“Don’t worry, my dog doesn’t bite.”
This is something we’ve all heard at one time or another. And while many dogs can indeed live up to the title of man’s best friend, others can leave you on high alert of an attack.
And dog attacks have seen a bit of a recent spike. According to 9News, the city of Denver saw 995 dog bite reports throughout 2024. This is the highest number the city has seen since 2018, when it started tracking dog bite stats.
This report also comes alongside the news that 6,000 U.S. Postal Service workers suffered from dog attacks in 2024. Denver ranked tenth in the country when it came to these postal worker attacks.
Experiencing a dog bite can be a traumatic event, both in terms of the physical damage that follows and the mental trauma involved. But after you experience a dog bite, how do you prove who’s at fault?
Well, it can be fairly complicated.
Law One has recovered millions of dollars for victims of dog attacks over the years. It is an area in which the “blame the victim” mentality is quite prevalent.
While plenty of factors can be involved, we believe the owner is at fault more often than not. There are far too many unprovoked dog attacks in not just the state of Colorado, but neighboring areas like Kansas.
Considering the often massive medical bills associated with dog attacks, alongside everything from loss of income to decreased quality of life, we believe that victims deserve just compensation.
Fortunately, Colorado has a strict liability statute that applies in most situations. Strict liability means that the dog owner is liable for damages regardless if they were negligent and regardless of whether or not they had knowledge of the dog’s vicious tendencies.
In Colorado, strict liability is imposed for any dog owner whose dog causes serious bodily injury.
But how is serious bodily injury defined? In Colorado, it’s seen as an injury that:
- Carries the risk of permanent disfigurement
- Results in the potential loss of organ function
- Leaves the victim with breaks and fractures
Scarring can also be seen as a permanent disfigurement, meaning most dog attacks can lead to serious bodily injury.
However, keep in mind that exceptions can also apply in these cases. Strict liability can only be determined if no exceptions exist in a dog attack case.
Some of the exceptions are applicable if:
- The victim is not lawfully on the public or private property when attacked
- The person attacked is on a property that is clearly and conspicuously marked and posted with “No Trespassing” or “Beware of Dog” signs
- The victim knowingly provokes the dog
- Other unique fact pattern exceptions apply
In the event the dog owner knew of the vicious tendencies of the dog, the victim of the attack may also recover from pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent impairment, as well as all economic expenses.
Being attacked by a dog can be an extremely difficult, life-changing event. At Law One, we want you to be fairly compensated if you’re the victim of an unprovoked dog attack.
We’ve seen plenty of these types of cases over the years, and will work with you to make sure that you are treated fairly following such a painful incident. Call us at (303) 831-8313 for a free consultation on your case.
