Grand Junction Dog Bite Lawyers Who Hold the Owner Responsible

No. Colorado rejects the "one bite rule" for serious injuries. Under the strict-liability track in C.R.S. 13-21-124(2), the dog's history is irrelevant if your injury qualifies as serious bodily injury. The owner is liable for your economic damages even if the dog had never bitten anyone before and had no known history of aggression. For less serious injuries, the dog's prior behavior does matter because you would need to proceed under a negligence theory.

Personal injury cases arising in Mesa County are filed in the Mesa County District Court, 21st Judicial District of Colorado, at the Mesa County Justice Center, 125 N. Spruce St., Grand Junction, CO 81501. Most dog bite claims settle before a lawsuit is filed, but where a case would go affects how insurers value it, which local rules apply, and what kind of jury pool you draw from. We handle Mesa County District Court cases and do not refer them out.

Often, yes, but not through the strict-liability track alone. C.R.S. 13-21-124(2) limits the strict-liability claim to economic damages. To recover non-economic damages like pain and suffering, you pursue a negligence theory, which the statute expressly preserves (C.R.S. 13-21-124(6)(a)). In a serious injury case both paths are commonly pursued together. We structure the claim to reach every category of harm you suffered.

The deadline for most personal injury claims in Colorado, including dog bites, is generally two years from the date of injury (C.R.S. 13-80-102). If the victim is a child, the deadline is tolled and the clock generally does not begin until the child turns 18. Even with that extra time, evidence should be preserved early, so it is best to speak with an attorney soon after the bite happens. Do not wait until you feel better to start protecting your claim.

In most cases the owner's homeowner or renter liability insurance pays, not the owner personally. Most Colorado policies include this coverage, though some insurers exclude certain breeds or cap the limits. We confirm the policy terms early in the case so we know what coverage is available before we begin negotiating. If the owner has no insurance, we look for other sources of recovery and explain your realistic options.

Colorado's dog bite statute uses the definition of serious bodily injury from C.R.S. 18-1-901(3)(p). It generally covers injuries that carry a substantial risk of death, serious permanent disfigurement, protracted loss or impairment of a body part, and certain fractures and burns. Facial scarring, nerve damage, and broken bones from an attack are common examples of injuries that can meet this threshold. Whether a particular injury crosses that line is a legal judgment, not a medical one, and we make that assessment after reviewing your medical records.

Not automatically. The statute bars liability only where the person knowingly provoked the dog (C.R.S. 13-21-124(5)(d)). The word knowingly matters. Petting a dog, walking past it, or reacting to being startled is not provocation under the statute. We use witness statements and your account to keep ordinary, reasonable conduct from being mischaracterized by an insurer as provocation.

Get medical care first. For serious injuries go to St. Mary's Regional Hospital (Level II Trauma Center) at 2635 N. 7th St. or Community Hospital (Level III) at 2351 G Road. Photograph your injuries and the scene. Identify the dog and its owner. Report the bite to Mesa County animal control even if the owner asks you not to. Keep every medical record and receipt. Then speak with an attorney before giving any recorded statement to an insurer. Call us at (303) 209-9395 for a free, confidential case review.