Arapahoe County · Fatal dog attacks
Englewood Fatal Dog Attack Lawyers
A fatal dog attack in Englewood devastates a family. Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.
How Colorado Law Treats a Fatal Dog Attack
Colorado's dog-bite statute, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑124, can apply when a bite causes death and the person was lawfully in a public place or lawfully on the owner's property at the time. That statute addresses the dog owner's responsibility for the bite itself. It does not by itself decide who in the family may bring a claim after a death.
That question, who may file and what the claim can address, is controlled by Colorado's wrongful-death law, not by the dog-bite statute alone. We do not guess at that answer here because it depends on the family's specific circumstances. Our wrongful-death page walks through who may file and what losses that type of claim covers, and we bring that analysis into any fatal dog attack case we handle.
In practice, a fatal dog attack case often combines both bodies of law: the dog-bite statute to establish the owner's responsibility, and wrongful-death law to determine who brings the claim and what it seeks. We look at both from the start so the right claim gets filed by the right person.
Building the Record After a Fatal Attack
A fatal dog attack investigation moves fast and involves more than a typical bite claim. There may be animal-control records, police reports, witness statements, and medical records documenting the attack and the death. We work to secure these records early, before they are lost, destroyed, or become harder to obtain.
We also look at ownership and control of the dog: who owned it, who was supervising it, and whether the location where the attack happened was public or the owner's property, since that affects how the statute applies. Every piece of that record matters when a family is trying to understand what happened and hold the responsible party accountable.
- Any police or animal-control reports connected to the attack
- Contact information for witnesses who saw the attack or the dog beforehand
- Medical records or a death certificate documenting the cause of death
- Photos of the location, the dog, and any related property
- Records identifying the dog's owner and where the attack occurred
Handling Fatal Dog Attack Claims for Englewood Families
We represent families across Englewood, including near South Broadway, Hampden Avenue, and Santa Fe Drive, as well as in neighboring Littleton and Sheridan. A fatal dog attack claim connected to this area may involve records from HCA HealthONE Swedish or from wherever the death was addressed. Wrongful-death claims tied to a fatal attack in Arapahoe County are typically filed at the Arapahoe County Justice Center.
Our office is based in Denver, and we work with Englewood families through every stage of a fatal dog attack claim, from gathering records to coordinating the dog-bite and wrongful-death pieces of the case. We know how difficult this process is, and we aim to handle the legal work so the family does not have to carry it alone.
What a Fatal Dog Attack Claim May Address
- Funeral and burial costs
- Medical expenses connected to the attack before death
- Loss of the deceased's financial support and services
- Loss of companionship and guidance, where applicable under wrongful-death law
- Other losses recognized under Colorado wrongful-death law
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Englewood — 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.
Englewood Fatal dog attacks FAQ
Does the dog-bite statute cover a fatal attack?
Yes, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑124 can apply when a bite causes death, as long as the person was lawfully in a public place or lawfully on the owner's property. The statute addresses the owner's responsibility for the bite. It works alongside, not instead of, Colorado's wrongful-death law.
Who can file a wrongful-death claim after a fatal dog attack?
That is controlled by Colorado wrongful-death law, not the dog-bite statute alone, and it depends on the family's specific situation. We do not guess at this answer in general terms. Our wrongful-death page explains who may file and what that claim addresses, and we walk families through it directly.
What records matter most in a fatal dog attack case?
Animal-control and police records, witness statements, and medical records documenting the attack and cause of death are all important. These records can be harder to obtain over time, so we work to secure them as early as possible.
Where would a wrongful-death claim from a fatal dog attack in Englewood be filed?
Claims tied to Arapahoe County are typically filed at the Arapahoe County Justice Center. The right venue can depend on the specific facts of the case, and we handle that determination as part of the claim.
How does a fatal dog attack claim differ from a typical dog-bite claim?
A typical dog-bite claim is brought by the injured person. A fatal attack instead involves a wrongful-death claim brought by family members, which is governed by separate wrongful-death law even though the dog-bite statute still applies to the underlying attack. We coordinate both parts of the case together.
Discuss a Englewood dog bite
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