Dog Bites

At Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, we have handled dozens of serious dog bite injuries that unfortunately occur every day in Boulder, Colorado. Some dog bite victims are unaware they can hold the animal’s owner responsible and receive compensation for their expenses and injuries. Our dog bite attorneys are ready to help you if you have suffered injuries from a dog bite.

To determine who is at fault for a dog bite injury, we first determine who owns the dog. Colorado Revised Statutes §13-21-124 imposes strict liability upon owners whose dogs seriously injure others. This means an owner in Boulder can be liable for a dog bite even if they did not know of the animal’s propensity to attack or bite others.

In addition to state laws governing dog owners’ responsibilities, Boulder Municipal Code, Title 6, Health, Safety, and Sanitation § 6-1-16 mandates that all dog owners keep their dogs on a leash when out in public. Alternatively, owners can apply for a voice and sight control certification.

A lawyer from our firm can investigate whether the dog owner in your case followed these state and local laws or acted negligently. By doing this, we can establish their liability and pursue fair compensation for your losses.

Exceptions to the dog bite law

You may not be able to recover damages for a dog bite you suffered in Boulder if you trespassed onto another’s property, provoked the dog, ignored a posted warning, or were performing a service for the dog. With that said, every case must be examined closely.

Dog bite injuries can be extremely painful and often have a difficult road to recovery. Sometimes, a serious dog bite can impair your ability to work, which adds additional stress. Dog bite attorneys can help you through the claim process to protect your rights.

Economic vs. non-economic damages in Colorado dog bite cases

Colorado’s dog bite law provides strict liability for serious bodily injuries. In your case, our lawyers will evaluate your injuries and how the attack happened to help determine the best route to take.

Under Colorado’s dog bite law, an injured victim pursuing a case under strict liability can recover only economic damages, such as:

• Medical bills (current and future)
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• And more

Under strict liability laws, however, dog bite victims cannot recover damages for pain, suffering, inconvenience, or loss of enjoyment of life. In order to recover non-economic damages, the victim must prove the dog owner was negligent, which can be done by showing the owner acted unreasonably in regard to controlling the dog.

Negligence can be proven through a violation of a leash law or regulation requiring owners to maintain control over their dogs. We can do this by showing the dog had a history of biting or threatening behavior that the owner knew about but still failed to keep the dog away from the victim. We can also simply evaluate whether what the dog owner was doing (or not doing) during the attack was what a reasonable person would do or should have done.

Choosing under which theory of liability to pursue recovery is an important way a Boulder dog bite attorney from our firm can help you.

Our track record of helping injured people in Boulder

We have helped other victims of animal attacks in Boulder. In one case, we secured a $295,000 settlement for a dog bite victim.

Leave the legal hassle to us. We will calculate fair compensation for your case and fight for a fair settlement or judgment. When you hire one of our dog bite lawyers, you can rest assured that your legal case is being handled with care while you focus on recovering from your injuries.

When seeking compensation after a dog bite, you may begin by filing an insurance claim. Our lawyers can handle all the paperwork associated with your claim and negotiate fair compensation with the liable party.

We will account for all the current and future losses you will experience. For example, if your injuries require you to receive ongoing rehabilitative care, we will factor that into the compensation we seek on your behalf.

The lawyers at Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, know how to present the case to the insurance company so that you will have the best chance to resolve your claim without ever having to go to court. However, if negotiations with insurers do not yield fair compensation, we can represent you at trial.

Our Boulder dog bite attorneys can handle your case from beginning to end, whether you are filing an insurance claim or pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. We can investigate the dog bite, establish the dog owner’s negligence and liability, calculate your losses, and pursue fair compensation.

Contact us at (303) 543-1000 for a free consultation regarding your dog bite claim. We also serve Denver, Lafayette, Louisville, and most of the Front Range.