Boulder County · Child dog-bite injuries
Boulder Child Dog Bite Lawyers
Boulder families dealing with a child dog bite can reach us for a free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Dog Bite Claims for Children in Boulder
When a child is bitten while lawfully in a public place, or lawfully on the dog owner's property, the case can fall under C.R.S. § 13‑21‑124 if the bite causes serious bodily injury. We look closely at where the bite happened and whether the child had a legal right to be there, whether that was along Arapahoe Avenue, near Broadway, or at a home or business elsewhere in Boulder County.
We do not assume a child cannot have contributed to what happened, and we do not apply an age cutoff that the statute does not contain. Instead, we look at what the child was actually doing in the moments before the bite, how the dog was being kept or restrained, and whether the facts support a statutory claim, a negligence claim, or both.
Because the injured person is a minor, a parent or guardian typically needs to bring or manage the claim on the child's behalf. We do not guess at the exact court procedure that applies in every situation, but we walk parents through what is involved and what decisions they will need to make as the case moves forward.
Documenting a Child's Injury Over Time
A child's bite injury does not always look the same at six weeks as it does at six years. Facial and body scarring can change as a child grows, and some injuries need more than one stage of medical treatment before anyone can say how the scarring will settle. We work with families to keep a record of medical visits, including any care received through Boulder Community Health Foothills Hospital, so the full picture of the injury is documented rather than assumed.
Noneconomic losses like scarring and disfigurement are not automatic just because the statute applies. In many cases, recovering for those losses requires building a negligence claim alongside the statutory claim, which means gathering evidence about the owner's control of the dog, prior warning signs, and how the incident actually unfolded.
- Get medical attention for your child and keep all records
- Photograph the wound and any visible scarring as it heals
- Write down where the bite happened and what your child was doing beforehand
- Get the dog owner's name, address, and any animal control report number
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurer before speaking with us
Handling Child Bite Cases in Boulder County
Dog bite incidents involving children in Boulder show up in a range of settings, from neighborhood sidewalks near Broadway or U.S. Highway 36 to yards and porches in Louisville and Lafayette. Each setting affects how we look at whether the child was lawfully present and what evidence is available, from neighbors who witnessed the incident to any animal control response.
If a case proceeds through the courts, it is typically handled at the Boulder County Justice Center. Our office is based in Denver, and we regularly assist families throughout Boulder County with these claims from the first phone call through resolution.
Losses We Help Document for Injured Children
- Medical treatment, including follow-up or staged care
- Scarring and disfigurement, evaluated as the child grows
- Pain and emotional distress connected to the incident
- Costs tied to future treatment or evaluation
- Impact on the child's daily activities during recovery
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Boulder — and read client testimonials.
After I was hit by a drunk driver with no insurance, my own insurer refused UM benefits. McCormick & Murphy sued for uninsured motorist benefits and bad faith. A jury awarded me over $900,000.
C. O., Denver · UM / bad-faith verdict
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, coverage, venue, and evidence.
Boulder Child dog-bite injuries FAQ
Can my child still have a claim if he or she was playing with the dog before the bite?
It depends on the specific facts, not on an automatic rule against children who were interacting with a dog. We look at what your child was doing, whether he or she had a legal right to be where the bite occurred, and whether the statute or a negligence claim better fits the situation.
Do I have to file the claim myself since my child is a minor?
A parent or guardian generally needs to bring or manage a claim on behalf of a minor child. We do not want to guess at the exact procedure for your situation here, but we can walk you through what's involved once we know the details of your case.
Will my child automatically be compensated for scarring?
Not automatically. The statute covers certain injuries, but noneconomic losses like scarring often require a negligence claim as well, which means we need to look at how the dog was kept and whether the owner could have prevented the bite.
What if my child's scar changes as they get older?
That is common with children, since skin and features change with growth. We encourage families to document the injury over time and to involve medical providers who can speak to how the scarring may develop.
Where would a Boulder dog bite case involving my child be handled?
Court proceedings for Boulder County cases are typically handled at the Boulder County Justice Center. Our office is in Denver, and we assist families throughout Boulder County, including areas like Louisville and Lafayette, with these claims.
Discuss a Boulder dog bite
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.