Fremont County · Non-bite dog attacks
Florence Dog Attack Lawyers
Knocked down or chased by a dog in Florence? Free consultation, no fee unless we recover for you.
When It's Not a Bite, It's Still a Claim
Colorado's dog bite statute, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑124, covers bites. If a dog knocked you down, chased you, or scratched you without breaking skin, that harm generally falls under ordinary negligence law rather than the strict liability rules that apply to bites.
A negligence claim asks different questions. Did the owner keep control of the dog? Was the dog off leash or loose when it shouldn't have been? Did the owner know or should the owner have known the dog might act this way, and did the owner fail to take reasonable precautions? These questions matter more than whether teeth ever touched skin.
Non-bite attacks can still cause serious harm. A knockdown can lead to a broken bone or a head injury from hitting pavement. A chase across a yard or into a street can end in torn ligaments or worse. Some people are left with a lasting fear of dogs after an incident like this. We treat these as possible outcomes we investigate, not assumptions we make going in.
Building a Negligence Case
Because a non-bite attack falls outside the strict liability statute, we have to show the owner failed to act reasonably. That means looking at how the dog was contained, whether there was a fence or leash law in play, whether the dog had gotten loose before, and what the owner did or didn't do when the dog approached you.
Witness accounts, photos of the scene, any video from nearby homes or businesses, and your own account of what happened all help establish how the attack unfolded. If the dog's teeth did break skin at any point during the same incident, we look at whether the bite statute also applies alongside the negligence claim, rather than trying to force the whole event into one legal box.
- Photos of any bruising, injuries, or torn clothing
- Names and contact information for anyone who saw the attack
- The location where it happened, including any fence, gate, or leash involved
- Medical records from any care you received, even if there was no bite wound
- The owner's name, address, and any information about the dog's history
Non-Bite Attacks Around Florence
We've seen how loose dogs move through Florence, whether it's along Main Street, near East 3rd Street, or out toward Colorado Highway 115. A dog that gets off its property in these areas can knock down a pedestrian or cyclist before anyone has a chance to react, and the resulting injury has nothing to do with a bite.
If you were hurt in a non-bite attack in Florence, Cañon City, or Penrose, and you needed care at CommonSpirit St. Thomas More Hospital, we can help sort out what happened and whether a negligence claim fits the facts. A case like this may also involve Fremont County Combined Courts in Cañon City, and we're set up to handle that from our office at 301 N. Main Street in Pueblo.
What These Claims May Cover
- Medical treatment for broken bones or head injuries
- Costs related to torn ligaments or other physical injury
- Lost income while you recover
- Pain and suffering from the incident
- Counseling or treatment for lasting fear of dogs
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Florence — and read client testimonials.
A pickup hit me from behind on Hwy 50 east of Pueblo. The insurer offered $2,600. McCormick & Murphy helped with treatment, filed suit, and the case settled at mediation for $165,000.
C. O., Pueblo · Highway 50 crash
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, coverage, venue, and evidence.
Florence Non-bite dog attacks FAQ
Do I have a case if the dog never bit me?
Yes, you may still have a negligence claim if the dog knocked you down, chased you, or otherwise caused harm without breaking skin. It just falls under different legal rules than the bite statute. We look at whether the owner failed to control the dog or take reasonable precautions.
What's the difference between a bite claim and a non-bite claim?
Colorado's dog bite statute applies specifically when a bite occurs. A knockdown, chase, or scratch without a bite is generally handled as an ordinary negligence claim, which means we have to show the owner didn't act reasonably rather than relying on strict liability.
Can a non-bite attack still cause serious injury?
It can. Being knocked down or chased has led to broken bones, head injuries, and torn ligaments for people we've talked to. Some people also develop a lasting fear of dogs after an incident like this.
What if the dog scratched me but didn't break the skin?
A scratch that doesn't break skin usually falls outside the bite statute and is treated as a negligence issue. We look at how the dog got loose and whether the owner used reasonable care to prevent that.
What if the dog bit me at some point during the same attack?
If teeth broke skin during the incident, the bite statute may apply to that part of the attack alongside a negligence claim for the rest. We sort through the facts to figure out which legal theories fit rather than treating it as all one thing.
Discuss a Florence dog bite
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.