You may have legal options if you sustained an injury caused by a dog bite in Denver, Colorado. Colorado’s bite laws allow you to seek compensation from the dog’s owner for bite injuries, even if the dog never bit anyone before, with help from a Denver dog bite lawyer.
Our team at Zinda Law Group can help you handle these cases. We stand up for your best interests, investigate your situation, and track all losses caused by your injuries. Find out more with a Denver personal injury lawyer.
Call us or fill out our online contact form to learn more.
What Compensation do You Get for a Denver Dog Bite?
If you bring a lawsuit against a dog owner, the dog owner or their insurance company will face the possibility of having to compensate you for the harm you suffered. In legal terms, the court refers to this harm as “damages.” You may receive the following:
Economic Damages for Denver Dog Bites
A Denver dog bite attorney can quantify and calculate economic damages. The primary economic damages at issue in a dog bite lawsuit often include the following:
- Medical and pharmacy bills;
- Future medical costs;
- Psychological counseling costs;
- Lost income and wages;
- Future lost income; and
- Loss of earning capacity
Our team focuses on bringing you fair compensation for your medical care and other losses. We take all cases involving animal bites seriously and can discuss costs for things like cosmetic surgery to repair scar tissue from dog attacks when you contact us.
Non-Economic Damages for Denver Dog Bites
Non-economic damages are intangible losses subjectively evaluated by the jury in a dog bite lawsuit. Types of non-economic damages may include:
- Pain and suffering;
- Emotional distress;
- Disfigurement;
- Disability; and
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Whether you can pursue non-economic damages in a dog bite claim depends on your situation. A Denver dog bite injury attorney can help you learn more about this form of compensation.
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Send Request NowWho Can You Sue for a Dog Bite?
You may seek compensation from the pet owner after a dog bite attack. Colorado generally holds dog owners liable when their dog causes harm or physical injuries to another person. Remember that this may be true even if the dog did not bite you but caused damage to your property or belongings.
Deciding whether you should pursue legal action requires you to consider many important factors, such as the severity of your injuries and whether the prospective legal battle will be worth your time, money, and effort.
Speaking with a Denver dog bite lawyer may be an opportunity to gain helpful legal advice. We can discuss your options with a risk-free initial consultation.
Why Hire a Denver Dog Bite Lawyer?
Hiring a dog bite lawyer in Denver can:
Offer You Legal Expertise
The Colorado statutes covering dog bites and negligence are complex. An experienced dog bite attorney in Denver can explain contributory negligence and the statute of limitations, providing valuable legal guidance through your bite injury lawsuit.
Investigate Your Animal Attack
A Denver dog bite lawyer may strengthen your claim by interviewing witnesses and obtaining access to essential records. Your legal team may review the relevant Colorado statutes, go over animal control laws, and find the responsible party.
Negotiate and Represent You at Trial
A dog bite attorney in Denver can fight on your behalf for fair and just compensation. A lawyer can fiercely negotiate with insurance companies and opposing counsel. If the case goes to court, your attorney will advocate for you, always keeping your situation and best interests in mind.
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For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Denver, call 800-863-5312
What Should You Do After a Denver Dog Bite?
It’s essential to take prompt action after an animal attack. Make sure that you:
1. Seek Medical Attention
You should seek immediate medical attention if you sustained a bodily injury from a dog bite. Medical treatment can increase your chances of a speedy recovery and prevent you from suffering further injury due to infection.
Doctors can treat nerve damage, tissue damage, bone fractures, muscle tears, and catastrophic injuries.
It is important to remember that even bites from small dogs can lead to serious health concerns. Thus, you should not hesitate to contact medical professionals following a dog bite accident.
2. File a Report and Document the Accident
Ensure you file a report with the appropriate local animal control agency, particularly if the dog is not yours. By filing a report, you may receive important documentation that may be helpful when seeking compensation for your injuries.
Filing a report may also help prevent others from being attacked in the future because a dog owner is more likely to take extra precautions with his animal if the animal has a history of aggressive behavior.
3. Contact a Dog Bite Attorney
Finally, you should contact a Denver dog bite lawyer. An attorney can help you file and resolve a dog bite claim. A lawyer will listen to the facts of your case and will be able to guide you through the ensuing lawsuit and settlement process, so consider hiring a law firm as soon as possible after a dog bite injury.
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How Long After a Denver Dog Bite Can You Sue?
