Dog Bite Lawyer Littleton

A dog bite can change everything in seconds. One moment you or your child is walking down the sidewalk, playing in a yard, or visiting a neighbor. The next, you’re bleeding, scared, and headed to urgent care. The physical wound is just the beginning. What comes after — the anxiety, the sleepless nights, the fear every time a dog barks — is something most people don’t expect.

If you or someone you love has been bitten by a dog in Littleton, you are not overreacting. Your injury is real. Your fear is valid. And the fact that the dog belongs to someone you know, someone who seemed responsible, does not change your right to compensation.

McCormick & Murphy, P.C. represents dog bite victims throughout Littleton and the surrounding communities. Our attorneys understand what you’re going through, and we know how to hold dog owners accountable under Colorado law. Call 888-668-1182 to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who will fight for your rights.

Colorado’s Strict Liability Dog Bite Law

Colorado is a strict liability state when it comes to dog bites. That means the owner is legally responsible if their dog bites you, regardless of the animal’s history or temperament. It does not matter if the dog has never shown aggression before. It does not matter if the owner claims the dog is friendly. If the bite happened, the owner is liable.

Under Colorado Revised Statute § 13-21-124, if a dog bites someone who is lawfully on public or private property, the owner is liable for the full extent of the injuries. You do not have to prove the owner was negligent or that they knew the dog was dangerous. The bite itself triggers liability.

This legal standard exists because dog owners have a duty to control their animals. When they fail in that duty, they must answer for the harm caused. It’s that simple.

Common Dog Bite Injuries We See in Littleton

Dog bites are not minor injuries. Even a bite that seems small at first can lead to serious medical complications. We have represented clients who suffered:

• Deep lacerations and puncture wounds that require stitches or surgical repair
• Nerve damage that causes permanent numbness or loss of function
• Facial injuries and scarring, particularly in children who are bitten near the face or neck
• Fractures and broken bones from being knocked down or attacked by a large dog
• Infections including staph, sepsis, and rabies exposure
• Permanent disfigurement requiring reconstructive surgery
• Psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and fear of dogs

Children are especially vulnerable. They are smaller, they move unpredictably around animals, and they are more likely to be bitten on the face, head, or neck. These injuries can require multiple surgeries, years of therapy, and leave emotional scars that last long after the physical wounds heal.

What to Do Right After a Dog Bite

The moments after a dog bite are frightening and chaotic. You are bleeding, you are in pain, and you may not know what to do next. Here is what you need to do to protect your health and your legal rights:

Get medical attention immediately. Even if the wound looks small, dog bites carry a high risk of infection. Bacteria from the dog’s mouth can enter deep tissue and cause serious complications. Go to an urgent care center, emergency room, or your doctor as soon as possible. Follow all treatment instructions and keep every follow-up appointment.

Identify the dog and owner. Get the owner’s name, address, and phone number. Ask if the dog has been vaccinated for rabies. If the dog is a stray or you cannot identify the owner, report the incident to Littleton Animal Control immediately.

Document everything. Take photographs of your injuries as soon as you can. Photograph the location where the bite occurred. If there are torn clothing or other evidence, preserve it. Write down what happened while the details are fresh in your mind.

Report the bite. Contact Littleton Police or Animal Control to file an official report. This creates a record of the incident and may help prevent the dog from biting someone else.

Talk to a dog bite lawyer before you talk to insurance. The dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance company may contact you quickly. They will ask for a statement. They may offer you a settlement. Do not agree to anything until you have spoken with an attorney. Insurance companies exist to minimize payouts, not to protect your interests.

Homeowner’s Insurance and Dog Bite Claims in Littleton

Most dog bite claims are covered by the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. These policies typically include liability coverage for injuries that occur on the insured property or caused by the policyholder’s actions — including injuries caused by their dog.

Insurance coverage can range from $100,000 to $300,000 or more, depending on the policy. This coverage exists to compensate victims like you. You are not taking money from your neighbor or friend. You are holding the insurance company accountable for a risk they agreed to cover when they issued the policy.

That said, insurance companies will fight to reduce or deny your claim. They may argue that you provoked the dog, that you were trespassing, or that your injuries are not as serious as you claim. They may pressure you to accept a low settlement before you understand the full extent of your damages.

This is why you need a personal injury attorney who knows how to deal with insurance companies. McCormick & Murphy, P.C. handles every aspect of your claim so you can focus on healing. We investigate the incident, gather evidence, retain medical experts when needed, and negotiate aggressively to maximize your recovery. If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, we are prepared to take your case to court.

What Damages Can You Recover After a Dog Bite?

