If you, your child or another loved one has been bitten by a dog and seriously injured in Lakewood or the Denver metro area or elsewhere along the Front Range of Colorado, it is critical to seek guidance from an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Dog bite liability law in Colorado is more complex than the law in many other U.S. states, and in some ways, it is less favorable to victims. This can make your decision to consult a knowledgeable lawyer especially important.
Lakewood personal injury attorneys at Flesch & Beck Law is dedicated to learning the circumstances of individual cases and providing honest, sound legal counsel focused on each client’s best interests. Call (303) 980-5511 to speak with him about your case. The firm represents injured clients in metro Denver and throughout Jefferson County from its office in Lakewood.
Key factors in your potential dog bite claim or lawsuit may include:
Our lawyers at Flesch & Beck Law can help you establish all of these elements during your dog bite injury claim.
Recovering just, fair compensation to deal with serious injuries after a Colorado dog bite is a challenge even for a veteran lawyer. You can depend on Lakewood dog bite lawyers at Flesch & Beck Law with 40 years of experience and diligence in evaluating all aspects of your potential case and his determination to properly value all economic and noneconomic damages.
A high percentage of dog bites and attacks that justify legal action involve known vicious breeds such as pit bulls — but any serious dog bite injury merits investigation of your options for winning a financial recovery that may cover medical costs and certain other types of loss.
The laws change from state to state when it comes to who is financially responsible, or liable, for a dog bite injury. There are two different legal doctrines that most states use: strict liability and the one-bite rule. Strict liability means that a pet owner is responsible for a dog attack regardless of whether there was prior knowledge of the dog’s viciousness. The one-bite rule, on the other hand, requires proof that the dog had attacked or bitten someone previously.
According to Colorado Revised Statute Section 13-21-124, Colorado is a strict liability dog bite state. This law says that anyone who suffers a serious bodily injury from being bitten by a dog is entitled to bring a civil cause of action against the dog owner, regardless of any history (or lack thereof) of the dog’s viciousness or dangerous propensities, as well as regardless of the owner’s knowledge of that viciousness.
In essence, this means that a dog owner will be responsible for your dog bite injury in Colorado, with a few exceptions. Most pet owners have property insurance policies that will pay for dog bite injuries. It is a defense against dog bite liability, however, if you were trespassing on private property or if you provoked the dog or instigated the attack. An attorney can help you combat common defense tactics and hold a pet owner liable for your injuries and related bills.
It may also be possible to hold someone other than the pet owner responsible for a dog bite injury, depending on the circumstances of the attack. If the incident happened on a rented property, for instance, the landlord may be liable for allowing a dangerous dog to stay on the premises. If the dog attack occurred on public property, you may be able to hold the government responsible for failing to keep the premises safe. Our attorneys at Flesch & Beck Law can review your case to determine liability.
You may hear the term damages being used during your dog bite injury case in Colorado. This term refers to the financial compensation that may be available for the damage caused by the attack. As a dog bite victim, you may be entitled to recover damages for many different losses, both economic and non-economic. The average dog bite injury case in Lakewood can involve the following:
If you are curious about the value of your dog bite injury case, consult with our attorneys for a free case evaluation. While an insurance company may try to downplay your injuries and devalue your case, a lawyer will fight for maximum financial compensation on your behalf. You may be eligible for all of these damages, and more.
If you have been victimized by a dog bite wound, please move quickly to involve a lawyer willing and able to help. A law known as a statute of limitations limits the amount of time that you have to file a dog bite injury claim. This law gives you no more than two years from the date of a nonfatal bodily injury to file in Colorado. If your loved one passed away due to injuries from a dog attack, you have two years from the date of death to file. In general, if you miss your deadline, you give up the right to recover any financial compensation for a dog bite injury.
A dog attack in Lakewood, Colorado can change your life forever. If you or someone you love has been injured by a dog in Colorado, discuss your legal options with an experienced and compassionate attorney today. The right lawyer can make the legal process easier and more rewarding for you and your family during this difficult time.
To discuss your case directly with Denver dog bite attorneys at Flesch & Beck Law who knows the law in-depth and is committed to fighting for your rights, please call or contact us via our online contact form today.