El Paso County · Non-bite dog attacks
Fountain Dog Attack Lawyers
A dog knocked you down or chased you in Fountain? Free consultation. No attorney 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. It does not automatically cover a knockdown, a chase, or a scratch where teeth never broke the skin. Those cases are generally built on negligence: did the owner fail to control the dog, and did that failure cause the injury.
That difference matters, but it does not make the claim weaker. A dog that knocks someone off a bike on Fountain Mesa Road, or chases a pedestrian near Mesa Ridge Parkway, can cause real harm even without a single tooth mark. We build these cases around the owner's conduct, not just the animal's mouth.
If the dog did break skin at some point during the same incident, the bite statute may apply alongside a negligence theory. We look at what actually happened before deciding which legal framework fits the facts, rather than forcing every attack into one box.
Proving the Owner Failed to Control the Dog
In a non-bite attack, the central question is control: was the dog on a leash, behind a fence, or otherwise restrained, and did the owner take reasonable steps to keep it away from other people. We look at where the dog was kept, whether it had gotten loose before, and what the owner did or didn't do in the moments before the attack.
Witness accounts matter a lot here, since there may be no bite wound to document. We gather statements from people who saw the dog loose or saw the chase or knockdown happen, along with photos of the scene, any fencing or gate involved, and medical records showing the injury from the fall or impact.
- Photos of where the dog got loose, including any broken fence or gate
- Names and contact information for anyone who witnessed the chase or knockdown
- Medical records describing the fall, impact, or injury, even without a bite wound
- Any prior incidents where the same dog got loose or chased someone
- Notes on where the attack happened, such as a street, sidewalk, or trail
Fountain Attacks We See
We handle non-bite dog attack cases from around Fountain, including incidents along Mesa Ridge Parkway, Fountain Mesa Road, and near U.S. Highway 85 where loose dogs sometimes reach pedestrians, cyclists, or joggers. We also see these cases in nearby Security-Widefield and Colorado Springs, where similar patterns of loose or unrestrained dogs play out on shared paths and residential streets.
Serious falls or impacts from these attacks are often treated at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs. If your case needs to go to court, it would typically be filed in El Paso County Combined Courts. Our office is at 929 W Colorado Ave in Colorado Springs, a short drive from Fountain.
Possible Harms From a Non-Bite Attack
- Broken bones from a fall during a knockdown or chase
- Head impact injuries
- Torn ligaments or joint damage
- Fear of dogs affecting daily activities like walking or running outside
- Medical treatment and follow-up care related to the fall or impact
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Fountain — and read client testimonials.
A passenger suffered traumatic brain, neck, and back injuries in a Colorado Springs intersection collision. After the carrier refused a fair number, a jury awarded $295,000 including interest and costs.
El Paso County jury verdict
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, coverage, venue, and evidence.
Fountain Non-bite dog attacks FAQ
The dog knocked me down but never bit me. Do I have a case?
You may have a negligence claim rather than a strict liability bite claim. We look at whether the owner controlled the dog and whether that failure caused your fall or injury.
Does Colorado's dog bite law cover being chased by a dog?
The bite statute specifically addresses bites, not chases. A chase without a bite is generally handled as an ordinary negligence claim against the owner.
What if the dog bit me during the same incident where it also knocked me down?
Then both theories may apply. We sort out which parts of the incident fall under the bite statute and which are better addressed as negligence.
How do you prove the owner was at fault if there's no bite wound?
We focus on whether the dog was restrained, whether it had gotten loose before, and what witnesses saw. Photos, witness statements, and medical records showing the fall or impact all help build that picture.
I was injured by a loose dog near Fountain Mesa Road. Where do I start?
Start with a free consultation. We'll go through what happened, gather the details about the dog and the owner, and explain what a negligence-based claim would involve.
Discuss a Fountain dog bite
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.