Arapahoe County · Off-leash and dog-park attacks
Greenwood Village Off-Leash Dog Attack Lawyers
Bitten by an off-leash dog in Greenwood Village? Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Off-Leash Attacks and the Law
A dog does not have to be at its owner's house for you to have a claim. If you were lawfully in a public place, such as a path along Belleview Avenue or a trail near Orchard Road, and a dog attacked you causing serious injury, that can meet the standard under C.R.S. § 13‑21‑124. The location of the attack does not defeat the claim by itself.
An off-leash dog can also support a separate negligence claim. If an owner let a dog run loose in an area where control was expected, and that lack of control led to your injury, we can look at whether the owner failed to act reasonably. This is a different legal path than the strict statutory claim, and sometimes both apply.
Dog parks raise their own questions. People who bring dogs to a dog park accept some level of normal dog-to-dog contact and rough play. That does not mean every injury at a dog park is automatically compensable, but it also does not mean a dog park injury can never be a claim. What matters is what actually happened, how the dog was behaving, and whether the owner had control or warning signs of aggression.
What Helps Prove an Off-Leash Case
Location matters. We want to know exactly where the attack happened, whether it was on University Boulevard, near a park entrance, or elsewhere in the area, and whether the space required dogs to be leashed. Photos of the scene, including any signage about leash rules, can support your account of what happened.
Witnesses are often the strongest evidence in an off-leash case, since these attacks happen in public with other people nearby. Get names and contact information from anyone who saw the dog before, during, or after the attack. Their observations about whether the dog was leashed, how it was acting, and how the owner responded can matter a great deal.
- Photograph the scene, including any leash-rule signage
- Get names and phone numbers of anyone who witnessed the attack
- Note the exact location, including nearby streets or trail markers
- Seek medical care and keep records of your injury and treatment
- Write down what you saw the dog doing before it approached you
Handling Off-Leash Cases in Greenwood Village
Greenwood Village has a mix of public paths and green space near Belleview Avenue, Orchard Road, and University Boulevard, plus areas close to Englewood and Cherry Hills Village where people walk dogs regularly. We look closely at where an attack happened and whether the space called for a leashed dog, since that can shape both the statutory claim and any negligence argument.
If your case ends up in litigation, it would be handled through the Arapahoe County Justice Center. If you were treated after the attack, records from HCA HealthONE Swedish or Sky Ridge Medical Center can help document the injury and support your claim.
What You May Be Able to Recover
- Medical bills for treatment of the bite or attack injury
- Costs of follow-up care, including wound treatment or scar revision
- Lost income if your injury kept you from work
- Pain and suffering from the attack and recovery
- Out-of-pocket costs tied to your injury and treatment
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 Off-leash and dog-park attacks FAQ
Can I still have a claim if I was bitten in a public park, not at someone's house?
Yes. If you were lawfully in the park or on the path and the dog caused a serious injury, the location does not automatically prevent a claim. We look at where you were, why you were there, and what happened.
Does going to a dog park mean I accepted the risk of any injury?
Not entirely. People at a dog park accept some normal contact between dogs, but that does not mean every injury there is expected or unavoidable. We look at how the dog behaved and whether the owner had control or warning of a problem.
What if the dog was off-leash somewhere it wasn't supposed to be?
An off-leash dog in an area where leashes are expected can support a negligence claim against the owner. We look at whether the lack of control was unreasonable under the circumstances and whether that led to your injury.
What should I do right after an off-leash attack?
Get medical attention, take photos of the scene, and collect contact information from any witnesses nearby. These details matter more in public attacks because there may not be a clear record of the dog or its owner otherwise.
I don't know who owns the dog. Can I still pursue a claim?
It's harder, but not always impossible, especially if witnesses saw the owner or if the dog is later identified. Talk to us about what information you do have so we can evaluate the options.
Discuss a Greenwood Village dog bite
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.