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Practice Areas At Fang Law Firm, we understand dog bite injury laws in Colorado and how to help individuals and families recover. Our Centennial dog bite attorney can help you go up against a pet owner during insurance negotiations or in a court of law, if necessary. Contact us to learn more during a free consultation.
Dog attacks can cause life-threatening injuries, especially to small children and the elderly. When a dog attacks, it can maim or maul its victim – resulting in long-term injuries, permanent scarring and significant emotional harm. If a dog in Centennial recently attacked you or a loved one, the pet owner will most likely bear legal responsibility.
While it may seem easy to hold a pet owner accountable for a dog bite, insurance companies can make recovery difficult. Most dog bite injury claims go through the pet owner’s homeowners insurance. In Colorado, pets are property in the eyes of the law. This places dog bite injury claims with homeowners insurance companies, in most cases.
Unfortunately, a homeowners insurance company may not want to pay you a fair amount for your injuries and losses as an injured dog attack survivor. You may need a dog attack lawyer to help you negotiate for fair compensation. An attorney can take over negotiations for you to ensure a fair result while you focus on healing from your serious injuries. If you lost someone you love in a vicious dog attack, a lawyer can also help you file a wrongful death claim.
Most states use either a strict liability law or a one-bite rule to determine legal responsibility in a dog bite case. Colorado is a strict liability state. In Colorado, dog owners are strictly liable for the injuries and property damage their dogs cause. Strict liability means legally responsible for losses, regardless of whether or not the pet owner was negligent.
In a one-bite state, on the other hand, dog bite victims must prove negligence to hold pet owners accountable. Victims must prove the owner knew or should have known of the dog’s propensity for viciousness, such as the dog having bitten someone in the past, to recover compensation. Colorado’s strict liability law makes it easier to hold a pet owner responsible than in a one-bite state.
The owner of the dog that bit you or a loved one will most likely have to pay for your medical expenses, property repairs and other financial damages if you were not provoking the dog or trespassing at the time of the injury. Whether or not the pet owner was negligent in failing to prevent the attack, such as by allowing the dog to run at large, does not matter. The owner is responsible for your losses regardless, according to Colorado’s strict liability law.
It can be especially important to hire an injury attorney in Centennial if a dog gave you or a loved one severe physical injuries. This is a rather common occurrence in dog bite injury law, as dog attacks can cause considerable damage to victims.
Common dog bite injuries include:
Dog attacks can also cause significant emotional harm. Many survivors experience depression, anxiety, phobias and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. You may be eligible for compensation with any type of injury, both physical and emotional, from a dog attack in Centennial.
If you or someone you love has a dog bite injury, don’t hesitate to ask our Centennial dog bite lawyers about your legal rights and options. You may need our assistance holding a dog owner legally responsible and obtaining adequate compensation for your losses. Contact us online or call (720) 379-6363 today to schedule your free initial consultation in Centennial, Colorado.