Montrose Dog Bite Lawyer – CGH Injury Lawyers

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Colorado's dog bite statute runs two liability tracks under C.R.S. 13-21-124. A bite that causes serious bodily injury triggers strict liability for the owner's economic damages with no need to prove the dog had ever bitten before. A less serious bite, or a claim for pain and suffering, proceeds under a negligence theory instead.
The deadline to file most dog bite injury claims in Colorado is two years from the date of the bite (C.R.S. 13-80-102). If the owner is a government employee or the incident occurred on government property, a written notice of claim must be filed within 182 days of discovering the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)). Do not wait to consult an attorney.
Most dog bite claims are paid by the owner's homeowner or renter liability insurance, not out of the owner's personal savings. The insurer will still contest the claim aggressively. Having a lawyer changes the outcome.

Dogs bite people in Montrose County in neighborhoods along North Townsend Avenue, on rural parcels along CO-90 and CO-348, on walking paths near Riverbottom Park, and at properties throughout the 7th Judicial District. When a bite is serious enough to require a trip to Montrose Regional Health, surgery, or leaves permanent scarring, it deserves the full weight of Colorado dog bite law behind it. CGH Injury Lawyers represents Montrose County dog bite victims from our Denver office. We handle the insurance company, the investigation, and trial in Montrose Combined Courts when an insurer refuses to be fair. You pay nothing unless we recover for you.

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)).

Two facts unlock the strict-liability track: you must have suffered serious bodily injury, and you must have been lawfully on the property where the bite occurred. Meet both and the owner is liable for your economic losses regardless of whether the dog had a single prior incident on record. For non-serious injuries and for non-economic harm such as pain and suffering, the statute expressly preserves a separate negligence path (C.R.S. 13-21-124(6)(a)).

Track 1: Strict liability (serious bodily injury)

Applies when the bite causes serious bodily injury or death (C.R.S. 13-21-124(2)).
You do not have to prove the owner was careless or that the dog had ever bitten before.
The bite itself, if it qualifies, establishes the owner's liability for your economic losses.
A first-time bite still counts. A dog's clean history is not a defense under this track.
Recovery under this track is limited to economic damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and future care costs.

Track 2: Negligence (all other cases)

Applies when the injury does not meet the serious bodily injury threshold.
Also applies when you seek non-economic damages like pain and suffering, even in a serious case.
You must prove the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous (C.R.S. 13-21-124(6)(a)).
Prior bites, growling, lunging, or other aggressive behavior is the evidence that proves prior knowledge.
In a serious injury case, both tracks are often pursued together to reach every category of harm.

What counts as serious bodily injury under C.R.S. 13-21-124?

Colorado's dog bite statute borrows its serious bodily injury definition from the criminal code at C.R.S. 18-1-901(3)(p). The definition covers injuries carrying a substantial risk of death, serious permanent disfigurement, protracted loss or impairment of a body part or organ, and certain fractures and burns. A facial scar from a bite that will not fade, nerve damage leaving lasting weakness in a hand, or a deep wound requiring multiple surgeries are the kinds of outcomes that tend to satisfy the standard.

Whether your specific injury crosses that line is a legal judgment, not something to determine on your own. We review your medical records from Montrose Regional Health and any follow-up providers against the statutory definition before telling you which track your case sits on.

The courthouse

Montrose Combined Courts, 7th Judicial District

Dog bite personal injury cases arising in Montrose County are filed in the Montrose Combined (District and County) Courts, located at the Montrose County Justice Center, 1200 North Grand Avenue Bin A, Montrose, CO 81401. Montrose County is part of Colorado's 7th Judicial District. Local filing procedures, the Montrose County jury pool, and the defense firms active in western Colorado all differ from the Front Range. We handle 7th Judicial District cases and understand the process from investigation through trial. (Source: Colorado Judicial Branch, coloradojudicial.gov.)

Trauma care

Montrose Regional Health, Level III Trauma Center

Serious dog bite injuries in Montrose County, including deep lacerations, nerve damage, and injuries requiring surgery or reconstructive care, are treated at Montrose Regional Health (formerly Montrose Memorial Hospital), 800 South Third Street, Montrose, CO 81401. It holds a Colorado Level III Trauma Center designation. The records from that treatment, including wound documentation, imaging, surgical notes, and discharge instructions, form the core of the damages case we build for you. We gather and preserve them from the start so nothing is missing when negotiations begin. (Source: Colorado Hospital Association.)

