Black Dog Showing Teeth - Dog Bite Attorney

Colorado Dog Bite Attorney

Injured on Someone else's property in Aurora or Denver Metro?

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Injured by a Dog? We’ll Handle the Claim While You Focus on Healing.

A dog attack can leave more than physical wounds—there’s pain, scarring, lost work, fear of dogs, and an insurance company eager to minimize your injuries. At The Lawrence Law Firm, we represent dog-bite victims across Aurora, Denver, and the Front Range (Arapahoe, Adams, Jefferson, and Douglas Counties). Our job is simple: get you the medical care and full compensation the law allows, while protecting you from insurer tactics.

We know Colorado’s mix of strict liability, negligence, and premises liability rules for dog bites and dog-attack injuries. From day one, we preserve evidence, identify every available insurance policy, and build a case that maximizes your net recovery.

Our dog bite attorney is here to help.

Why hire a dog bite lawyer (instead of handling it alone)?

Dog-bite cases are different from “ordinary” injury claims. An experienced dog bite attorney adds value by:

  • Proving liability under multiple theories: strict liability (for serious bodily injury), negligence, and premises liability against landowners.

  • Documenting scarring and future care: surgical evaluations (plastic surgery), laser revision plans, and psychological trauma (PTSD).

  • Coordinating billing: MedPay, health insurance, and medical liens—so treatment continues and surprise bills don’t derail you.

  • Finding coverage: homeowners, renters, landlord, or commercial policies; plus excess/umbrella coverage where available.

  • Negotiating strategically: sequencing claims and lien reductions to improve your take-home result.

  • Litigating when needed: if an insurer lowballs or denies, we file suit and try the case.

Insurers often rush for a quick, cheap payout before scarring or nerve damage is fully known. We won’t let that happen.

Colorado dog bite law—plain English

Colorado blends several legal paths:

  • Strict Liability (C.R.S. § 13-21-124): When a dog bite causes serious bodily injury or death and the victim was lawfully on public or private property, the owner is strictly liable—no need to prove negligence—for economic losses (medical bills, lost wages, etc.).
    Common statutory defenses/exceptions can include provocation, trespassing, certain working dogs (e.g., law enforcement or agricultural use), and veterinary/kennel scenarios.

  • Negligence & Negligence Per Se: For non-serious injuries, or to recover non-economic damages (pain, suffering, disfigurement), we also pursue negligence theories (e.g., failure to control a known dangerous dog, violation of leash or containment ordinances).

  • Premises Liability (C.R.S. § 13-21-115): Landowners (including landlords and property managers) owe duties based on your legal status (invitee, licensee, trespasser). We often use this statute when an attack occurs on the owner’s property or common areas.

  • Comparative Negligence: Colorado uses modified comparative negligence. Your compensation can be reduced if you’re partly at fault (e.g., provocation)—but you can still recover so long as you’re less than 50% at fault.

Bottom line: Even if the insurer says “no strict liability,” we typically have multiple avenues to full compensation.

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Who can be held responsible?

  • Dog owner/keeper (primary).

  • Property owner/landlord (when they knew or should have known a dog posed a danger, or failed to correct hazardous conditions like broken gates).

  • Business/HOA (attacks in shared/common areas with poor maintenance or policy enforcement).

  • Caretakers/handlers (dog walkers, sitters, kennels) depending on facts and contracts.

We analyze control, knowledge of prior aggression, local leash laws, fencing, signage, and complaints to assign fault correctly.

Insurance that may apply

  • Homeowners/Renters (often primary source; some policies exclude certain breeds or prior bites—coverage language matters).

  • Landlord or HOA general liability (attacks in shared areas).

  • Commercial policies (attacks at businesses, groomers, daycares, delivery premises).

  • Umbrella/Excess layers in severe cases.

  • MedPay under homeowners policies (sometimes available regardless of fault, but limited).

We request policies in writing, identify exclusions/endorsements, and pursue every available dollar.

Common injuries in dog attacks

Dog attacks cause a unique combination of penetrating trauma and crush/tearing injuries:

  • Lacerations/punctures, avulsion, degloving

  • Nerve injuries, tendon damage, compartment syndrome

  • Fractures (especially hands/arms in defensive wounds)

  • Facial injuries & dental trauma (frequent in children)

  • Scarring & disfigurement (keloid/hypertrophic scars)

  • Infections (Pasteurella, Staph, MRSA, Capnocytophaga) and rabies exposure concerns

  • Psychological harm: anxiety, nightmares, PTSD, fear of dogs

We document each injury with high-quality photographs (same lighting/angle over time), surgical consults, and therapy records to support both present and future damages.

What compensation can you recover?

We pursue every legally recoverable category, including:

  • Medical costs (ER, sutures, antibiotics, surgeries, plastic/reconstructive care, therapy, scar revision/laser)

  • Future medical care and life-care needs (revision surgeries, counseling)

  • Lost wages and diminished earning capacity

  • Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life

  • Physical impairment/disfigurement

  • Out-of-pocket expenses (dressings, scar gels, travel to specialists)

  • Property damage (glasses, clothing)

  • Wrongful death damages where applicable

Tip: Visible scars and facial injuries often justify future care allocations (e.g., staged revisions), which we support with specialist reports.

