Colorado Dog Bite & Animal Attack Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Colorado dog bite and animal attack attorneys who understand C.R.S. § 13-21-124 — Colorado’s strict-liability dog-bite statute for serious bodily injury — and the state’s modified 50% comparative fault rule. Whether you were bitten in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, or anywhere across Colorado, we’ll match you with the right attorney at no cost to get started.

For “serious bodily injury” or death (C.R.S. § 13-21-124), strict liability applies for economic damages — no prior-bite history or owner negligence required. The owner is liable for medical bills and lost wages automatically. For non-economic damages (pain and suffering) or less-serious bites, the common-law one-bite/scienter rule applies, requiring proof the owner knew of dangerous propensities.

C.R.S. § 13-21-124(5) lists specific defenses to the strict-liability claim, including provocation, knowingly trespassing, working dog herding livestock, and military/police K-9 in performance of duty. Outside those defenses, the strict-liability claim proceeds. For non-economic damages, comparative fault under the 50% bar applies.

Usually yes. Standard Colorado homeowner’s policies include personal-liability coverage typically applicable to dog bites, with limits commonly $100,000–$500,000. Breed exclusions and prior-incident exclusions are common — Colorado does not prohibit them.

Renter’s insurance often covers dog bites. Colorado landlords can be liable under common-law negligence if they had actual knowledge of the dog’s viciousness and the right to remove it, but they are not strictly liable under § 13-21-124.

Yes — identifying the owner is essential. Denver Animal Protection, Colorado Springs Animal Law Enforcement, and other county agencies can require quarantine for rabies observation (typically 10 days). For unidentified dogs, post-exposure rabies prophylaxis may be required.

Colorado rabies-control rules require quarantine of any dog that bites a human (typically 10 days). Under C.R.S. § 18-9-204.5 and municipal dangerous-dog laws, a dog may be declared dangerous after a hearing and ordered euthanized, contained, or muzzled. A civil claim is separate.

Knowingly trespassing is a specific statutory defense to § 13-21-124 strict liability (§ 13-21-124(5)(b)). The case can still proceed under common-law scienter, but comparative fault often eliminates recovery if you crossed the 50% bar. Child trespassers retain protection under attractive-nuisance doctrine.

Why Do You Need a Animal Incident Attorney in Colorado?

Colorado’s dog-bite statute (C.R.S. § 13-21-124) imposes strict liability on dog owners for economic damages when a victim suffers “serious bodily injury” or death — regardless of prior knowledge or viciousness. For non-economic damages and for less-serious bites, the common-law one-bite/scienter rule continues to apply. Colorado is a 50%-bar modified comparative fault state (C.R.S. § 13-21-111), so any plaintiff fault of 50% or more eliminates recovery. Government-defendant cases (police K-9s, municipal animal-control failures) require 182-day notice under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act. Open-range counties in eastern and southern Colorado complicate cattle-on-highway cases. An attorney enforces § 13-21-124, builds the prior-incident record, and protects the short notice deadlines.

When Do You Need a Animal Incident Attorney in Colorado?

Our network includes Colorado animal incident attorneys who handle every kind of case, including:

Types of Animal Incident Cases in Colorado

From the moment you connect with a Colorado animal incident attorney, they go to work protecting your claim. The most common case types we handle:

Not reporting the bite to Denver Animal Protection, Colorado Springs ALE, or county animal control — required for rabies-protocol and the evidence record

Failing to photograph injuries, the dog, and the scene before wounds heal

Accepting a cash offer from the dog owner before plastic-surgery and PTSD-treatment costs are known

Talking to the homeowner’s insurance without counsel — recorded statements get used to argue provocation or trespass under § 13-21-124(5)

Missing Colorado’s 2-year personal-injury SOL under § 13-80-102, or the 182-day CGIA notice deadline

Settling before scar-revision and mental-health treatment estimates are complete

Not reporting the bite to Denver Animal Protection, Colorado Springs ALE, or county animal control — required for rabies-protocol and the evidence record

Failing to photograph injuries, the dog, and the scene before wounds heal

Accepting a cash offer from the dog owner before plastic-surgery and PTSD-treatment costs are known

Talking to the homeowner’s insurance without counsel — recorded statements get used to argue provocation or trespass under § 13-21-124(5)

Missing Colorado’s 2-year personal-injury SOL under § 13-80-102, or the 182-day CGIA notice deadline

Settling before scar-revision and mental-health treatment estimates are complete

Common Colorado Animal Incident Mistakes

Even a small misstep can hurt your case. Here’s what to avoid:

How Much Do Colorado Animal Incident Attorneys Cost?

33%

Typical starting contingency fee — you pay nothing unless your attorney recovers compensation for you.

Colorado dog-bite and animal-attack attorneys typically work on a contingency-fee basis — 33% to 40% of the total recovery. With C.R.S. § 13-21-124’s strict-liability framework for serious bodily injury and the new $1.5M non-economic cap, skilled representation is more valuable than ever. Case costs (animal-control records, medical reviews, experts) are typically advanced by the firm and deducted from the final recovery.

What Can Your Colorado Animal Incident Compensation Include?

Medical Expenses

ER care, wound treatment, antibiotics, rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, plastic surgery, scar revision, and future reconstruction. Automatic under § 13-21-124 for serious bodily injury cases.

Lost Wages and Future Earnings

Wages lost during recovery and reduced earning capacity. Also automatic under § 13-21-124 for serious bodily injury.

Pain and Suffering

Physical pain during recovery and ongoing pain from scar tissue or nerve damage. Subject to Colorado’s non-economic damages cap (HB 24-1472 raised to $1.5M for cases filed on/after 1/1/2025).

Disfigurement and Permanent Scarring

Compensation for visible scars, especially facial scars on children. Permanent disfigurement is treated separately from general non-economic damages.

Psychological Injuries and PTSD

Cynophobia, anxiety, nightmares, and PTSD. Documented mental-health treatment is essential.

Punitive Damages

Available under C.R.S. § 13-21-102 for willful and wanton conduct — keeping a known-vicious dog or violating dangerous-dog orders. Capped at the amount of actual damages awarded.

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DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Colorado Dog Bite & Animal Attack Attorneys

Why Do You Need a Animal Incident Attorney in Colorado?

When Do You Need a Animal Incident Attorney in Colorado?

Types of Animal Incident Cases in Colorado

Common Colorado Animal Incident Mistakes

How Much Do Colorado Animal Incident Attorneys Cost?

What Can Your Colorado Animal Incident Compensation Include?

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