Where bites happen in Montrose County

Neighborhoods, rural parcels, and the corridors of Montrose County

Montrose is a city of roughly 20,291 people at approximately 5,800 feet elevation, spread across residential neighborhoods along North Townsend Avenue (US-550) and Ogden Road, rural agricultural parcels along CO-90 toward the Utah border and CO-348 on the south side of the city, and recreational areas including Riverbottom Park along the Uncompahgre River. Dog bites in Montrose County happen at residences where visitors, meter readers, delivery drivers, and postal workers encounter dogs that owners keep on or near rural properties, at fenced yards in city neighborhoods, and on walking paths and open areas near the river corridor. Each setting raises its own questions about whether the victim was lawfully present and whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous, both of which determine which liability track applies.

NAP honesty

CGH does not have a Montrose office

CGH Injury Lawyers has one office: 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. We serve Montrose County clients from that office, file cases in the Montrose Combined Courts in the 7th Judicial District, and meet you wherever is convenient by phone or video. We do not pretend to have a local storefront in Montrose. What you get is trial-ready preparation and attorneys who know the 7th Judicial District from filing through verdict. Reach us at (303) 209-9395.

"You were trespassing on my property"

The statute protects people lawfully on the property where the bite occurred. Colorado defines that broadly to include anyone performing a legal duty, such as a mail carrier, delivery driver, or utility worker, and anyone present by the owner's express or implied invitation (C.R.S. 13-21-124(4)). On rural Montrose County parcels along CO-90 or CO-348, an open gate, unfenced driveway, or the absence of posted signage can establish lawful presence. The statute does bar liability where the property is clearly posted with "no trespassing" or "beware of dog" signs, which is exactly why how and where you entered the property matters enormously in these cases.
"You provoked the dog"

An owner is not liable under the statute when the injured person knowingly provoked the dog (C.R.S. 13-21-124(5)(d)). The word knowingly is critical. Petting a dog, walking past it on a Montrose sidewalk, jogging near it on a Riverbottom Park path, or reacting with a sudden movement when startled is not provocation. Insurers often frame ordinary, innocent conduct as provocation to reduce or deny the claim. We use your account, witness statements, and the physical evidence of where the bite occurred to keep that recharacterization from sticking.
"The dog was a working animal"

The statute creates limited exemptions for dogs used by law enforcement or military personnel on duty, and for dogs working as hunting, herding, farm, ranch, or predator-control animals on the owner's property at the time of the bite (C.R.S. 13-21-124(5)). Given the agricultural character of parts of Montrose County, particularly along the CO-90 corridor, ranchers sometimes raise this defense for livestock guardian or working ranch dogs. The exemption is narrow and requires that the dog was actively performing its working function at the time of the bite, not simply living on a ranch. Most household and companion dogs do not qualify, and we challenge overreaching applications of this defense.
"You assumed the risk"

The statute exempts certain professionals who encounter dogs in the course of their duties and who have accepted that inherent risk, including veterinary workers, groomers, trainers, and handlers (C.R.S. 13-21-124(5)). Outside those narrow professional categories, an ordinary visitor to a Montrose home or property does not assume the risk of a dog bite simply by entering. If you were not a veterinary professional or working dog handler, this defense almost certainly does not apply to you.

Get medical care at Montrose Regional Health

Dog bites carry a serious risk of infection, nerve damage, and deep tissue injury that may not be obvious at the scene. Go to Montrose Regional Health, 800 South Third Street, even if the wound looks manageable. A Level III Trauma Center evaluation creates the initial medical record that becomes the foundation of your damages case. A gap in care gives the insurer grounds to argue your injuries were minor or not from the bite.
Report the bite to local animal control

Report the bite to Montrose County animal control even if the owner asks you not to. Reporting creates an official record, confirms the dog's vaccination status, and feeds the local dangerous-dog process that may matter if the dog has bitten before or bites again. Get the report number. Note the dog's description, the owner's name and address, and whether the dog was restrained at the time of the bite.
Photograph everything before it changes

Photograph your wounds before they are cleaned and bandaged at the hospital, and again at each stage of healing. Photograph the location where the bite occurred, including the fence or gate condition, any posted signage, and the surrounding area. If the bite happened on a rural parcel along CO-90 or CO-348, note the property address. Take photographs of your injuries at regular intervals during recovery because healing scars and fading wounds are harder for an insurer to value than fresh documentation.
Do not give a recorded statement to the insurer

The owner's homeowner or renter insurer will likely contact you quickly. Do not agree to a recorded statement, do not describe your injuries as minor, and do not sign any medical authorization or release before speaking with an attorney. Everything you say becomes part of the defense file. Tell the adjuster your attorney will be in contact, then call CGH at (303) 209-9395.
Call CGH before you settle

Colorado's two-year filing deadline for dog bite injury claims (C.R.S. 13-80-102) starts running from the date of the bite. If a government entity is involved, the 182-day notice window under C.R.S. 24-10-109(1) is even shorter. A free consultation costs you nothing and may protect a claim that an early settlement offer would permanently close out.

