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Colorado Dog Bite Lawyers
We represent people bitten by dogs across every Colorado county. When the injury is serious, the owner is liable under state law. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
No fee unless we winIf a dog seriously hurt you in Colorado, state law may make the owner responsible even if the dog had never bitten anyone before.
- Colorado runs two tracks under C.R.S. 13-21-124. A serious bodily injury triggers strict liability for your economic losses, with no need to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
- For a less serious bite, and for pain and suffering, you recover under negligence by showing the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous (C.R.S. 13-21-124(6)(a)).
- Most dog bite claims are paid by the owner's homeowner or renter insurance, not out of the owner's pocket. The deadline to file is generally two years from the bite (C.R.S. 13-80-102).
CGH Injury Lawyers represents dog bite victims across every county in Colorado, from Front Range neighborhoods to mountain towns. We handle the insurance claim, the negotiation, and trial when an insurer refuses to be fair, with no upfront fees and a free first consultation. If your bite happened in Denver, our Denver dog bite lawyer page covers Denver Animal Protection reporting, the Denver courts, and the city's dangerous-dog rules.
The law that governs your case
Colorado's dog bite statute, C.R.S. 13-21-124, decoded
Colorado does not follow a pure "one bite" rule and it is not a pure strict-liability state either. The dog bite statute sets up two separate tracks, and which one applies to you depends almost entirely on how badly you were hurt.
The core of the statute reads: a person who suffers serious bodily injury or death from being bitten by a dog while lawfully on public or private property may bring a civil action to recover economic damages against the dog owner, regardless of the viciousness or dangerous propensities of the dog or the owner's knowledge of them (C.R.S. 13-21-124(2)).
In plain English, two things have to be true for the strict-liability track: your injury has to meet Colorado's definition of serious bodily injury, and you have to have been lawfully on the property where the bite happened. Meet both and the owner is liable for your economic losses, even if the dog had never shown a hint of aggression before.
Strict liability vs. negligence
The two-track liability system in Colorado
The single most important question in a Colorado dog bite case is which track applies. One track is far easier to win than the other, and the dividing line is the severity of the injury.
Track 1: Strict liability
- Applies when the bite causes serious bodily injury or death.
- You do not have to prove the owner was careless or that the dog had bitten before.
- The bite itself establishes liability for your economic damages.
- A first-time bite still counts. The dog's clean history is irrelevant.
- Recovery under this track is limited to economic damages (C.R.S. 13-21-124(2)).
Track 2: Negligence standard
- Applies when the injury does not meet the serious bodily injury threshold.
- You must prove the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous.
- A prior bite or aggressive behavior is the kind of evidence that proves it.
- This track is also how non-economic damages like pain and suffering are pursued, since the statute leaves other negligence theories intact (C.R.S. 13-21-124(6)(a)).
- It is a harder case, which is exactly when experienced counsel matters most.
What counts as "serious bodily injury"?
Colorado's dog bite statute borrows its definition of serious bodily injury from the criminal code (C.R.S. 18-1-901(3)(p)). In general terms, it covers injuries that carry a substantial risk of death, serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of a body part, and certain fractures and burns. A facial scar that does not fade, nerve damage that leaves lasting weakness, or a broken bone from an attack are the kinds of injuries that tend to meet it.
Whether a specific injury crosses that line is a legal judgment, not something to assume on your own. We review your medical records against the statutory definition before we tell you which track your case sits on.
How it works
How we handle your Colorado dog bite case
A dog bite claim moves through clear stages, from a free case review to trial when an insurer refuses to be fair. Most cases resolve before a courtroom, but we prepare every case as if it will be tried.
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Free case review
We review the bite, your injuries, and where it happened, then tell you honestly which liability track fits and what your claim is worth. This costs you nothing.
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Investigation and the report
We confirm the bite was reported to animal control, identify the dog and owner, and gather the records that show whether the dog had a history. Reporting also feeds the local dangerous-dog process.
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Document the full injury
We build the medical record, including scarring, nerve damage, and the psychological impact, because non-economic harm is real harm that insurers routinely try to minimize.
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Identify the right insurance
We locate the owner's homeowner or renter liability coverage and check for breed exclusions or coverage limits that change how the claim has to be handled.
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Demand and negotiate
We send a documented demand and negotiate from a position of trial readiness, not from a willingness to take the insurer's first offer.
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File suit and try the case
If the insurer will not be fair, we file in the appropriate Colorado District Court and present your case to a jury when that is what full recovery requires.
Many dog bite cases settle within several months when liability is clear and the injury is well documented. Cases with disputed liability or severe injuries can take a year or more. We tell you where your case stands at every stage.
Compensation
What compensation can you recover after a dog bite?
A dog bite is rarely just a medical bill. Colorado law recognizes two broad categories of damages, and which ones you can reach depends on the liability track your case sits on.
