Denver Dog Bite Attorney
Were you or a loved one bitten by a dog in Denver, CO? Don’t hesitate to call the award-winning team at Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers. Our Denver dog bite lawyers can help you recover damages for your accident and injuries. Call us today at (720) 613-9706.
Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers is a leader in personal injury litigation and is known for its trustworthy, reliable, and effective legal representation. Backed by over 50 years of combined experience, we’ve compelled powerful insurance companies, employers, property owners, and government agencies to pay our clients millions in financial awards.
Don’t let the dog’s owner or another responsible party off the hook. Contact our Denver law office and ask us to help you get the financial justice you deserve. Your first consultation is free.
How Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers Helps Dog Bite Victims in Denver, CO
Few things are as traumatic as getting bitten by a dog. Being bitten by a dog can be painful and cause debilitating, potentially permanent physical trauma. You may struggle with the memories of the attack for the rest of your life, which can make it difficult to keep your job and lead a normal life. While money won’t take away your pain, it can help to offset the financial stress and suffering you’ve experienced since you were attacked.
Hiring an experienced Denver personal injury lawyer can result in the dog’s owner, the insurance company, and other liable parties taking full responsibility for your injuries.
Choosing Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers means giving yourself the time to recover while knowing your dog bite lawsuit is in skilled hands. When you hire our award-winning attorneys, you make it clear that you won’t be pushed around and aren’t afraid to be patient to get the results you deserve.
Count on our top-rated dog bite attorneys to:
- Carefully investigate the circumstances surrounding your dog bite case
- Evaluate your medical records, police reports, veterinary records, video footage, witness statements, photographs, forensics reports, and other evidence obtained during the discovery process
- Hire expert witnesses and specialists to collaborate with our legal team
- Assess your damages and determine what your dog bite claim is worth
- Determine who, other than the dog’s owner, might be liable for your dog bite injuries
- Actively seek a maximum settlement offer during negotiations
- Reject lowball offers and bring your dog bite lawsuit straight to a Denver jury
You have a great opportunity in front of you. Our dog bite attorneys in Denver want to help you make the most of it.
We represent our clients on a contingency fee basis. Our fees depend on the results we can achieve, so we don’t get paid unless we win compensation for you.
Contact our law office in Denver today to schedule a free consultation.
Understanding Colorado’s Dog Bite Laws
While many states have adopted a one-bite rule for dog bites, Colorado is not one of them. Instead, dog owners in Colorado are strictly liable if their dog attacks someone, regardless of that dog’s history of viciousness (or lack thereof).
Strict liability means that the owner is on the hook for a victim’s damages even if they weren’t negligent in taking care of or controlling the animal.
However, an owner will not be strictly liable if they can prove that the dog bite victim:
- Was trespassing at the time of the attack, OR
- Provoked the dog before being bitten.
Similarly, veterinarians, police officers, and other professionals may not be strictly liable for an animal’s actions.
What Do I Have to Prove to Win a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Denver?
It depends. More than one party could potentially be liable for your dog bite injuries. The underlying basis of your claim will dictate what you have to prove to win.
Strict Liability
When you file a strict liability claim against the dog’s owner for a dog bite, you’ll need to prove:
- You were bitten by a dog owned by or under the control of the defendant,
- You sustained injuries.
If you’re accused of trespassing or provoking the animal, you may have to challenge these claims to safeguard your ability to get compensation.
Negligence
Dog bite claims can also be a matter of premises liability. If you were injured at a park, in an apartment complex, in a store, or on someone else’s property, you may have a right to sue the owner of the premises for your injuries.
That’s because property owners have a duty to protect guests from foreseeable harm. If the owner knew or should have known that a dog with a habit of biting was on the premises, they might be liable if they didn’t do anything to protect you from getting hurt.
When you file a premises liability claim based on a property owner’s negligence, you’ll have to prove:
- The property owner owed you a duty of care because you were lawfully on the premises
- The owner breached this duty of care by not taking steps to protect you from a dog with a propensity for viciousness
- The owner’s inaction was a direct and proximate cause of your dog bite injuries
- You’ve suffered damages
Whether your claim is based on strict liability or negligence, the burden of proof lies with you. Colorado state law requires you to prove your allegations by a preponderance of the evidence. Simply put, your claims have to be more likely true than not.
Dog Bites Can Inflict Severe Physical Injuries
An estimated 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs every year. Statistically speaking, children account for more than half of the nation’s dog bite victims.
For many, dog bit injuries are severe and require prompt medical attention.
Some of the most commonly reported dog bite injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Crushing injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Puncture wounds
- Eye injuries
- Facial injuries
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Nerve damage
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
Dog bites can also transfer dangerous infections and/or cause victims to develop serious illnesses.
Do not hesitate to seek medical care if you’ve been bitten by a dog in Denver. Getting to the closest hospital can help mitigate your injuries and ensure there’s a record of the dog bite injuries you’ve sustained. This record may be instrumental in helping you prove your losses and holding the dog owner accountable for their animal’s actions.
What Compensation Can Be Awarded to Denver Dog Bite Victims?
When you file a dog bite claim in Denver, Colorado, you’ll have the opportunity to seek two types of compensatory awards.
These include economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are awarded to offset the financial stresses associated with:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Disability
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Nursing care
- Funeral expenses if a dog bite in Denver is fatal
Non-economic damages are awarded to help you cope with the much harder-to-value pain and suffering you experience because a dog has bitten you.
This can include money for:
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Physical disfigurement
- Scarring
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Chronic physical pain
- Embarrassment
Punitive damages might also be awarded if your dog bite lawsuit goes to trial and there’s evidence that the dog’s owner instructed their animal to attack you.
Our Denver dog bite attorneys will work hard to build a legal claim that proves your losses, establishes liability, and can help you recover the life-changing financial award you need to get better.
How Long Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Colorado?
Colorado applies a two-year statute of limitations to most dog bite lawsuits. This gives you two years from when a dog bit you to seek compensation from the dog’s owner, insurance company, or another liable party.
In Colorado, if a dog bites a child, the statute of limitations is tolled until the child turns 18. The child then has until their 20th birthday to file a claim unless a claim has already been filed on their behalf.
You can’t let the statute of limitations expire without taking action. Once the deadline passes, you may lose the ability to secure monetary benefits to help you move forward.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Successful Denver Dog Bite Attorney Today
Don’t struggle with the aftermath of a dog attack in Denver on your own. Call Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers and discover how our Denver dog bite attorneys can help you fight for a top-dollar financial recovery.
Recognized as leaders in personal injury litigation, our award-winning legal team has a proven track record of winning tough cases. Backed by over 50 years of combined experience, we’ve won millions for clients like you.
Contact our law office in Denver to learn more about how we can make a difference in your life, too. Your first consultation is free.
ial consultation at (720) 613-9706 or complete our free case evaluation form and we will contact you.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Denver, CO
Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Denver Office
1610 Wynkoop Street. Suite 120. Denver, CO. 80202
(720) 613-9706