Economic damages (not capped)

Emergency treatment at Montrose Regional Health, including wound cleaning, sutures, and imaging
Reconstructive and plastic surgery for scarring or tissue loss
Nerve repair and physical or occupational therapy
Lost wages during recovery and lost earning capacity for long-term injuries
Future medical and rehabilitation expenses
Out-of-pocket costs tied to the attack

Non-economic damages (subject to cap)

Pain and suffering
Emotional distress and PTSD, which are common outcomes of serious dog attacks
Permanent scarring and disfigurement (not capped -- C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5))
Loss of enjoyment of life, including outdoor activities, walking, and recreation around Montrose
Physical impairment damages, which are not capped at all under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5(5)

Here is a distinction that matters in serious bite cases. The strict-liability track under C.R.S. 13-21-124(2) reaches only economic damages. To also recover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, you pursue a negligence theory, which the statute expressly preserves (C.R.S. 13-21-124(6)(a)). Both paths are often pursued together in a serious injury case. Non-economic damages for claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025 are capped at $1,500,000 under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5. Physical impairment and disfigurement damages are not capped. Economic damages are never capped. In cases involving conduct that is willful and wanton, punitive damages may also be available, though they generally cannot exceed the amount of the actual damages awarded (C.R.S. 13-21-102). We structure the claim so that no category of harm is left off the table.

Under C.R.S. 13-21-111, you can recover compensation as long as your share of fault is less than 50 percent. Your damages are reduced by your fault percentage. For example, if a jury finds you 20 percent at fault and your total damages are $100,000, you recover $80,000.
If you are found 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. The insurer's goal is almost always to push that number toward or past 50 percent.
Fault arguments in dog bite cases most often take the form of provocation claims, trespassing arguments, or assertions that you ignored visible warning signs. We use your account, the animal control report, witness statements, and the physical record of the property to challenge inflated fault percentages.

In most dog bite cases in Montrose County, you are filing a claim against the owner's homeowner or renter liability insurance, not against their personal savings or property. Most Colorado homeowner and renter policies include personal liability coverage that responds to dog bite claims.
Some insurers exclude certain breeds or cap the personal liability coverage for dog bites. We confirm the policy terms early before assuming anything about the available coverage.
The insurer pays the settlement or judgment up to the policy limits. When an owner carries no insurance, we evaluate whether the owner has personal assets worth pursuing and whether a landlord's policy or another source of coverage may apply.
The insurance company will contest your claim aggressively whether the dog's owner is a neighbor, a relative, or a stranger. Having legal counsel is how you make the insurer meet its obligation rather than its preferred outcome.

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Your team

The team handling your Montrose dog bite case

CGH Injury Lawyers is a eight-attorney Colorado firm founded in 2016, formerly Cheney Galluzzi and 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 Montrose dog bite case is handled by a licensed Colorado attorney, not a paralegal, from the initial review through trial or settlement.

ABOTA member on the team Tim Tarr: Best Lawyers in America since 2023 Over 25 cases to verdict 7th Judicial District coverage Bilingual EN / ES Free consultation No fee unless we win

Meet our attorneys

How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in Montrose County?

The deadline to file most personal injury claims in Colorado, including dog bites, is generally two years from the date of the bite (C.R.S. 13-80-102). If the dog's owner is a government employee, or if the bite occurred on government property, a written notice of claim must be filed within 182 days of discovering the injury under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (C.R.S. 24-10-109(1)), which arrives well before the general lawsuit deadline. If the victim is a child, the limitations clock is tolled and generally does not begin running until the child turns 18. Even with that extra time, evidence should be preserved right away. Consult an attorney promptly after the bite.

Does the dog have to have bitten someone before for me to have a claim?

Not if your injury qualifies as serious bodily injury. Colorado's dog bite statute at C.R.S. 13-21-124(2) creates strict liability for serious bodily injury or death regardless of the dog's prior history. The owner is liable for your economic damages even if the dog had never shown aggression before. For less serious injuries, or to recover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, you proceed under a negligence theory, where the dog's prior behavior becomes relevant evidence. We determine which track fits your situation after reviewing your medical records and the circumstances of the bite.

Where would my Montrose dog bite case be filed?

