Category: Dog Bite

At Donaldson Law, LLC, our personal injury attorneys in Denver know that dog bites can cause serious injuries and even death, especially during a sustained attack.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, dog bites are the second most frequent cause of emergency room visits in children, as they are more likely than adults to need medical attention after a bite occurs, as their injuries are often much more severe.

Because of a child’s size, and inability to understand an animal’s temperament or level of distress, kids account for over 51% of all dog bites that occur in the U.S., according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

If your child was bitten by a dog in Colorado, it is important to seek medical care right away and follow all physician’s orders before learning more about your legal rights and options to hold the dog’s owner liable for their injuries.

Why Are Dog Bite Injuries So Severe in Children?

While all dog bite injuries are different, a child’s small stature and inability to defend themselves or escape the situation can lead to a sustained attack that leaves them severely injured.

When a child is bitten by a dog, the impact typically occurs to the head, neck, and face, which can cause significant injuries that require complex medical care and treatment to ensure scarring and disfigurement are not permanent factors.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nearly 27,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery because of dog bites last year throughout the country.

When extended medical care is required, the expense and emotional trauma can be overwhelming for both the child and parents. We can help provide answers that allow our clients to make informed decisions about pursuing the dog’s owner for financial recovery.

Who Can Be Held Liable After a Child is Bitten By a Dog in Colorado?

Our Colorado dog bite law states that anyone who suffers from serious bodily injury or death after receiving a dog bite while lawfully on private or public property is entitled to sue the dog owner for economic damages.

That is true regardless of whether the dog was vicious or a dangerous dog breed, or whether the dog owner knew or had knowledge of the dog’s dangerous or vicious propensities.

Typically in over 75% of all dog bite cases in the U.S., the victim is bitten by a family or friend’s pet, which makes children even more vulnerable when visiting relatives who own a dog.

It also makes the idea of pursuing a friend or family member for damages an uncomfortable and potentially relationship damaging scenario.

We can help. Our experienced dog bite injury attorneys in Denver may pursue the dog owner’s insurance coverage directly for your damages, removing the personal connection from the legal process to pursue tangible results.

Contact Our Experienced Denver Dog Bite Attorneys at Donaldson Law for a Free Case Assessment Today

If you or your child has been bitten by a dog in Colorado, contact our skilled personal injury lawyers in Denver at Donaldson Law, LLC by calling (303) 458-5000 or contact us online to schedule a free confidential consultation to discuss your case.

What Is the One-Bite Rule?

There is a pervasive myth that we often hear at Donaldson Law, LLC: the one-bite rule. Most people assume that if they or their children experience a dog attack and are injured, they can only sue and receive compensation if that dog bit someone before. The underlying assumption is that the dog’s owner is only responsible if they knew the dog could be dangerous, and the owner doesn’t know that until after the first bite.

This assumption isn’t entirely wrong, but it’s not the full picture either. Most states do not strictly follow the one-bite rule anymore. Mississippi is the only one that sticks to this rule and has not modified it in some way. Most states, including Colorado, have updated their dog bite law beyond the simple one-bite rule to give dog owners a greater amount of liability for their pets.

In Colorado, whether or not a dog has violent propensities matters a great deal. If you can show that the dog bit someone before, or had been vicious or aggressive, then you may recover both economic and non-economic damages associated with the attack. This ensures you recover full and fair compensation for your or your child’s injuries and not just basic compensation for your expenses.

However, you are not without legal recourse if you cannot prove that the first bite took place. Under Colorado law, dog owners are strictly liable for economic damages when their animals cause serious injuries or death. If you or your child were seriously harmed by a dog that was not known to be aggressive or dangerous, an attorney can help you receive compensation for your medical expenses and other financial losses.

Because of common myths and misunderstandings surrounding dog bite law, it is essential you speak with an experienced Denver dog attack lawyer before deciding what to do. Call Donaldson Law, LLC at (303) 458-5000 to schedule a free consultation.

Colorado’s Dog Bite Statute

Colorado’s dog bite statute addresses strict liability. Colorado Revised Statutes §13-21-124 says that any person who suffers a serious bodily injury or death from being bitten by a dog while lawfully on public or private property is entitled to bring a civil action to recover economic damages from the dog owner regardless of the viciousness or dangerous propensities of the dog or the dog owner’s knowledge or lack of knowledge of the dog’s propensities.

This law makes a dog owner automatically liable for any serious injuries or fatalities the dog causes. Serious bodily injuries are defined as those involving:

• A substantial risk of death;
• A substantial risk of serious permanent disfigurement;
• A substantial risk of protracted loss or impairment of the function of a body part or organ;
• Breaks;
• Fractures; or
• Second or third-degree burns

Therefore, if a dog attack caused you or your child to suffer any broken bones, significant lacerations that will leave scars, soft tissue injuries that could lead to permanent physical limitations, or organ damage, then you should call a Denver personal injury lawyer. The dog owner is liable for your financial injuries associated with the attack.

If you can also prove that the dog had dangerous propensities, you may recover non-economic damages. This would include compensation for your pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring and disfigurement, and disability.

Talk With an Experienced Attorney After a Dog Attack

Being attacked by a dog, or watching an animal attack your child, is a traumatic experience. At Donaldson Law, LLC, we want to obtain you as much compensation as possible. To this end, we strive to prove that the dog had dangerous propensities, which may involve having bitten someone before. Receiving a settlement or jury award may not feel like consolation, but it can help you and your family move beyond the incident.

To learn more about how we handle dog bite claims, contact our Dog Bite Lawyers in Denver at Donaldson Law, LLC online or call (303) 458-5000 to schedule a free consultation.