Windsor Dog Bite Attorney

If a dog bit you or someone you love, you have legal rights. In fact, Colorado law makes dog owners strictly liable for certain injuries caused by dog bites. This means you do not have to prove negligence or demonstrate that a dog had a history of aggression to make a Windsor personal injury claim. 

Hadfield Stieben & Doutt, LLC can help you understand how Colorado laws apply to your dog bite case and can help you take legal action to fight for full and fair compensation after a dog attack. 

Just give us a call or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and find out how we can help you. 

Is a Dog Owner Legally Liable for a Bite in Windsor, Colorado?

According to Colorado Revised Statute section 13-21-124:

“A person or a personal representative of a person who suffers serious bodily injury or death from being bitten by a dog while lawfully on public or private property shall be entitled to bring a civil action to recover economic damages against the dog owner regardless of the viciousness or dangerous propensities of the dog or the dog owner’s knowledge or lack of knowledge of the dog’s viciousness or dangerous propensities.”

This establishes a strict liability rule for dog bite claims. This is in direct contrast to states that follow a so-called “one-free bite” rule. In those states, you’d have to show that the dog’s owner knew, or had reason to know, their dog was aggressive, or you would have to demonstrate negligence on the part of the dog’s owner to get compensation.

In Colorado, this is not the case. Under Colorado law, there are two things you must show to hold a dog’s owner accountable. 

• You were lawfully on public or private property
• The dog bit you and caused serious or fatal injuries

If you can demonstrate these things, the dog’s owner should be responsible for compensating you for the losses the dog’s attack caused.

Of course, you can still take legal action even if your injuries are not considered “serious” bodily injury and are not fatal. However, in these circumstances, you would have to show the dog’s owner was unreasonably careless or breached a legal obligation to you. 

What Compensation is Available for a Dog Bite in Windsor, CO?  

If you can successfully prove a dog bite claim under strict liability or by proving negligence, you may be compensated for all of the economic and non-financial losses that occurred because of the bite. This can include payment for:

• Medical bills, including plastic surgery if the bite was disfiguring, hospitalization, specialist visits, rabies shots, treatment of infection, and all other medical costs that you incurred due to the bite. If you have experienced lasting injuries and will need additional medical treatment in the future, you should also be paid for those losses as well.
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity if you missed any work due to the injury, had to take sick leave or vacation time, or your ability to perform your work duties has changed because of the injury. 
• Pain and suffering resulting from the bite. Bite injuries can be very painful, as can the treatment you need due to these injuries. You should be paid for all the discomfort you endure. 
• Emotional distress. Being attacked by an animal is incredibly frightening. You may have PTSD and suffer from anxiety after the incident. You could also suffer from depression and other lasting mental health effects because of the bite and the injuries that you suffered.

The more serious your injuries, the more compensation you can collect. 

Getting Help from a Windsor Dog Bite Attorney 

A Windsor dog bite attorney at Hadfield Stieben & Doutt,  LLC can help you fight for the money you deserve after a dog bites you. Give us a call at (970) 221-2800 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help.