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A dog attack is a harrowing experience that can leave you with permanent scars – both physical and emotional. In Colorado, you have the right to hold a pet owner legally and financially responsible for a dog bite injury. The Thornton dog bite attorneys at Dormer Harpring can guide you through the legal process from start to finish, representing you during insurance claim negotiations or a personal injury trial in Adams County to demand justice. We care about our clients and will be there for you during this difficult time.
During your dog bite injury claim, you will most likely have to go up against an insurance company. It is important not to trust an insurance claims adjuster or rush into a fast settlement. Insurance companies have incentives to downplay your losses and devalue your claim. Instead, hire a dog bite injury lawyer in Thornton to take over communications with an insurance provider on your behalf for a fair outcome.
A dog bite attorney can carefully analyze the facts of your case, obtain copies of your medical records, hire qualified dog bite injury experts, deal with legal forms, craft a strong legal strategy, and negotiate a settlement or attend a dog bite trial in pursuit of a positive case outcome. You can trust a Thornton personal injury attorney to do what it takes to secure the results that you deserve while you concentrate on healing from a serious dog bite injury.
Dogs attack using their teeth and claws. This leads to many types of skin and soft-tissue injuries, along with potential crush injuries from the pressure of a dog’s jaw. In addition, a victim can suffer injuries from a fall if a dog jumps up and pushes the victim down. Common injuries include:
In a severe dog attack, a dangerous or aggressive dog may go for the kill. This means the dog may target vulnerable areas of the victim’s body, such as the face and neck. Sadly, some dogs cause fatal injuries. If you have any type of injury or a loved one passed away from injuries caused by a dog attack in Thornton, our lawyers are here to help.
Colorado Revised Statutes Section 13-21-124 contains the state’s dog bite law. It permits a person who “suffers serious bodily injury or death from being bitten by a dog while lawfully on public or private property” to bring a lawsuit against the dog owner to recover economic damages. These refer to the financial, tangible and specific losses that the victim suffered because of the dog bite, such as medical bills and lost wages.
Furthermore, it states that a civil lawsuit can be brought against a dog owner for a bite injury “regardless of the viciousness or dangerous propensities of the dog or the dog owner’s knowledge of these propensities or lack thereof.” In other words, a dog owner in Colorado will be financially responsible for the actions of his or her pet, whether or not the owner was negligent in failing to prevent a foreseeable dog attack.
Colorado’s dog bite law is a strict liability law, meaning it is not necessary to prove the pet owner’s negligence to hold him or her responsible for a bite injury. Many other states use a one-bite rule, which requires a plaintiff to provide evidence that a pet owner knew or reasonably should have known about a dog’s vicious propensities and failed to prevent an attack. Colorado’s strict liability law makes it easier for a victim to hold a dog owner accountable for a bite injury.
However, a pet owner in Thornton may try to avoid liability by alleging that you were trespassing or provoked the dog at the time of the attack. A dog owner in Colorado can also avoid liability for bodily injuries caused by a dog if he or she had clear and conspicuous signs on the property stating, “No Trespassing” or “Beware of Dog.” You or your attorney may have to combat these defenses to secure fair financial compensation for your claim.
If you get bitten by a dog in Thornton, do your best to stay calm and remember to take the following steps to protect yourself:
Follow your doctor’s orders and work with your attorney to hold the pet owner legally responsible for an aggressive animal.
Don’t wait if you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries because of a dog bite or animal attack. It is important to protect your legal rights from the very beginning of your case, especially if your life has been forever changed by a violent and traumatic dog attack. Contact Dormer Harpring to request a free consultation with an experienced dog bite injury lawyer in Colorado. Call (303) 747-4404 or briefly describe your case to us online and we’ll get back to you right away.