Boulder County · Off-leash and dog-park attacks
Boulder Off-Leash Dog Attack Lawyers
Bitten by an off-leash dog in Boulder? Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Off-Leash Attacks Away From the Owner's Property
Boulder has an active trail and park culture, and a lot of dogs are out and about on Arapahoe Avenue, along Broadway, and in the open space corridors near U.S. Highway 36. When a dog attacks someone in a public place, the law does not require the person to have been on the owner's property. If you were lawfully present and suffered a serious injury, you may have a claim under C.R.S. § 13‑21‑124, regardless of whether the attack happened on a sidewalk, trail, or public path.
An off-leash dog that injures someone can also support a claim built on ordinary negligence. If the owner let the dog run loose in a setting where control was expected, and that lack of control led to the attack, that failure can be part of the case. We look at where the dog was supposed to be, whether it was under any restraint, and what the owner did or did not do to prevent the incident.
Location matters, but it does not automatically decide the case. A bite on a busy public path in a residential area near Louisville or Lafayette is treated differently than a bite that happens well off any trail. We evaluate the specific circumstances of where you were and what the dog was doing before we tell you what your options look like.
What Dog Park and Trail Cases Turn On
Dog parks are still public places under the law, but people who go to them generally accept some level of dog-to-dog contact and typical roughhousing. That does not mean a dog park injury can never become a claim, and it does not mean every incident at a dog park is automatic liability either. What matters is whether the dog's behavior went beyond what a reasonable person would expect in that setting and whether the owner had a chance to prevent it.
Because these attacks often happen fast and in open, semi-public spaces, the proof tends to disappear quickly. We want to know exactly where the dog was standing or running, whether it was on or off leash at the moment of the attack, who saw it happen, and what the scene looked like right afterward. Photos of the location, leash or lack of leash, and any posted signage can matter a great deal in these cases.
- Get the names and contact information of anyone who saw the attack happen
- Photograph the location, including whether a leash or collar was present
- Note the exact spot: trail name, park area, or street where it occurred
- Photograph your injuries before they start to heal
- Keep any records from your visit to Boulder Community Health Foothills Hospital or another provider
Handling Boulder Off-Leash Claims
Boulder's trail and park network means a lot of dog encounters happen away from any front yard or fence line. We handle claims arising from these public-space incidents whether they happened on a path near Arapahoe Avenue, along Broadway, close to the U.S. Highway 36 corridor, or out toward Louisville and Lafayette. If a case needs to be filed, it would proceed through the Boulder County Justice Center.
We work with clients from our Denver, CO office and take these cases across the region, so distance from our office does not stop us from handling a Boulder-area off-leash claim.
Damages We Pursue
- Emergency and follow-up medical treatment
- Scarring or disfigurement from bite wounds
- Lost income while you recover
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical care if additional treatment is needed
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 Off-leash and dog-park attacks FAQ
Can I have a claim if the attack happened on a trail, not the owner's yard?
Yes. Being in a public place does not remove your right to make a claim. What matters is whether you were lawfully there and whether the injury was serious.
Does going to a dog park mean I gave up any right to sue?
No. People who go to dog parks accept some ordinary dog-to-dog contact, but that does not mean every injury there is just part of the risk. We look at whether the dog's conduct and the owner's supervision went beyond what is reasonably expected.
What if the dog was off leash when it attacked me?
An off-leash dog in a setting where control was expected can support a negligence claim in addition to any statutory claim. We look at where the dog should have been restrained and whether the owner failed to do so.
What proof do I need from an off-leash incident?
Witness names, photos of the location, and details about whether the dog was leashed are all valuable. The more specific you can be about where exactly the attack happened, the stronger the record.
I live near Louisville or Lafayette but the attack happened in Boulder. Does that matter?
No. What matters is where the attack occurred and the facts of that incident, not where you live. We handle claims throughout the Boulder area regardless of your home address.
Discuss a Boulder dog bite
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.