Economic damages
- Emergency care, surgery, and follow-up treatment
- Reconstructive and cosmetic surgery for scarring
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Future medical and rehabilitation costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses tied to the attack
Non-economic damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and PTSD, common after dog attacks
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Here is a distinction many people miss. The strict-liability track in C.R.S. 13-21-124(2) recovers economic damages only. To recover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, a victim pursues a negligence theory, which the statute expressly leaves available (C.R.S. 13-21-124(6)(a)). In a serious injury case, both paths are often pursued together. We structure the claim so that no category of harm you suffered is left on the table.
Owner defenses
Defenses dog owners use, and how we answer them
The statute lists specific situations where an owner is not liable (C.R.S. 13-21-124(5)). Insurers reach for these defenses early. Knowing what each one actually requires is how we keep a valid claim alive.
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"You were trespassing"
The statute protects people lawfully on the property. Colorado defines that broadly to include anyone performing a legal duty, such as a mail carrier, and anyone there by the owner's express or implied invitation (C.R.S. 13-21-124(4)). An open gate or the absence of posted signs can support lawful presence. The statute also bars liability where the property is clearly posted with "no trespassing" or "beware of dog" signs, which is why the facts of where and how you entered matter so much.
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"You provoked the dog"
An owner is not liable when the person knowingly provokes the dog (C.R.S. 13-21-124(5)(d)). Knowingly is the key word. Petting a dog, walking past it, or being startled is not provocation. We use witness statements and your own account to keep ordinary, reasonable behavior from being recast as provocation.
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"The dog was working"
The statute carves out dogs used by peace officers or military personnel on duty, and dogs working as hunting, herding, farm, ranch, or predator-control animals on the owner's property (C.R.S. 13-21-124(5)). It also exempts bites against veterinary workers, groomers, handlers, and similar professionals acting in their duties. These exemptions are narrow and rarely fit an ordinary household pet biting a visitor.
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The hard part of these cases
Filing against the insurance, not your neighbor
The most common reason people hesitate to pursue a dog bite claim is that the owner is a friend, a neighbor, or a relative. Understanding how the money actually moves usually puts that fear to rest.
- In most cases you file a claim against the owner's homeowner or renter liability coverage, not against their personal savings or assets.
- Most homeowner and renter policies in Colorado include liability coverage that responds to dog bite claims, though some insurers exclude certain breeds or cap the coverage. We confirm the policy terms before assuming anything.
- The insurer pays the settlement or judgment up to the policy limits. The point of liability insurance is to protect both the injured person and the policyholder.
- The insurance company will contest the claim whether the owner is a stranger or someone you love. Having counsel is how you make the insurer meet its obligation.
Deadlines and reporting
Reporting the bite and the filing deadline
Two timing issues decide whether a strong case stays viable: reporting the bite to animal control, and the statute of limitations.
- Report the bite to local animal control even if the owner asks you not to. Reporting creates an official record and can feed the local dangerous-dog process.
- The deadline to file most Colorado personal injury lawsuits, including dog bite claims, is generally two years from the date of injury (C.R.S. 13-80-102). Do not wait until the deadline approaches; evidence and witness memories fade.
- When the victim is a child, Colorado law tolls the deadline. The limitations clock for a minor generally does not begin until the child turns 18. A lawyer should still be involved early, because evidence does not wait for the clock.
Your team
The team handling your case
CGH Injury Lawyers is a eight-attorney Colorado firm founded in 2016, formerly Cheney Galluzzi & Howard. Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has tried over 25 cases to verdict. Timothy G. Tarr has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2023. Every dog bite case is handled by a licensed Colorado attorney, not a paralegal.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about Colorado dog bite cases
Does the dog have to have bitten someone before?
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. For less serious injuries, the dog's history matters because you would proceed under a negligence theory.
Can I recover pain and suffering for a dog bite in Colorado?
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.
Who actually pays a dog bite settlement?
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 so we know what coverage is available before negotiating.
What if the dog's owner has no insurance?
You may still pursue a claim against the owner's personal assets, though collection can be harder. We also check for other sources of recovery, such as a landlord's policy in some situations. A consultation lets us map every avenue available in your specific case.
How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in Colorado?
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, Colorado law allows the claim to be filed within the standard window or up to two years after the child turns 18, whichever is later (C.R.S. 13-81-103). Even with that extra time, evidence should be preserved early, so it is best to consult an attorney soon after the bite.
What counts as serious bodily injury under the statute?
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. Whether a particular injury crosses that line is a legal judgment we make after reviewing your medical records.
The owner says I provoked the dog. Does that end my case?
Not automatically. The statute bars liability only where the person knowingly provoked the dog (C.R.S. 13-21-124(5)(d)). Petting a dog, walking past it, or reacting to being startled is not provocation. We use witness statements and your account to keep ordinary, reasonable conduct from being mischaracterized.
What should I do right after a dog bite?
Get medical care, photograph your injuries and the scene, identify the dog and its owner, and report the bite to local 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.
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