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Arvada, Colorado neighborhood. CGH Injury Lawyers represents dog bite victims in Arvada from our Denver office.
Arvada, Colorado

Arvada Dog Bite Lawyers Who Hold the Owner Responsible

If a dog seriously hurt you in Arvada, Colorado law can make the owner liable even if the dog had never bitten anyone before. We serve Arvada from our Denver office at 2701 Lawrence St. No fee unless we win.

No fee unless we win
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It's More Than Money.

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Serving Arvada from our Denver Office CGH Injury Lawyers 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201 Denver, CO 80205 (303) 209-9395 Se habla español
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  • 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 Arvada 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 Arvada 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).

If a dog seriously hurt you in Arvada, state law may make the owner responsible even if the dog had never bitten anyone before. CGH Injury Lawyers serves Arvada from our Denver office, less than 15 miles east along I-70. We handle the insurance claim, the negotiation, and trial in Jefferson Combined Court when an insurer refuses to be fair. You pay nothing unless we recover for you.

The law that governs your case

Colorado's dog bite statute, C.R.S. 13-21-124, decoded for Arvada

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 your Arvada case 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 Arvada 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 an Arvada 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 Jefferson County 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 Arvada case sits on.

Local knowledge

Arvada animal control. Jefferson Combined Court. St. Anthony trauma care.

An Arvada dog bite case lives in Arvada: the courts that would hear your lawsuit, the hospitals that treat serious bite injuries, and the high-traffic corridors where attacks happen most often. Here is the ground we work on.

Courthouse

Jefferson Combined Court (District Court)

The large majority of Arvada lies in Jefferson County. Personal injury cases from that portion of Arvada are filed in Jefferson Combined Court (District Court), located at 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80401, in the 1st Judicial District of Colorado (Jefferson and Gilpin Counties). A small eastern portion of Arvada falls within Adams County, which would change the filing venue. Knowing which court applies to your address matters, and we sort that out in the first consultation.

Trauma Care

St. Anthony Hospital (Level I Trauma Center)

Arvada's closest Level I Trauma Center is St. Anthony Hospital, designated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. For victims of serious dog attacks in west Jefferson County, St. Anthony is where the most critically injured patients are typically treated. St. Anthony North Hospital, a Level III Trauma Center, also serves the northern Arvada area. Those medical records become the backbone of your damages claim, and we work from those records from day one.

High-Traffic Corridors

Where Arvada dog attacks happen

Dog bites in Arvada frequently occur in high-pedestrian areas: Olde Town Arvada's historic district (listed on the National Register of Historic Places and anchored by the RTD G Line's Olde Town Arvada Station), neighborhood paths near Gold Strike Park at the confluence of Clear Creek and Ralston Creek, and residential blocks along busy commercial corridors on Wadsworth Boulevard (Colorado State Highway 121) and Ralston Road. Whether the bite happened near an open-invitation patio, on a public sidewalk, or at a neighbor's property, the facts of where and how you were there directly affect which liability track applies.

Why CGH

Why Arvada dog bite victims choose CGH Injury Lawyers

Trial-ready attorneys, bilingual help, and no fee unless we win. We do not publish dog bite settlement figures, because every bite injury is different and a number on a page tells you nothing about your case. What we offer is the work, not a headline. And we will tell you honestly in the free review if the law is not on your side.

The Statute

C.R.S. 13-21-124

For a serious bite, the Arvada owner is strictly liable for your economic damages, even with no prior dog history. We know exactly which track your case belongs on.

Serving Arvada from Denver

No Arvada office. No pretense.

We do not have an Arvada office, and we will not imply otherwise. Our team works from 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. We handle Jefferson Combined Court cases directly, and distance has never been the reason a case was won or lost.

First-Time Bites

No "one bite" excuse.

Colorado rejects the one bite rule for serious injuries. The dog's clean history does not protect the owner under C.R.S. 13-21-124(2).

