Justice for Dog Bite Victims: Damages, Insurance, and Legal Considerations

Dog bites can be a distressing experience for both the victim and the dog owner. While dogs are often considered beloved companions, it is crucial to acknowledge that any dog, regardless of its breed or temperament, has the potential to bite. 

3 Steps Following a Dog Attack

Dog bites can be a traumatic experience, and it is important to know how to respond. When a dog bite occurs, it is important to act immediately and take the necessary steps to ensure your well-being and preserve your legal rights:

1. Seek Medical Attention: Regardless of the severity of the injury, seek medical care as soon as possible. Prompt medical treatment not only ensures proper care but also creates a record of your injuries, which can be valuable for your case.
2. Gather Information: If possible, obtain information about the dog, its owner, and any witnesses present during the incident. Collect names, details, and any other relevant information that can help support your case.
3. Contact Animal Control: Reporting the incident to animal control serves multiple purposes and can be beneficial for various reasons:

• Public Safety: By reporting the dog bite to animal control, you contribute to public safety. Animal control can assess the situation, gather information about the dog and its owner, and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the community.
• Rabies and Disease Control: Animal control agencies have protocols in place to investigate incidents involving dog bites. They can verify if the dog has a current rabies vaccination and take appropriate steps to prevent the spread of diseases. Animal control may quarantine the dog for observation or conduct tests if necessary.
• Documentation: Reporting the dog bite to animal control helps create an official record of the incident. This documentation can be valuable if you decide to pursue legal action or file an insurance claim in the future. It provides a reliable source of information and strengthens your case.
• Follow-up Actions: Animal control agencies may conduct investigations to determine if the dog has a history of aggressive behavior or previous incidents. Depending on the circumstances, they may issue warnings, citations, or take other actions to address the situation and prevent future incidents.

Can I File an Insurance Claim if a Dog Bites Me?

Insurance coverage is a crucial consideration when pursuing compensation for dog bite injuries. There are two primary types of insurance available in these situations:

1. Homeowners Insurance: In many cases, dog bite claims are covered by the dog owner’s homeowners insurance policy. This insurance typically includes liability coverage for injuries caused by the insured’s dog. If the dog bite occurred on the homeowner’s property, there may also be medical payments coverage available to help compensate you for your medical bills.
2. Renters Insurance: If the dog owner is a tenant, their renters insurance policy may provide coverage for dog bite injuries. It is important to investigate whether the policy includes liability coverage for such incidents.

You should consult with the experienced personal injury lawyers at Bowman Law, LLC to help determine the coverage(s) available under the specific policy

Are there Different Categories of Dog Bites in Colorado?

Yes. In Colorado, dog bites are typically categorized into six categories based on the severity of the bite, also known as the Dunbar Dog Bite Scale. These levels help determine the legal consequences and potential liability of the dog owner. The six categories defined by dog bite injury lawyers of dog bites in Colorado are:

1. Level 1: Obnoxious or aggressive behavior but no skin-contact by teeth. 
2. Level 2: Skin-contact by teeth but no skin-puncture. However, may be skin nicks (less than one tenth of an inch deep) and slight bleeding caused by forward or lateral movement of teeth against skin, but no vertical punctures. 
3. Level 3: One to four punctures from a single bite with no puncture deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. Maybe lacerations in a single direction, caused by victim pulling hand away, owner pulling dog away, or gravity (little dog jumps, bites and drops to floor). 
4. Level 4: One to four punctures from a single bite with at least one puncture deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. May also have deep bruising around the wound (dog held on for N seconds and bore down) or lacerations in both directions (dog held on and shook its head from side to side). 
5. Level 5: Multiple-bite incident with at least two Level 4 bites or multiple-attack incident with at least one Level 4 bite in each. 
6. Level 6: Victim deceased. 

It’s important to note that Colorado law considers any dog bite resulting in serious bodily injury as a potential felony offense. Serious bodily injury refers to injuries that create a substantial risk of death, cause serious permanent disfigurement, or result in protracted loss or impairment of a bodily function or organ.

What Kind of Claims Can I Bring for a Dog Bite in Colorado?

Understanding the legal classifications and theories of liability of Colorado dog bite law is crucial in dog bite cases:

1. Strict Liability: Colorado maintains strict liability laws regarding dog bites. This means that dog owners can be held liable for injuries caused by their pets, regardless of the dog’s past behavior or the owner’s knowledge of such behavior.
2. Negligence Claims: In some cases, dog bite claims can be pursued under negligence laws. This requires establishing that the dog owner failed to exercise reasonable care in controlling or restraining their dog, resulting in the injury.
3. Premises Liability: If the dog bite occurred on someone else’s property, premises liability laws may come into play. Property owners may be held liable for injuries if they were aware of a dangerous dog on their premises or failed to take reasonable steps to protect visitors.

What Types of Damages After a Dog Bite in Colorado?

Dog bite victims may be entitled to various types of damages:

1. Medical Expenses: Victims of a dog bite in Colorado can seek compensation for medical expenses incurred due to the dog bite, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, medication, and ongoing treatments.
2. Pain and Suffering: Dog bite injuries can cause physical pain and emotional distress. Compensation may be awarded for the pain and suffering endured as a result of the incident.
3. Emotional Trauma: Dog bites can lead to long-lasting emotional trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety. Victims may be eligible to receive compensation for emotional distress and psychological damages.
4. Permanent Impairment and Disfigurement: If the dog bite results in permanent impairment, physical disability, or disfigurement, victims may be entitled to damages to account for the long-term impact on their quality of life.

Contact Bowman Law to Discuss Your Rights Following a Dog Bite in Colorado

Dog bite cases require specialized legal expertise to ensure victims receive the compensation they deserve. By understanding damages, insurance coverage, and legal considerations, personal injury lawyers play a pivotal role in seeking justice for dog bite victims. 

If you or someone you know has been bitten by a dog, consult with a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you are entitled to. The dog bite injury lawyers at Bowman Law firm have extensive experience helping Colorado victims receive full and fair compensation following injury. Contact us.

We serve Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins and the surrounding areas.