El Paso County · Fatal dog attacks
Monument Fatal Dog Attack Lawyers
A fatal dog attack in Monument is a devastating loss for a family; free consultation, no fee unless we recover.
How Colorado Law Treats a Fatal Dog Attack
Colorado's dog-bite statute, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑124, can apply when a bite causes death, provided the person was lawfully in a public place or lawfully on the dog owner's property at the time. When a bite is fatal, that statute becomes one piece of a larger legal picture rather than the whole claim.
Who has the right to bring a claim after a death is controlled by Colorado wrongful-death law, not by the dog-bite statute alone. The dog-bite statute can establish that the attack caused the death and support the underlying liability, while wrongful-death law determines which family members may pursue the claim and what is recovered.
Because these two areas of law work together, families in Monument dealing with a fatal dog attack need an approach that accounts for both the dog-bite statute and the separate rules that govern wrongful-death claims in Colorado.
What Wrongful-Death Claims After a Fatal Attack Involve
For the fuller explanation of who may file a wrongful-death claim in Colorado and what losses that claim can address, our wrongful-death page covers those specifics in detail. This page focuses on how a fatal dog attack fits within that framework, not on restating every wrongful-death rule.
A fatal dog attack often generates records beyond the immediate scene, including animal-control documentation and police reports created in the aftermath. These records can help establish what happened, whether the dog had a prior history, and how the incident was investigated, and we work to gather them as part of building the claim.
- Request copies of any police report filed after the incident
- Request any animal-control records or investigation notes
- Identify witnesses who saw the attack or the dog's behavior beforehand
- Keep records related to the death, including hospital records if treatment was attempted
- Avoid giving recorded statements to an insurer before speaking with an attorney
Monument and El Paso County
Monument sits along the I-25 corridor near Colorado Highway 105, with residential streets like Second Street and nearby communities including Palmer Lake and Colorado Springs. A fatal dog attack in any of these areas can involve records from more than one local agency, and a case may proceed through El Paso County Combined Courts.
If emergency treatment was attempted before a death, it may have involved UCHealth Memorial Hospital North in Colorado Springs. Our office is located at 929 W Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80905, and we work with families throughout the Monument area during this kind of claim.
What a Wrongful-Death Claim May Address
- Losses connected to the death itself
- Medical expenses incurred before death, if any treatment occurred
- Funeral and burial-related costs
- Loss of companionship and support for surviving family members
- Other losses recognized under Colorado wrongful-death law
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Monument — 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.
Monument Fatal dog attacks FAQ
Does the dog-bite statute alone let a family sue after a fatal attack?
The dog-bite statute can apply when a bite causes death and the person was lawfully present, but it does not by itself decide who may bring a claim. That question is governed by Colorado wrongful-death law, which works alongside the dog-bite statute in this type of case.
Who can file a wrongful-death claim after a fatal dog attack?
That answer depends on Colorado wrongful-death law rather than the dog-bite statute. Our wrongful-death page explains who may bring this type of claim in more detail.
What records matter most after a fatal dog attack in Monument?
Police reports and animal-control records created after the incident are often important, along with witness accounts of the attack or the dog's prior behavior. We help families identify and request these records as part of the claim.
Where would a wrongful-death claim from a Monument attack be handled?
A claim connected to an incident in Monument may proceed through El Paso County Combined Courts. We can walk families through what that process looks like.
Is there a cost to talk with your firm about a fatal dog attack?
No. We offer a free consultation, and there is no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Discuss a Monument dog bite
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.