Larimer County · Off-leash and dog-park attacks
Fort Collins Off-Leash Dog Attack Lawyers
Off-leash dog attacks on Fort Collins trails and parks can support a claim. Free consultation, no fee unless we recover.
Your Legal Options After an Off-Leash Attack
Colorado law under C.R.S. § 13‑21‑124 does not require the attack to happen at the owner's home. If you were lawfully in a public place, like a trail along the Poudre River or a park near Harmony Road, and the dog caused serious injury, that statute can apply the same way it would for an attack at a residence.
Separate from that statute, an off-leash dog can also support a straightforward negligence claim. If an owner let a dog run loose in an area where leashes are expected, and that decision led to your injury, we can build a case around the owner's failure to control the animal. We do not need to cite a specific municipal leash ordinance to make this argument.
Dog parks raise a different question. People who bring their dogs to a fenced dog park accept some degree of normal contact and rough play between dogs. That does not mean every incident at a dog park is automatically a viable claim, but it also does not mean an injury at a dog park can never be one. Whether the dog's behavior went beyond what a reasonable person would expect, and whether the owner ignored warning signs, matters a great deal in these cases.
Building Your Case After a Park or Trail Attack
Location details matter more in these cases than in a straightforward home-based bite. We want to know exactly where the attack happened, whether it was a designated dog park, an off-leash trail, or a sidewalk where leashes were required, and whether the dog was leashed at the time. Photos of the scene, including any posted signs about leash rules, can help establish the setting.
Witnesses are often strangers who happened to be nearby, at a park bench, on a bike path, or with their own dog. Getting names and contact information before people disperse is critical, since these witnesses may be the only account of what the dog was doing right before the attack. We can help you follow up with witnesses and gather other proof once we're involved.
- Exact location of the attack, including trail name or park
- Whether the dog was on or off leash at the time
- Names and phone numbers of any witnesses nearby
- Photos of the scene, the dog, and any posted rules or signs
- Your own account written down while details are fresh
Handling Off-Leash Claims in Fort Collins
Fort Collins has a lot of shared outdoor space where dogs and people mix, from paths along College Avenue to open areas near Wellington and Loveland. Attacks in these settings often involve dogs that got loose or slipped a leash rather than dogs kept confined at a private home, which changes what evidence we look for and how we frame the claim.
If your injuries were treated at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital, those records help document what happened and how serious the bite was. If a claim moves toward litigation, cases in this area are handled out of the Larimer County Justice Center. We work with clients throughout Larimer County and meet with people from our Denver office when needed.
What You Can Recover
- Medical bills for treatment of bite wounds and related injuries
- Lost income if injuries kept you from working
- Pain and suffering from the attack and recovery
- Scarring or disfigurement from bite injuries
- Costs of follow-up care, including any needed procedures
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Fort Collins — 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.
Fort Collins Off-leash and dog-park attacks FAQ
Can I still file a claim if the attack happened in a public park?
Yes. Colorado's dog-bite statute applies to people who were lawfully in a public place at the time of the attack, not just visitors to a private home. If the injury was serious, the location in a park or on a trail does not block your claim.
Does going to a dog park mean I gave up my right to sue if I'm bitten?
Not automatically. People at dog parks accept some normal roughhousing between dogs, but that does not mean any injury there is off-limits for a claim. We look at whether the dog's behavior and the owner's response went beyond what's reasonably expected in that setting.
What if the dog wasn't on a leash when it attacked me?
An off-leash dog can support both the statutory dog-bite claim and a separate negligence claim based on the owner's failure to control the animal. We gather details about the location and leash rules to help show the owner did not take reasonable precautions.
I didn't get the owner's name. Can I still pursue a claim?
It's harder without the owner's information, but not impossible if we have witness accounts, photos, or other identifying details. Contact information for the owner is important, so if you're still near the scene, try to get it or ask a witness who may have seen the owner.
What should I do right after an off-leash attack in a park or on a trail?
Get medical attention, take photos of the scene and any injuries, and get contact information from anyone who witnessed the attack. Write down exactly where it happened and whether the dog was leashed, since these details can fade quickly from memory.
Discuss a Fort Collins dog bite
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.