Jefferson County · Child dog-bite injuries
Golden Child Dog Bite Lawyers
If your child was bitten by a dog in Golden, we can help. Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Your Child's Legal Claim After a Dog Bite
Colorado law, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑124, can apply when a child who was lawfully in a public place or lawfully on the dog owner's property suffers a serious bodily injury from a dog bite. We look closely at where your child was and what your child was doing at the time, because that shapes whether the statute applies or whether a negligence claim is the better fit.
We do not assume a child cannot have contributed to what happened, and we do not assume there is some fixed age below which a child is automatically covered and above which they are not. Every case turns on the facts: what the child was doing, where the child had a right to be, and how the dog behaved leading up to the bite.
Because the claim belongs to the child, a parent or guardian typically needs to bring or manage it on the child's behalf. We can walk your family through what that involves for your situation without guessing at procedures that vary case to case.
Documenting a Child's Injuries as They Grow
Children heal differently than adults, and a bite to the face or body can mean more than one round of treatment as a child grows. We work to gather records from every stage of care so the full picture of what your child has been through, and what may still be ahead, is part of the claim.
Scarring and disfigurement are not automatically covered as damages under the dog-bite statute alone. In many cases, recovering for that kind of harm means also building a negligence claim, which requires its own proof about the owner's knowledge of the dog and the circumstances of the incident. We handle that groundwork so your family does not have to figure it out alone.
- Photos of the wound and any scarring, taken over time as it heals
- Names and contact information for anyone who saw the incident
- Records from every medical visit related to the bite, including any follow-up care
- The dog owner's contact and insurance information if you have it
- Notes on where the bite happened and what your child was doing beforehand
Handling Child Dog Bite Cases in Golden
We handle child dog bite claims arising anywhere in Golden, from neighborhoods near Washington Avenue and West Colfax Avenue to areas along Colorado Highway 93 and out toward Lakewood and Arvada. Families in these areas often end up at CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood after a serious bite, and we work with those records as part of building the claim.
When a case needs to go through the court system, matters connected to Golden generally fall under Jefferson County Courts. Our office is based in Denver, and we regularly assist families throughout Jefferson County, including Golden, without requiring them to navigate the legal process on their own.
What Damages May Be Available
- Medical expenses for emergency treatment and follow-up care
- Costs of future treatment, such as additional procedures for scarring
- Pain and suffering connected to the incident and recovery
- Scarring and disfigurement, which may require a negligence claim
- Other losses tied to the impact of the injury on your child
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Golden — 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.
Golden Child dog-bite injuries FAQ
Can my child's claim move forward even if they were doing something they weren't supposed to when the bite happened?
It depends on the facts. We look at where your child was and what they were doing to determine whether the dog-bite statute applies or whether a negligence approach makes more sense. There's no automatic bar just because a child was active or playing near the dog.
Do I need to file the claim myself since my child was the one bitten?
In most situations, a parent or guardian needs to bring or manage the claim on the child's behalf. The exact steps depend on your circumstances, and we can explain what that looks like once we know more about your case.
Will my child's scar automatically be covered by the dog-bite law?
Not automatically. The statute covers certain injuries, but scarring and disfigurement often require building a negligence claim alongside it. We evaluate both angles to pursue the full scope of your child's losses.
What if my child needs more surgery or treatment as they get older?
We factor in the possibility of future treatment when documenting your child's injuries. Growing children sometimes need revised or additional procedures for scarring, and we work to account for that as part of the claim.
Where would my child's case be handled if it goes to court?
Cases connected to Golden generally fall under Jefferson County Courts. Our office is in Denver, and we assist families throughout Jefferson County, including Golden, through every step of the process.
Discuss a Golden dog bite
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.