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Greater Denver’s Dog Bite Law Firm
Dog Attack Injury Legal Services in Denver Metro Area
Whether you’re a “dog person” or not, it’s hard to ignore their cute factor when you see a pup enjoying the wind out of a car window. Unfortunately, these cute canine companions aren’t always as friendly as we might hope. If you were harmed in a dog attack, you might be unsure of what to do next. A dog bite attorney may be able to help.
At Fuller Personal Injury Law, our firm has spent over two decades helping negligence victims seek justice. While suffering any injury is a difficult experience, dog attacks are particularly disheartening since they’re often caused by negligent pet owners. If this is what happened to you, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. Contact our law firm today for a free case evaluation.
What Is Strict Liability for Dog Bites?
Every state has its own laws regarding dog bites. Fortunately, Colorado statutes are mostly geared toward victims. For instance, there is no one-bite rule that requires an owner to know their animal is dangerous in order to face liability. More importantly, our state establishes circumstances where strict liability exists on part of the pet owner.
Strict liability means that it’s not necessary to prove that a responsible party acted negligently in any way. A dog’s owner could have taken every possible step to avoid potential issues, but if their pet still harms someone, they could be held liable for financial losses. However, strict liability only exists in certain instances. The following elements must be met for this law to come into play:
- The attack occurred while the victims was lawfully on public or private property
- The attack resulted in serious bodily injury or death
When these two elements are met, it may be unnecessary for an injury victim to prove anything else. Your dog bite attorney can help you understand if your case qualifies. Keep in mind that a serious bodily injury can take many forms. Any injury that results in a substantial risk of death, impairment, permanent disfigurement, or even broken bones may qualify.
If strict liability exists in your case, you may be eligible for a variety of economic damages. These include compensation for medical bills, lost income, loss of earning potential, counseling costs, and future medical bills. To fully understand what you may be eligible for, reach out to our law firm today to schedule a free consultation.
What if You Didn’t Suffer Serious Bodily Injury?
Not every dog attack will result in serious bodily injury. Perhaps the attack caused no permanent damage, but your medical bills are still expensive. Even worse, you may end up dealing with years of pain and suffering on top of emotional distress. Fortunately, the absence of a serious bodily injury does not mean you can’t seek compensation.
When an attack doesn’t fall under strict liability, dog bite victims can still seek compensation under the rules of negligence. They’ll need to show that the owner of the animal acted inappropriately (e.g., neglectfully, unlawfully, etc.) in some way. If they can show that the owner’s improper actions are what led to injury, a victim may be entitled to compensation.
While having to prove liability may sound more difficult than strict liability, there are some benefits to going this route. For instance, a personal injury lawsuit involving negligence may allow victims to recover non-economic damages. This is not possible in strict liability cases, so it may be in your best interest to discuss your options with a dog bite attorney today.
What Issues May Disqualify You From Financial Compensation?
It’s important to know that being bitten by a dog in Colorado will not immediately entitle a person to compensation. For instance, an injury victim may be disqualified from recovering in a negligence lawsuit if they share part of the blame. That’s because our state’s modified comparative negligence rules bar plaintiffs from damages if they’re more than 50% at fault.
There are also disqualifiers in strict liability lawsuits. For instance, a dog owner cannot be strictly liable if the bite victim was unlawfully on public or private property. A person also cannot recover compensation under strict liability rules if they provoked the animal or if the canine was performing official duties as a police or military dog.
The biggest question people typically ask, however, is whether a ‘Beware of Dog’ sign protects pet owners from liability. This answer is complex and may vary depending on your case.
Do ‘Beware of Dog’ Signs Protect Colorado Pet Owners?
‘Dangerous Dog’ and ‘Beware of Dog’ signs are both important safety measures that many pet owners utilize. These warning signs can help prevent unnecessary injuries, but do they provide any real protection to canine owners who use them? Under Colorado dog bite law, they absolutely do. However, this protection does have limits.
Under Colorado’s dog bite laws, a ‘Beware of Dog’ sign can negate strict liability claims. However, this is only true if the sign is in a conspicuous area. Additionally, such a warning does not disqualify victims from receiving compensation. It simply means they must prove that the dog owner acted negligently. A dog bite lawyer may be able to help in this endeavor.
Contact a Dog Bite Attorney Today
Many of us grow up viewing dogs as “man’s best friend,” and in most cases, that’s exactly the relationship that’s cultivated between canines and humans. Unfortunately, any number of factors can lead a dog to become violent. If you or a loved one are at the receiving end of this violence, you can suffer serious injuries and a variety of other losses.
At Fuller Personal Injury Law, we have seen the difficulties that often come after animal attacks. That’s why we strive to help injury victims recover fair compensation for what they’ve gone through. If you’re eligible for financial recovery, our dog bite attorney will work tirelessly to help you receive it.
Contact us today by calling 720-770-3832 to schedule a free consultation. We’re here to help.