Colorado has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Therefore, you must file a lawsuit within two years of the date of your dog bite accident to have a chance to secure damages.
If you fail to bring a claim within the statute of limitations, you effectively lose your chance at litigating the claim in court.
Because filing a timely lawsuit is critical, and specific circumstances may pause or “toll” a statute of limitations, it is essential to consider discussing your case with a Denver dog bite attorney.
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How Long does a Denver Dog Bite Settlement Take?
The settlement process varies depending on essential factors such as the injury’s severity and the parties’ willingness to settle. A dog bite settlement can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months.
Generally, the more severe the injuries, the longer it will take for the parties to reach a settlement agreement. You can learn more about the time frame for your case with a Denver dog bite lawyer.
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Are Denver Dog Owners Responsible for Animal Attacks?
In general, Colorado expects a dog owner to act reasonably and with ordinary care with respect to the care and handling of his dog. Therefore, a dog owner must take the necessary precautions to ensure the dog does not harm another person. Such measures may include:
- Using a leash
- Keeping the dog in a fenced yard
- Updating the dog’s vaccinations
- Keeping the dog away from strangers
- Treating aggression early
- Properly training the dog
- Posting warning signs
However, a “dangerous dog” has a special definition. Colorado law defines a dangerous dog as one that meets one or more of the following criteria:
- Inflicts bodily or serious bodily injury on or causes the death of a person or domestic animal (meaning any dog, cat, or other animal kept as a household pet or livestock);
- Demonstrates tendencies that would cause a reasonable person to believe that the dog may inflict bodily or severe bodily injury on or causes the death of a person or domestic animal;
- Engages in or is trained for animal fighting
Under the Colorado statute, it is a crime to own a dangerous dog. Punishment can range from a fine to jail time, depending on the nature of the accident and the number of previous violations.
Further, the court may order the owner of a dangerous dog to pay restitution if the dog causes someone physical harm or damages a person’s property.
If the court finds that a person who owns a dangerous dog violated the statute and does not confiscate it, the dog owner must take certain precautions to confine the dog and register it with the state. You can learn more with a dog bite lawyer in Denver, CO.
What Are the Steps in a Denver Dog Bite Lawsuit?
To pursue compensation for your injuries following a dog bite accident, you may need to file a dog bite lawsuit against the dog owner. Listed below are several necessary critical steps that comprise the process of filing a lawsuit after a dog bite accident.
1. File a Report
The first step to filing a dog bite claim is to file a formal report as soon as possible following the accident. You should file the information with the appropriate local animal control agency. Notably, a formal report will allow you to provide your recollection of the events that led to and caused the accident.
2. Contact an Attorney
Your next step should be to contact a Denver dog bite lawyer. Filing a lawsuit is an intensive process that requires diligence and knowledge of essential timelines and procedures. A lawyer can work on your behalf by timely filing a claim.
Part of the process may require you to communicate with the dog owner’s insurance company. The insurance company may encourage you to accept a settlement offer instead of pursuing legal action.
Discussing the facts of your case with an experienced attorney before making any decisions or accepting any claim settlements is essential.
3. Investigation
The investigation phase of filing a dog bite lawsuit involves the attorney gathering facts and evidence to establish that the dog’s owner is liable for your injuries. One component of this process involves accounting for each of your damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and property damages.
4. Settlement and Lawsuit
Finally, your case is ready to be litigated. Before litigation, you may have the option of accepting a settlement from the dog owner or the dog owner’s insurance company. If it is not in your best interest to accept the settlement offer, your case will go to court.
You Can Get Help from a Denver Dog Bite Attorney Today
A dedicated Denver dog bite lawyer can help you with your claim today. Our team at Zinda Law Group can help you seek the maximum compensation you may be entitled to as a victim of an animal attack. We stand with you and represent your best interests in and out of court.
Call or fill out our online contact form today for a free consultation with one of our injury attorneys. As one of our clients, you will pay nothing unless we can win your dog bite case.
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Our Awards
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA BY THE NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (2016-2020)
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA (2009, 2011-2012, 2014-2021), JOE CAPUTO (2019-2021), BURGESS WILLIAMS (2019-2020), & NEIL SOLOMON (2020-2021)
AWARDED TO JACK ZINDA (2016-2020), JOE CAPUTO (2016 – 2020) & BURGESS WILLIAMS (2016-2017)
LIFETIME MEMBERS JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA & JOE CAPUTO
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