Evidence that wins dog bite cases

We move quickly to secure:

  • Animal Control report and rabies/quarantine records.

  • Medical records (initial ER notes, wound measurements, plastic-surgery plans).

  • High-resolution photos at consistent intervals (day 1, 7, 30, 90, 180).

  • Witness statements (what the dog did before/after; leash status; owner’s comments).

  • Prior complaints to Animal Control or HOA; vet records if available.

  • Scene evidence: broken fences/gates, open doors, inadequate signage, failure to leash.

  • Ordinance proof: leash/containment rules (negligence per se).

  • Loss documentation: work restrictions, childcare needs, counseling.

Early preservation stops the “it wasn’t that bad” defense later.

What to do after a dog bite

  1. Get medical care immediately—tell providers all areas of pain; ask about infection prophylaxis and tetanus.

  2. Call Animal Control/Police to create an official report and verify rabies quarantine/vaccinations.

  3. Identify owner/handler (name, address, phone, photos of the dog if safe).

  4. Photograph injuries before and after treatment; keep clothing (don’t wash).

  5. Collect witness info (names, phone numbers, brief statements).

  6. Avoid recorded statements to any insurer until you speak with a lawyer.

  7. Call a dog bite attorney to open claims correctly and preserve evidence.

Special issues: kids, apartment complexes, and “Beware of Dog” signs

  • Children suffer a high rate of facial bites. We prioritize pediatric plastic-surgery consults and long-term scar management, plus counseling when needed.

  • Apartments/HOAs: We examine leash policies, prior complaints, gate/fence maintenance, and lighting. A landowner claim may apply when common-area failures contribute.

  • Warning signs: “Beware of Dog” isn’t an automatic defense; it can prove knowledge of risk. Liability depends on overall facts (control, containment, foreseeability).

Deadlines in Colorado

  • General personal injury (dog bites): typically 2 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit.

  • Claims involving public entities/property: strict early written notice may apply.

  • Minors: special tolling rules can extend deadlines—ask us to evaluate your child’s timeline.

Because medical healing and scar maturation take time, we stage the case so you don’t settle before the true extent of injury is known.

Our Dog Bite Attorney’s Process

  • Free consultation: Liability analysis, coverage map, and a treatment/claims plan.

  • Evidence lock-down: Reports, photos, witness outreach, owner/policy information.

  • Care coordination: Specialist referrals, MedPay usage, health-plan subrogation guidance.

  • Demand package: Medical proof, future care estimates, and scar documentation that insurers can’t ignore.

  • Negotiation & litigation: Our dog bite attorney pushes for a full-value settlement; if the carrier won’t be fair, we file suit and try the case.

  • No fee unless we win.

Dog Bite Attorney FAQs

Do I have a case if there was no broken skin (e.g., knock-down injury)?
Yes—non-bite injuries caused by a dog (knock-downs, leash entanglement) can support negligence or premises claims, even when strict liability doesn’t apply.

The owner says I “provoked” the dog—does that kill my claim?
Not necessarily. We analyze the facts. Comparative negligence and “provocation” are defenses the insurer must prove; video, witnesses, and animal-control findings often rebut them.

Will the dog be taken away if I file a claim?
A civil claim does not automatically result in seizure or euthanasia. Animal Control decisions depend on the dog’s history and the incident facts, separate from your injury claim.

What if the owner has no insurance?
We still explore landowner/landlord liability, umbrella coverage, or other responsible parties. If none exist, we discuss practical recovery options before you invest time and energy.

How is scarring valued?
By location (face/visible areas), size/texture, color contrast, functional limitations, and future revision needs. Plastic-surgery opinions and photo timelines drive value.

Should I talk to the dog owner’s insurer?
Not before you have a dog bite lawyer. Adjusters may seek statements that minimize injuries or shift blame. We handle communications to protect your claim.

Why choose The Lawrence Law Firm

  • Dog-bite focus: We routinely handle bite and attack claims for adults and children.

  • Evidence-driven: From Animal Control records to staged scar photography, we build compelling proof.

  • Local experience: Courts and carriers across Aurora, Denver, Arapahoe, Adams, Jefferson, and Douglas.

  • Personalized service: Direct access to your attorney; clear, proactive updates.

  • Results mindset: Strategy aimed at maximum net recovery—not just the headline number.

Areas we serve

Aurora • Denver • Lakewood • Arvada • Thornton • Westminster • Centennial • Littleton • Douglas County (Castle Rock, Parker, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch) • Arapahoe County • Adams County • Jefferson County and nearby communities.

Speak with a Colorado dog bite attorney today

If you or your child was injured by a dog, you don’t have to take on the insurance company alone. Call The Lawrence Law Firm for a free, no-pressure consultation. We’ll secure the evidence, coordinate your care, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.

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Areas of Practice

Protect Your Rights

Service Areas

  • Denver County
  • Arapahoe County
  • Adams County
  • Douglas County
  • Jefferson County

Contact Our Dog Bite Attorney

Contact Information

Address

2821 S. Parker Rd. Suite 865 Aurora, CO 80014

Contact

lain@coloradodefenders.com Ph: 720-369-4929

Hours

Monday-Friday: 8 am - 6 pm Weekends and Afterhours By Appointment

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