If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog in Colorado, you should know that these legal cases are worth a lot of money. It isn’t just about the medical bills for the initial wound. In Colorado, the law is designed to help victims get paid for the physical and emotional damage that lasts a lifetime.
Examples of Big Dog Bite Settlements at Our Firm:
The insurance companies take dog bite claims seriously because the law is so favorable. And, the insurance companies can’t use their normal tricks like blaming your injuries on something else or a “pre-existing” condition. They are stuck paying- it’s just a matter of how much. Here are a few big settlements we’ve had in the past year:
- $300,000 for a 7 year old girl who was attacked by her cousin’s dog.
- $250,000 for a man who was working on his fence and bitten by his neighbor’s dog.
- $116,000 to a woman bitten by the homeowner’s German shepherd while delivering a package for Amazon.
What to Do Immediately After a Dog Bite
The steps you take right after an attack are very important for both your health and your legal case. If you are bitten, follow these steps:
- Call the Authorities: Contact both the local police and Animal Control. Official reports create a paper trail of the incident. They also do the full investigation for us and that helps immensely.
- Identify the Owner: Try to find out exactly who owns the dog and get their contact information.
- Talk to Witnesses: If anyone saw the attack, get their names and phone numbers.
- Take Lots of Pictures: Use your phone to take photos of your injuries, the dog, the location where it happened, and anything else that you think may be important. Here is a gruesome example- we had a case where a dog bit clean through the skin and a chunk of our client’s flesh was left at the scene. Although our client was in no condition to take a photo, luckily, someone did. This single photo probably doubled the value of the claim.
- Seek Medical Care: Go to a doctor or emergency room right away, even if the bite seems small, to prevent infection.
Why “Pain and Suffering” is the Biggest Part of a Claim
Most people think a settlement is only for doctor bills. However, the most valuable part of a dog bite claim is pain and suffering. This is where the real money is found because it covers the things that a bandage or stitches can’t fix.
The Mental Trauma of being attacked by an animal is terrifying. Many victims suffer from “invisible” injuries like:
- Nightmares and trouble sleeping.
- A new, intense fear of all dogs (cynophobia).
- Flashbacks to the moment of the attack.
- Anxiety when walking through their own neighborhood.
Permanent Scars and Self-Consciousness Dog bites almost always leave permanent scars. These marks are often jagged and unsightly. If a scar is on your face, hands, or arms, it can make you feel very self-conscious. You might feel like people are always staring at your injury, which can change how you live your life and interact with others.
Be Detailed to Increase Value To get the most money for your claim, you must be very detailed. Don’t just talk about the physical wound. You need to explain:
- How the injury stopped you from living your life the same way.
- How it hurts to move that part of your body months later.
- The numbness or tingling around the site of the scar.
- How you feel when you look in the mirror.
- The way the attack changed your daily happiness.
How We Recover Money for You
You might be worried about suing someone you know, but you shouldn’t be. In almost every case, we are not trying to take money out of a person’s pocket. Instead, we go after the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance. It is extremely rare to ever have to take these cases to court. As a point of reference, it is rarer to file a lawsuit for a dog bite than for a car accident claim.
If the owner is a friend, family member, or neighbor, remember that the insurance company pays the settlement, not the person out of pocket. That is exactly why people pay for insurance every month! Additionally, if the bite happens at a place of business (like a store or a patio), we can make a claim against both the dog owner and the business’s insurance policy.
Colorado Dog Bite Laws
Colorado has specific laws to protect victims. Under Colorado Revised Statute § 13-21-124, dog owners are held to a standard called strict liability if the bite causes serious bodily injury or death.
This means you do not have to prove the owner was being careless. Also, Colorado does not have a “one-bite rule.” The dog does not have to have bitten someone before for the owner to be responsible. One bite is enough for the owner to be held liable for your medical damages.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Do I Have to Prove the Dog Was “Vicious” Before?No. Under Colorado law, even if the dog was “good,” the owner is still responsible for the injuries.
- What if the Dog Was on a Leash?The owner can still be liable for a bite even if the dog was leashed.
- Does Insurance Really Cover Dog Bites?Yes, most homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies cover dog bite liability.
- What if I Was Bitten While Working?If you were delivering mail or fixing something at a home and got bitten, you have a very strong case.
- How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?In Colorado, there are strict time limits of two years (statutes of limitations), so it is best to call a lawyer immediately.
- Will the Dog Be Put Down?That is usually up to Animal Control, not your civil lawsuit for money. Most dogs are put in quarantine for 10 days, not put down.
- What if the Owner Doesn’t Have Insurance?We can investigate other ways to get you paid, including the owner’s personal assets.
- Can I Claim Money for My Child?Yes, children are the most frequent victims of dog bites, and we specialize in protecting their future.
- What if I Was Partially at Fault?Even if the owner claims you “provoked” the dog, you should still talk to a lawyer. Often, owners are still responsible.
10. How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?
We work on a “contingency fee,” which means you pay us nothing unless we win money for you.
We Are Leaders in Colorado Dog Bite Law
At Denver Personal Injury Lawyers®, we are the leaders in helping victims of dog attacks. Many of our clients are hard-working people like delivery drivers and home service workers who were just doing their jobs when they were bitten. We also represent many children who were bitten while visiting friends or relatives.
Remember, dog bite claims are worth a lot of money in Colorado, and our firm specializes in getting every dollar you deserve. We have a long history of success in helping injured people get the medical care they need and the large settlements they deserve for what they have been through.
Contact us today at denverlaw.com to start your claim.