Who Pays

The insurer, not your neighbor.

Most claims are paid by the owner's homeowner or renter liability coverage, not their personal savings.

Trial-Ready

8 attorneys, prepared for trial.

Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has tried over 25 cases to verdict. Timothy G. Tarr has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2023. When attorneys are genuinely ready to try a case in Jefferson Combined Court, insurers respond differently to a demand.

Bilingual

Hablamos español.

Spanish-speaking staff and attorneys serve Arvada's Spanish-speaking community.

No Win, No Fee

Contingency only.

You pay nothing out of pocket for legal fees. We advance costs and collect only from a settlement or verdict.

After the Bite

What to do after a dog bite in Arvada

Take care of your health first, report the bite, protect the evidence, then call before you talk to the insurer. Here is the path we walk with you.

  1. Get medical care

    For serious injuries, St. Anthony Hospital is Arvada's closest Level I Trauma Center. St. Anthony North Hospital is a Level III Trauma Center serving northern Arvada. Even a wound that looks minor can carry infection risk and nerve damage. Get examined, and keep every record and receipt.

  2. Report the bite to animal control

    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. Reporting windows vary by county; confirm the specific steps that apply where the bite occurred.

  3. Document the scene

    Photograph your injuries, the dog, and exactly where the attack happened. Identify the dog and its owner, and get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Note whether the property had posted signs or an open gate, because those facts affect the lawful-presence analysis.

  4. Call before insurance does

    The owner's insurer may call quickly. Do not give a recorded statement or accept any offer before speaking with us. Call (303) 209-9395.

  5. We build your claim

    We confirm which liability track fits your injury, locate the owner's homeowner or renter coverage, gather the animal control record and any history of the dog, and document the full injury including scarring, nerve damage, and psychological impact.

  6. Negotiate or litigate

    Most cases settle. When insurers refuse a fair offer, we file in Jefferson Combined Court and try your case.

Compensation

What compensation can you recover after an Arvada 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.

Non-economic damages in most Colorado personal injury cases are subject to a statutory cap under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5. For claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025, that cap is $1.5 million, with inflation adjustments starting in 2028. Compensation for physical impairment or disfigurement is not capped, and economic damages are never capped. The specific cap that applies to your case depends on when the bite occurred.

Owner defenses

Defenses Arvada 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.

  1. "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 in an Arvada yard. 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.

  2. "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 on a Wadsworth Boulevard sidewalk, or being startled near Olde Town Arvada is not provocation. We use witness statements and your own account to keep ordinary, reasonable behavior from being recast as provocation.

  3. "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 in an Arvada neighborhood.

One honest thing we will tell you up front: we do not take dog bite cases we cannot honestly stand behind. If your situation falls squarely within a statutory exemption, we will say so in the free review rather than sign you up and let the case stall. When the law is on your side, we fight hard. When it is not, you deserve to hear that early, for free.

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The hard part of these cases

Filing against the insurance, not your Arvada 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.
Questions

Arvada dog bite, frequently asked questions

Does the dog have to have bitten someone before for me to have an Arvada case?

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 Arvada 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.

Where is an Arvada dog bite lawsuit filed?

The large majority of Arvada is in Jefferson County, so most Arvada dog bite cases that proceed to litigation would be filed in Jefferson Combined Court (District Court) at 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80401, in the 1st Judicial District of Colorado. A small eastern portion of Arvada falls in Adams County, which would shift the venue. Most dog bite claims settle before a lawsuit is ever filed, but where a case would be filed affects the local rules and which defense firms you face. We determine the correct venue at the start.

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 an Arvada 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.

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, the deadline is tolled and the clock generally does not start until the child turns 18. 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 Arvada 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 in Arvada?

Get medical care at St. Anthony Hospital or St. Anthony North Hospital depending on your location in Arvada. 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. You can reach our Denver office at (303) 209-9395.

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