Dog Bite Lawyer Greenwood Village

A dog bite can change everything in seconds. One moment your child is playing outside. The next moment you are in an emergency room watching them get stitches. Or you are walking through your neighborhood and a dog breaks away from its owner and lunges. The physical injury is immediate. The fear that follows can last much longer.

You may be thinking about the dog’s owner. Maybe you know them. Maybe they are apologetic and kind and you feel terrible even considering a claim. Maybe the dog has never done this before and everyone keeps telling you it was just an accident.

None of that changes what happened to you or your child. Dog owners in Colorado are responsible for the actions of their animals. Your injury is real. Your trauma is real. And you have the legal right to hold them accountable.

At McCormick & Murphy, P.C., we represent dog bite victims across Greenwood Village and the surrounding Denver metro area. We know what these cases require and we know how to build them. Call us at 888-668-1182 to discuss your situation with an experienced personal injury attorney.

Why Dog Bite Cases Matter

Dog bites are not minor injuries. Even when the wound looks manageable at first, complications can develop. Infections, nerve damage, scarring, and disfigurement are common. Children are especially vulnerable. Their faces and necks are often at the same height as a dog’s mouth. The physical scars can be severe. The emotional scars can be even worse.

Many dog bite victims develop a lasting fear of dogs. Children may refuse to go outside. They may struggle in social situations where dogs are present. Adults can experience similar anxiety. These are real injuries with real consequences and they deserve real compensation.

The legal system recognizes this. Colorado law imposes strict liability on dog owners in many situations. That means you do not have to prove the owner was careless or that the dog had a history of aggression. You only have to prove the dog bit you and that you were lawfully where you were supposed to be.

Colorado’s Strict Liability Dog Bite Law

Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-21-124 creates strict liability for dog bites that cause serious bodily injury. Serious bodily injury includes any injury that involves a substantial risk of death, serious permanent disfigurement, protracted loss or impairment of a body part or organ, or breaks, fractures, or second- or third-degree burns.

If your injury meets that definition, the dog owner is liable. Period. You do not need to show they knew the dog was dangerous. You do not need evidence of prior incidents. The law holds them responsible.

For injuries that do not meet the serious bodily injury standard, you can still pursue a claim under common law negligence principles. This requires showing the owner knew or should have known the dog had dangerous tendencies and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the attack. Many successful claims have been built on this foundation.

What to Do After a Dog Bite in Greenwood Village

Your first priority is medical care. Dog bites carry a high risk of infection. Even small puncture wounds can introduce bacteria deep into tissue. Seek treatment immediately. Go to an urgent care center or emergency room. Do not wait to see if it gets better on its own.

Document everything. Take photographs of the injury as soon as possible and then regularly as it heals. Photograph torn clothing. If there are visible scars or disfigurement, document those as well. Keep every medical record, every bill, every receipt related to your treatment.

Report the bite to Greenwood Village Animal Control or the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office. An official report creates a record of the incident. It also triggers an investigation that may uncover prior complaints or bites involving the same dog. This evidence can be critical to your claim.

Get the dog owner’s contact information and homeowner’s insurance information if possible. Most homeowner’s policies include liability coverage for dog bites. That coverage is often the primary source of compensation in these cases. Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. Anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your claim.

Contact a dog bite lawyer as soon as you are able. Early legal guidance protects your rights and preserves evidence before it disappears.

Common Injuries From Dog Attacks

Dog bites cause a wide range of injuries. The severity depends on the size of the dog, the location of the bite, and how long the attack lasted. Common injuries include:

• Puncture wounds: Deep bites that may not look serious on the surface but can cause internal damage and infection.
• Lacerations: Tears in the skin that require stitches or surgical repair and often leave permanent scars.
• Facial injuries: Bites to the face, especially in children, can cause disfigurement, nerve damage, and eye injuries.
• Broken bones: Large dogs can fracture bones in the hands, arms, legs, or skull.
• Infections: Bacteria from a dog’s mouth can cause cellulitis, abscesses, sepsis, or rabies in rare cases.
• Nerve damage: Severe bites can sever or damage nerves, leading to loss of sensation or motor function.
• Psychological trauma: Fear, anxiety, nightmares, and post-traumatic stress are common after a dog attack, especially in children.

The full extent of your injury may not be clear for weeks or months. Scars may require revision surgery. Psychological symptoms may worsen over time. A comprehensive personal injury claim accounts for all of these damages, both present and future.

Compensation Available in Dog Bite Claims

Colorado law allows dog bite victims to recover multiple types of damages. Economic damages cover your measurable financial losses. This includes medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, and any other out-of-pocket expenses caused by the injury.

Non-economic damages compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. These damages are real even though they do not come with a receipt. A child who now fears dogs has suffered a harm that affects their daily life. An adult with visible scarring on their face has suffered a harm that may impact their career and relationships. The law recognizes this.

In rare cases involving particularly reckless conduct, punitive damages may also be available. These are designed to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior in the future.

Homeowner’s Insurance and Dog Bite Claims

Most dog bite claims are paid by the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. These policies typically include liability coverage that applies when someone is injured on the insured’s property or by the insured’s dog, even off-property.

Insurance companies do not advertise this coverage. Many dog owners do not even know they have it. But it exists and it is often the only realistic source of compensation in these cases.

Dealing with the insurance company is where many dog bite victims make critical mistakes. Adjusters will contact you quickly. They will sound sympathetic. They may offer a settlement within days of the incident. That settlement is almost always far less than your claim is worth.

Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, you cannot come back for more money. If complications develop or your child needs additional surgery, you are on your own. Do not negotiate with the insurance company without legal representation. An experienced dog bite lawyer knows what your claim is worth and how to fight for it.