A dog bite personal injury lawsuit arising in Montrose County would be filed in the Montrose Combined (District and County) Courts at the Montrose County Justice Center, 1200 North Grand Avenue Bin A, Montrose, CO 81401. Montrose County is in Colorado's 7th Judicial District. CGH Injury Lawyers handles cases in this court directly. Most dog bite cases settle before a lawsuit is filed, but where a case would be tried shapes how an insurer evaluates the demand.

The owner says their dog was just being protective of its property. Does that end my claim?

Not automatically. The defenses available to a dog owner under C.R.S. 13-21-124(5) require specific facts. A dog being protective does not mean the visitor was trespassing or knowingly provoked it. If you were lawfully present on the property, such as a postal worker, delivery driver, invited guest, or someone entering through an open gate without posted warning signs, you were likely in the protected class. We examine how you entered, what signage was present, and whether the bite constitutes a knowing provocation versus ordinary movement or presence. "My dog was guarding its territory" is not one of the statute's listed defenses.

Can I recover pain and suffering from 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 such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of enjoyment of life, you pursue a negligence theory, which the statute expressly preserves at C.R.S. 13-21-124(6)(a). In a serious bite case, both claims are typically pursued together. For claims accruing on or after January 1, 2025, non-economic damages are capped at $1,500,000 under C.R.S. 13-21-102.5, though compensation for physical impairment and disfigurement is not capped at all.

Does CGH have an office in Montrose?

No. CGH Injury Lawyers has one office, located at 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 201, Denver, CO 80205. We serve Montrose County clients from that office, file cases in the Montrose Combined Courts at the Montrose County Justice Center, and meet you wherever works for you by phone or video. We travel to Montrose for depositions and court appearances in the 7th Judicial District as the case requires. Reach us at (303) 209-9395.

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Montrose Dog Bite Lawyers Who Hold Owners Accountable Under Colorado Law

The Colorado dog bite statute that governs your Montrose case

The two liability tracks in a Montrose dog bite case

Track 1: Strict liability (serious bodily injury)

Track 2: Negligence (all other cases)

What counts as serious bodily injury under C.R.S. 13-21-124?

Montrose courts. Montrose trauma care. Where dog bites happen in Montrose County.

Montrose Combined Courts, 7th Judicial District

Montrose Regional Health, Level III Trauma Center

Neighborhoods, rural parcels, and the corridors of Montrose County

CGH does not have a Montrose office

Defenses dog owners raise in Montrose County, and how we answer them

"You were trespassing on my property"

"You provoked the dog"

"The dog was a working animal"

"You assumed the risk"

What to do after a dog bite in Montrose County

Get medical care at Montrose Regional Health

Report the bite to local animal control

Photograph everything before it changes

Do not give a recorded statement to the insurer

Call CGH before you settle

What compensation can you recover after a Montrose dog bite?

Economic damages (not capped)

Non-economic damages (subject to cap)

How Colorado's comparative fault rule affects a Montrose dog bite claim

Filing against the insurance, not your neighbor

The team handling your Montrose dog bite case

Montrose dog bite, frequently asked questions

Get a free dog bite case review today

You were bitten in Montrose. We handle everything else.

Montrose Dog Bite Lawyers Who Hold Owners Accountable Under Colorado Law

The Colorado dog bite statute that governs your Montrose case

The two liability tracks in a Montrose dog bite case

Track 1: Strict liability (serious bodily injury)

Track 2: Negligence (all other cases)

What counts as serious bodily injury under C.R.S. 13-21-124?

Montrose courts. Montrose trauma care. Where dog bites happen in Montrose County.

Montrose Combined Courts, 7th Judicial District

Montrose Regional Health, Level III Trauma Center

Neighborhoods, rural parcels, and the corridors of Montrose County

CGH does not have a Montrose office

Defenses dog owners raise in Montrose County, and how we answer them

"You were trespassing on my property"

"You provoked the dog"

"The dog was a working animal"

"You assumed the risk"

What to do after a dog bite in Montrose County

Get medical care at Montrose Regional Health

Report the bite to local animal control

Photograph everything before it changes

Do not give a recorded statement to the insurer

Call CGH before you settle

What compensation can you recover after a Montrose dog bite?

Economic damages (not capped)

Non-economic damages (subject to cap)

How Colorado's comparative fault rule affects a Montrose dog bite claim

Filing against the insurance, not your neighbor

The team handling your Montrose dog bite case

Montrose dog bite, frequently asked questions

Related pages

Get a free dog bite case review today

You were bitten in Montrose. We handle everything else.