Arapahoe County · Fatal dog attacks
Greenwood Village Fatal Dog Attack Lawyers
A fatal dog attack in Greenwood Village is a family tragedy and a legal case. Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.
How Colorado Law Treats a Fatal Dog Attack
When a dog bite causes a death, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑124 can apply if the person who died was lawfully in a public place or lawfully on the dog owner's property at the time of the attack. That statute addresses the dog owner's liability for the bite itself.
But a death case is not just a dog-bite case. Who may bring a claim for a death, and what losses that claim can address, is controlled by Colorado wrongful-death law, not by the dog-bite statute alone. The two areas of law work together, and getting the sequence right matters for the family.
We do not guess at who in a family is entitled to file a wrongful-death claim, because that answer depends on the family's specific circumstances and on wrongful-death law itself. We walk through that with each family directly and coordinate the dog-bite liability question with the wrongful-death claim.
Records That Matter After a Fatal Attack
A fatal attack typically generates records beyond the immediate scene. Responding officers document what they observed, and animal-control officials may separately document the dog's history, ownership, and disposition. We request these records early, before they age out of routine retention.
Medical records from the responding hospital, whether HCA HealthONE Swedish or Sky Ridge Medical Center, establish the cause and course of injury. We also gather witness statements from anyone who saw the attack, since memories fade quickly and neighbors move on. Photographs of the scene, the property, and any fencing or containment issues can also matter.
- Any police or animal-control report numbers or names of officers involved
- Contact information for witnesses to the attack
- Photos of the scene, property, and any fencing or enclosure
- Hospital and medical records connected to the attack
- Any prior complaints or history involving the dog or owner
Handling a Fatal Attack Case Near Greenwood Village
We work with families across Greenwood Village, including areas near Belleview Avenue, Orchard Road, and University Boulevard, as well as neighboring Englewood and Cherry Hills Village. Filings connected to these claims run through the Arapahoe County Justice Center, and we handle that court regularly.
Our office is in Denver, and we meet with grieving families where and when it works for them. A fatal attack case moves on two tracks at once, the dog-bite liability question and the wrongful-death claim, and we keep both moving together rather than treating them as separate matters.
What a Wrongful-Death Claim May Address
- Losses connected to the death itself
- Medical and related expenses before death
- Funeral and burial-related costs
- Loss of companionship and other family losses recognized under wrongful-death law
- Other losses specific to the family's circumstances
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Greenwood Village — 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.
Greenwood Village Fatal dog attacks FAQ
Does the dog-bite statute cover a death, or do we need a separate claim?
The dog-bite statute can establish the owner's liability for the attack itself. A separate body of law, Colorado wrongful-death law, controls who may bring a claim for the death and what losses it covers. We handle both together for the family.
Who in our family can file a wrongful-death claim?
That depends on wrongful-death law and the family's specific situation, not on the dog-bite statute. We review this directly with each family rather than assume an answer. Our wrongful-death page covers this in more depth.
What records do you look for first in a fatal attack case?
We start with any police and animal-control documentation, medical records, and witness contact information. These records can help establish what happened and whether the dog had a known history. We move quickly because some records are not kept indefinitely.
Will this case involve animal control or police?
A fatal attack often involves both police and animal-control review as part of the response. We request the relevant records from those involved without assuming which specific agency handled it. Those records can support both the dog-bite claim and the wrongful-death claim.
What does the consultation involve for a family in this situation?
We meet with the family, listen to what happened, and explain how the dog-bite claim and wrongful-death claim fit together in their case. The consultation is free, and we do not charge an attorney fee unless we recover for the family. We can meet in Denver or arrange another time and place that works.
Discuss a Greenwood Village dog bite
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.