog attacking someone else.
Dog owners are liable under this statute even if the dog never previously
showed vicious or dangerous propensities. Similarly, the owner is liable even
if he or she had no knowledge that the dog was likely to attack. This state
statute sets Colorado apart from many states where the “one-bite rule” may
apply. Other states give dog owners the benefit of the doubt for the first
attack by a pet. Instead, dog owners in our state are strictly liable for any
serious injury that their dog inflicts on someone else by biting them.
$110k
for attack by Great Pyrenees
Dog Bite Facts
Dog bites in the United States are very common. According to the Insurance Information Institute, an estimated 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year. And that number seems to be growing, at least in the insurance world. The same source states that nationwide, the number of dog bite claims increased to 17,802 in 2019 from 17,297 in 2018, costing homeowners insurers $797 million. Analysis of homeowners insurance data by the Triple-I shows that the average cost per claim in the U.S. increased by 14.7% in 2019 over the prior year, and has risen over 130% from 2003-2019. The report attributes the increase due to higher medical costs, larger settlements, judgments and jury awards given to dog bite and other dog-related injury victims.
In Colorado, the statute of limitations requires injured victims of dog bites (or other injury caused by a dog) to file a lawsuit within two years from the date of an injury. Whether you or a loved one were recently injured by a dog or are still suffering from pain from a dog attack which occurred within the last two years, call us. The short window of time the statute of limitations requires for filing dog bite lawsuits makes it critical to contact a Denver dog attack attorney as soon as possible.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: DOG BITES
When a dog owner ignores local rules, they are considered “negligent per se.” Essentially, this is a legal concept that will deem an owner negligent (and therefore liable for damages their dog causes) simply because they violated a local law. In negligence per se cases, it isn’t necessary to prove that the dog owner was negligent or that they owed you a duty of care. Rather, you only need to prove that they violated a local dog attack ordinance and that you suffered an injury in the attack.
In some cases, dogs can cause serious or fatal injury with no physical contact. For instance, Colorado recognizes a dog fright claim, where a dog acts so aggressively that an individual reacts out of fear and is injured. Such cases include dogs charging at bicyclists who then crash while trying to avoid the animal, or pedestrians so startled by a dog hurling itself against a fence that they back into oncoming traffic.
CONTACT OUR DOG BITE INJURY ATTORNEYS IN DENVER TODAY
For clients facing a serious personal injury case, the choice of a law firm is a consequential decision. When you work with us, we’ll be there to help you in each step of the way. Our experienced attorneys will take care of all the complicated work involved in the claims process. We’ll start by getting the answers you need, and then we will work tirelessly to ensure wrongdoers are held accountable.
For over 30 years, our accomplished attorneys have protected the rights of injured victims of dog bites and dog attacks and will fight to do the same for you. Contact us a free consultation. Chalat Law provides legal services to accident victims throughout the state of Colorado including Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins.
Our Process
A careful case review will be performed by your lawyer to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case. Then the conclusions of this review are presented to you in a thorough, understandable manner.
For more details: Litigation Process.