Denver Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog attacks happen fast and often without warning, leaving victims with real injuries and a long list of unanswered questions, from what to do first to who actually pays for the damage. If you or someone you love was injured this way, a Denver dog bite lawyer at Dormer Harpring can help you find those answers and pursue fair compensation. Colorado law holds negligent dog owners accountable for the physical, financial, and emotional harm caused by a dog bite, and our attorneys build cases that reflect the full weight of that harm. We investigate the circumstances of every attack, identify every liable party, and work to secure the compensation our clients need to heal and move forward. Contact us today at (303) 756-3812 to discuss what happened to you.

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Why Choose Our Denver Dog Bite Lawyers?

Choosing the right attorney after a dog attack affects how much compensation you recover and how much of the process you have to manage on your own. At Dormer Harpring, our attorneys handle every dog bite case with the following approach:

• Personal Attention: Our small caseload means every dog bite client works directly with the attorney handling their case, not a rotating team of paralegals.
• No Upfront Cost: We only get paid if we recover compensation for you, and we advance case costs without charging interest.
• Direct Access: Clients have direct access to their attorney and consistent communication throughout the case.
• Tailored Strategy: We build a legal strategy around your specific circumstances rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

This approach is reflected in the results we’ve secured for past clients:

• $300,000 recovered for a client bitten at a birthday party by the host’s dog, an attack that required over a dozen stitches and left lasting physical and emotional scars, after the insurer made no initial offer.
• $280,000 recovered, an amount above the policy’s maximum limits, for a client bitten by a dog inside her own home after the insurer initially denied liability.

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case, but they reflect the preparation and advocacy we bring to every dog bite claim.

How Can a Denver Dog Bite Lawyer Help Me?

At your consultation, we will begin determining whether you have a valid dog or animal bite claim. From there, we will start building your case, which can include:

• Collecting any relevant evidence
• Proving a dog or animal was not leashed, fenced, or restrained
• Discovering whether the animal had dangerous habits
• Hiring any needed experts
• Reviewing your medical records
• Handling any correspondence with the insurance company
• Assessing your claim value
• Negotiating with the insurance company for a fair and just settlement
• Filing a lawsuit and proceeding to litigation if a settlement cannot be reached

Dog bite victims are often reluctant to pursue a claim because they don’t want to sue a neighbor or homeowner. In almost all cases, that concern is unfounded: claims are filed against the owner’s insurance company, and most are resolved through an out-of-court settlement rather than a lawsuit. If you already have a settlement offer, we can review it to confirm it accounts for your injuries and accident-related costs, both now and in the future.

What to Do After a Dog Bite in Denver

Every claim is different, but there are a few steps that tend to make a real difference along the way. Here’s where to start:

• Get Medical Care: Have any bite looked at, even if it seems minor, since punctures can lead to infection or, in rare cases, rabies, according to the CDC.
• Take Photos and Keep Records: If possible, photograph your injuries before treatment and keep medical bills and related expenses.
• Collect Names and Contact Information: If available, exchange information with the dog owner, and get contact details from any witnesses before they leave the scene.
• File a Report: Notify Denver Animal Protection, which will investigate the incident and follow up on the dog’s health status.
• Speak with an Attorney: Contact an experienced Denver dog bite lawyer to go over your case before speaking with the insurance company.

Taking these steps does not resolve a claim on its own, but it makes the details easier to document while they’re still fresh, whether the case ends in a settlement or a lawsuit.

Common Dog Bite Injuries and Long-Term Effects

Bites vary widely in severity, and an injury that looks minor at first can carry lasting consequences if not properly treated. Immediate injuries commonly include:

• Puncture wounds and lacerations, which can become infected if not properly cleaned and treated
• Broken bones, particularly in attacks involving larger dogs or small children
• Eye and facial injuries, which sometimes require immediate reconstructive surgery
• Nerve damage, affecting sensation and movement near the site of the bite

What happens after the wound closes often shapes the value of a claim more than the initial injury itself. Long-term effects can include:

• Permanent scarring or disfigurement, which can affect a person’s confidence and daily life for years
• Chronic pain or lasting numbness, when nerve damage does not fully resolve
• Rabies risk, in rare cases involving unvaccinated or unknown animals
• Emotional trauma, including lasting fear of dogs, anxiety, or symptoms of post-traumatic stress, especially in children

Both categories matter for a claim. Immediate treatment costs are easier to document, but long-term effects often require input from a doctor or specialist to fully assess their value.

Colorado Dog Bite Laws and Owner Liability

Because these injuries can have lasting effects, Colorado law gives victims a clear path to compensation. Understanding how liability works, and where its limits fall, is essential to building a strong claim.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Dog Bite in Colorado?

Liability generally begins with determining who actually controlled the dog at the time of the attack. Under Colorado law, that responsibility falls on the dog owner, a term defined broadly to include anyone who owns, keeps, harbors, or has custody or control of the dog. This can include a homeowner, a tenant, or even someone temporarily caring for the animal. Property owners or managers may also share responsibility if their negligence allowed the attack to occur, such as failing to enforce a no-pets policy.

Colorado’s Strict Liability Dog Bite Law

Once an owner is identified, Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-21-124 makes them strictly liable for serious bodily injury caused by their dog, regardless of whether they knew the animal had violent tendencies. This means victims do not need to prove the owner was careless or aware of prior aggression, only that the injury occurred. The law defines serious bodily injury as harm requiring corrective surgery or resulting in significant bruising, muscle tears, or skin lacerations needing professional treatment.