Filing a Claim Against a Friend or Neighbor

One of the hardest parts of a dog bite case is the relationship between the victim and the dog owner. Many bites happen in familiar settings. A neighbor’s dog. A friend’s dog. A family member’s dog. You do not want to cause problems. You do not want to be the person who sues over an accident.

This is not a lawsuit against your friend. This is a claim against their insurance company. Homeowner’s insurance exists for exactly this reason. Your neighbor will not pay your medical bills out of pocket. Their insurance will. That is what they pay premiums for.

Your relationship with the dog owner does not change the fact that you or your child were injured. It does not change the medical bills. It does not change the nightmares or the scars. You have a legal right to compensation. Using that right does not make you a bad person. It makes you someone who is protecting their family.

Dog Bites Involving Children

Children account for a disproportionate number of serious dog bite injuries. They are smaller, less able to defend themselves, and more likely to approach unfamiliar dogs. Their injuries are often more severe because bites to the face and head are more common.

A dog bite can change a child’s entire relationship with animals and the outdoors. They may develop phobias that require therapy. They may be bullied over visible scars. They may need multiple reconstructive surgeries as they grow.

If your child was bitten, you have the right to pursue compensation for all of these harms. That includes future medical care, future therapy, and the long-term psychological impact of the attack. Colorado law does not minimize injuries just because the victim is young. In fact, the potential for lasting harm makes these cases more serious, not less.

Proving Your Dog Bite Claim

Building a strong dog bite claim requires evidence. Medical records are the foundation. They document the injury, the treatment, and the prognosis. Photographs of the injury at various stages of healing show the severity and progression. Witness statements from anyone who saw the attack can corroborate your version of events.

The official animal control report is critical. It establishes when and where the bite occurred and may contain statements from the dog owner or other witnesses. If the dog has a history of aggression, that report may reference prior incidents.

Expert testimony may be necessary in cases involving scarring, disfigurement, or psychological trauma. A plastic surgeon can testify about the need for future revision surgeries. A psychologist can explain the long-term impact of the attack on a child’s development. These experts strengthen your claim and help the insurance company or jury understand the full extent of your damages.

An experienced personal injury attorney knows how to gather this evidence, preserve it, and present it in a way that maximizes your recovery.

The Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Claims

Colorado law gives you two years from the date of the dog bite to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you do not file within that time, your claim is barred. You lose the right to recover anything, no matter how severe your injury.

Two years may sound like a long time. It is not. Medical treatment takes time. Scars take time to stabilize. Psychological symptoms take time to fully manifest. Insurance negotiations can drag on for months. If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, you need time to file a lawsuit and build your case.

Do not wait. The sooner you contact a dog bite lawyer, the sooner we can begin protecting your rights and building your claim.

Why Choose McCormick & Murphy, P.C.

We focus our practice on personal injury cases, including dog bites and animal attacks. We know the law. We know the tactics insurance companies use to minimize payouts. And we know how to fight back.

Kirk McCormick and Jay Murphy have built this firm on the principle that injured people deserve aggressive, compassionate representation. We do not treat you like a case number. We treat you like someone who has been through something traumatic and needs help navigating a complex legal system.

We serve clients throughout Greenwood Village, Denver, Centennial, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Englewood, Aurora, and the surrounding metro area. If you or your child was bitten by a dog, call us at 888-668-1182 for a free consultation. We will review your case, explain your rights, and help you understand your options.

You can also visit our website at https://mccormickmurphy.com/denver-personal-injury-attorneys/ to learn more about our firm and our approach to personal injury claims.

Understanding Your Rights After a Dog Bite

Dog owners have a responsibility to control their animals. When they fail to do that and someone gets hurt, they are liable. Colorado law does not require you to prove fault in many cases. It does not require you to show the dog was dangerous before. It only requires you to show that you were injured and that the dog owner failed to prevent it.

You have the right to compensation for every harm you suffered. Medical bills. Lost income. Pain and suffering. Emotional trauma. Scarring and disfigurement. Every consequence of that bite is something the law allows you to recover for.

Insurance companies will try to minimize your claim. They will argue the injury was not that serious. They will question whether you provoked the dog. They will offer you a small settlement and pressure you to take it quickly. Do not fall for it. Your claim is worth more than their first offer.

An experienced dog bite attorney levels the playing field. We know what your case is worth. We know how to document your damages. And we know how to negotiate with insurance companies to get you the compensation you deserve.

What Happens If the Dog Owner Has No Insurance?

Not every dog owner has homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. If the person who owns the dog that bit you is uninsured, your options are more limited but not eliminated.

You may be able to pursue compensation through your own insurance. Some homeowner’s and health insurance policies provide coverage for injuries caused by animals. Your auto insurance policy may include uninsured motorist coverage that applies in some circumstances, though this is less common for dog bites.

You can also file a personal injury lawsuit directly against the dog owner. If you win, you will have a judgment that can be enforced through wage garnishment, liens, or other collection methods. This is a more difficult and uncertain path, but it may be your only option.

A dog bite lawyer can review all potential sources of recovery and advise you on the best course of action for your specific situation.

Taking the Next Step

You did not ask for this. You did not want to be in this position. But you are here and you have decisions to make. The dog owner may be apologetic. The insurance company may be calling. Friends and family may be telling you to move on.

But you have medical bills. You have scars. Your child has nightmares. These are real harms that deserve real compensation. You have the legal right to pursue that compensation and you do not have to feel guilty about it.

At McCormick & Murphy, P.C., we help dog bite victims understand their rights and pursue the compensation they deserve. We handle every aspect of your claim so you can focus on healing. We do not get paid unless you do.

Call us today at 888-668-1182 to schedule a free consultation. We serve clients throughout Greenwood Village and the entire Denver metro area. Your injury matters. Your trauma matters. And we are here to fight for you.