A dog bite is not just a medical bill. It is a traumatic event that affects every part of your life. Colorado law allows you to seek compensation for all of the harm you have suffered, including:

Medical expenses. This includes emergency room visits, doctor’s appointments, surgery, prescription medications, wound care, physical therapy, and any future medical treatment related to the bite. If your child needs counseling or therapy because of the attack, those costs are recoverable as well.

Lost wages. If your injuries forced you to miss work, you are entitled to compensation for the income you lost. If your injuries are severe enough to affect your ability to work in the future, you may also recover damages for lost earning capacity.

Pain and suffering. Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life are all compensable. This is especially important in cases involving children who develop a lasting fear of dogs or suffer visible scarring.

Disfigurement and scarring. Permanent scars, particularly on the face or other visible areas, can have a profound impact on a person’s self-esteem and quality of life. Colorado law recognizes this harm and allows victims to seek compensation for disfigurement.

Property damage. If your clothing, glasses, phone, or other property was damaged during the attack, you can recover the cost of repair or replacement.

Every case is different. The value of your claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the amount of insurance coverage available, and the strength of the evidence. An experienced dog bite lawyer will evaluate all of these factors and build the strongest possible case on your behalf.

The Emotional Aftermath of a Dog Bite

The physical injuries heal. The fear often does not.

We have represented children who refuse to play outside because they are afraid of encountering a dog. Adults who cross the street to avoid walking past a neighbor’s yard. Families who no longer feel safe in their own community.

This is not an overreaction. This is trauma. And it is a recognized legal harm.

Colorado courts allow recovery for emotional distress and psychological injury caused by a dog attack. If your child requires therapy, if they experience nightmares or panic attacks, if their daily life has changed because of what happened, those damages are real and compensable.

You are not asking for too much. You are asking for what your family needs to heal.

Defenses Dog Owners and Insurance Companies Use

Even in a strict liability state like Colorado, insurance companies will try to reduce or deny your claim. They may argue:

You provoked the dog. Provocation is a defense to a dog bite claim in Colorado. If the insurance company can show that you intentionally provoked the dog — by hitting it, taunting it, or otherwise causing it to react — they may avoid liability. However, simply walking past a dog, reaching out to pet it, or playing near it does not constitute provocation. Children, in particular, are rarely found to have provoked a dog bite.

You were trespassing. Colorado’s strict liability statute applies only when the victim is lawfully on the property where the bite occurred. If the insurance company claims you were trespassing, they may try to deny your claim. In practice, this defense is rarely successful in residential dog bite cases.

Your injuries are not as serious as you claim. Insurance adjusters may minimize your injuries, question your medical treatment, or claim that your damages are inflated. This is why documentation is critical. Medical records, photographs, and testimony from your doctors create a clear record of what you have been through.

An experienced personal injury lawyer knows how to counter these defenses and hold the insurance company accountable.

Why You Should Not Wait to Call a Lawyer

Colorado law gives you two years from the date of the dog bite to file a personal injury lawsuit. Two years may sound like plenty of time, but evidence disappears quickly. Witnesses forget details. Medical records are harder to obtain. Insurance companies become less willing to negotiate.

The sooner you contact a lawyer, the stronger your case will be. Early investigation allows us to preserve evidence, identify witnesses, and build a compelling record before the insurance company has time to construct a defense.

More importantly, you need help now. You are dealing with medical bills, lost wages, and a family that has been turned upside down. You should not also have to deal with aggressive insurance adjusters who are trained to pay you as little as possible.

McCormick & Murphy, P.C. handles dog bite cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Your initial consultation is free, and there is no obligation to hire us. We simply want to make sure you understand your rights and your options.

Why Choose McCormick & Murphy, P.C.

Kirk McCormick and Jay Murphy have spent their careers fighting for injury victims throughout Colorado. They know the insurance companies, they know the tactics those companies use, and they know how to win.

When you work with McCormick & Murphy, you get:

• A law firm that treats you like a person, not a case number
• Attorneys who return your calls and answer your questions in plain language
• Aggressive representation that holds dog owners and insurance companies accountable
• A team that handles every aspect of your claim so you can focus on your recovery
• No fees unless we win your case

We represent clients throughout Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Englewood, Lone Tree, Parker, and the surrounding areas. If you were bitten by a dog anywhere in the Denver metro area, we can help.

Contact a Littleton Dog Bite Lawyer Today

You did not ask for this. You did not deserve this. And you do not have to face it alone.

If you or your child has been bitten by a dog, you have rights. The dog owner is responsible, and their insurance company must pay for the harm their animal caused. You are not being difficult. You are protecting your family.

Call McCormick & Murphy, P.C. at 888-668-1182 or visit our website to schedule a free consultation. We will review your case, explain your options, and help you take the next step.

You deserve to feel safe again. Let us help you get there.