Exceptions and Defenses in Colorado Dog Bite Cases

Strict liability is powerful, but it is not unlimited. Colorado’s strict liability law does not apply in every situation. A dog owner is not liable if the injured person was trespassing, ignored a posted “no trespassing” or “beware of dog” sign, or knowingly provoked the dog. The law also exempts veterinarians, groomers, and professional handlers injured while performing their duties, as well as working dogs acting as police or military animals, herding dogs, or farm dogs under their owner’s control at the time of the bite.

How to Prove Liability in a Denver Dog Bite Case

Proving liability starts with the basic facts: the dog caused the injury, you were lawfully on the property, and the injury meets Colorado’s threshold for serious bodily injury. Photographs, medical records, animal control reports, and witness statements all support these facts.

When an exception applies, liability does not necessarily end there. An injured person can often still recover under ordinary negligence by showing the dog had bitten someone before, and the owner knew it was dangerous, which also allows for non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Dog Bite Injury?

Which legal theory applies also shapes exactly what you can recover. Compensation after a dog bite generally falls into the following categories:

• Medical Expenses: Emergency treatment, surgery, and future care needs, recoverable under strict liability regardless of the owner’s knowledge.
• Lost Income: Wages missed during recovery and time away from work, also recoverable under strict liability.
• Pain and Suffering: Physical pain and emotional distress, available when a claim proceeds under a negligence theory.
• Scarring or Disfigurement: A separate category of damages that may apply in serious injury cases.
• Punitive Damages: Reserved for willful or reckless conduct, capped at the amount of actual damages under C.R.S. § 13-21-102.

An experienced Denver dog bite lawyer can help determine which categories apply to your case and ensure none of them are overlooked.

How Insurance Companies Handle Dog Bite Claims

Insurance companies typically investigate a dog bite claim before offering a settlement, reviewing the policy, the circumstances of the attack, and the extent of the injuries. Most claims are resolved through the dog owner’s homeowners or renters insurance policy rather than a lawsuit against the owner personally.

During that investigation, adjusters often move quickly to minimize payouts, questioning the severity of injuries or arguing the victim provoked the attack. Some insurers also deny coverage outright for certain dog breeds. We handle every conversation with the insurer on your behalf, so nothing you say can be used to undervalue your claim.

How We Investigate Denver Dog Bite Claims

As your Denver dog bite lawyer, Dormer Harpring goes beyond the initial police or animal control report to build a fuller picture of the attack, including:

• Requesting the dog’s full history, including prior bite complaints or violations not in the initial file
• Canvassing for witnesses beyond those identified at the scene, who may have seen the dog’s behavior before the attack
• Reviewing local leash and containment ordinances for possible violations
• Pulling lease agreements and property records when a landlord may share liability
• Consulting outside experts, such as medical specialists, when the injury calls for added documentation

This process helps identify parties who may have contributed to the attack, so relevant details are not overlooked when building your claim.

How Long Does a Dog Bite Settlement Take?

Timelines vary, but most dog bite claims resolve faster than other personal injury cases, often within a few months once treatment is complete and liability is clear. Cases involving disputed liability, severe injuries, or contested insurance coverage can take longer to negotiate. Settling too early, before the full scope of medical treatment and recovery is understood, often means accepting less than a claim is worth.

Time Limit to File a Dog Bite Claim in Colorado

Colorado law generally requires strict liability claims, including dog bite cases brought under C.R.S. § 13-80-102, to be filed within two years of the attack. Missing this deadline typically bars recovery entirely, though exceptions can apply in limited circumstances, such as claims involving a minor victim. These exceptions are the exception rather than the rule, so anyone considering a claim should not count on one applying to their case.

Because evidence and witness memory fade quickly, contacting a Denver dog bite lawyer soon after the attack helps preserve the details that support a strong claim.

Contact a Denver Dog Bite Lawyer Today

A dog attack can leave you with medical bills, lasting scars, and unanswered questions about what comes next. At Dormer Harpring, our Denver dog bite lawyers can review your case and help you pursue the compensation Colorado law allows, from the insurance conversations to whatever resolution the facts support. Contact us today at (303) 756-3812 to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward recovery.

Find a Dog Bite Lawyer Near You

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• Thornton

Visit Our Offices in Denver, CO

Our dedicated attorneys at Dormer Harpring provide compassionate and aggressive representation for clients facing dog bite claims in Denver. Our firm is conveniently located at 3457 Ringsby Ct Unit 110, Denver, CO 80216, United States. Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 39.7726247, -104.9820183.

Including but not limited to:

Alamo Placita | Athmar Park |Auraria | Baker | Belcaro | Berkeley | Capitol Hill | Cheesman Park | Cherry Creek | Cherry Creek North | City Park | Cole | Congress Park | Country Club | Curtis Park | Five Points | Globeville | Highland | Hilltop | LoDo (Lower Downtown) | Montclair | Park Hill | Platt Park | RiNo (River North) | Sloan’s Lake | Speer | Stapleton | Sunnyside | Uptown | University Hills | University Park | Virginia Village | Washington Park | West Highland | Whittier |

Client Testimonials

What Our Clients Are Saying About Us

JUDY B.

1 months ago

“I would recommend them to anyone who needs an attorney for a personal injury case!!“

I was under the gun with my statute of limitations less than a month away, and K.C. at Dormer Harpring took on my case anyway. They gave me super professional and super personal service and got me a settlement that was FAR more than the insurance company offered me on my own. I would recommend them to anyone who needs an attorney for a personal injury case!!

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