Dog Bite Lawyer Northglenn

A dog bite can happen in seconds. One moment your child is petting a neighbor’s dog. The next they are bleeding, screaming, and terrified. Or you are walking through your own neighborhood when a loose dog attacks without warning. The physical pain is immediate. The emotional aftermath can last much longer.

If you or someone you love has been bitten by a dog in Northglenn, you are facing decisions you never thought you would have to make. You might be worried about medical bills. You might be wondering if you can take action when the dog belongs to someone you know. You might feel guilty even thinking about it.

You should not feel guilty. Dog owners are responsible for their animals. Your injury is real. Your child’s trauma is real. And you have rights under Colorado law.

McCormick & Murphy, P.C. helps dog bite victims in Northglenn and throughout the Denver metro area understand what those rights are and how to protect them. Kirk McCormick and Jay Murphy have seen firsthand the physical and emotional damage a dog attack can cause. They have helped families recover compensation for medical treatment, lost wages, scarring, and the psychological impact that often follows a serious bite.

This is not about being vindictive. This is about making sure you and your family are taken care of after something that should never have happened.

Why Dog Bites Are More Serious Than People Realize

Not every dog bite looks dramatic. Some people assume that if the skin is not broken or if the wound is small, it is not worth pursuing a claim. That is not true.

Dog bites carry serious risks even when the injury appears minor at first. Puncture wounds can become infected quickly. Bacteria from a dog’s mouth can lead to cellulitis, sepsis, or even permanent tissue damage if not treated aggressively. Children are especially vulnerable because their immune systems are still developing and because bites to the face and neck are more common in young victims.

Beyond the physical injury, dog bites often leave lasting psychological scars. A child who was bitten may develop a fear of all dogs. They may have nightmares, anxiety, or changes in behavior. Adults can experience similar trauma, especially if the attack was severe or unexpected.

These injuries are real. They deserve to be treated seriously. And they are compensable under Colorado law.

Colorado’s Strict Liability Dog Bite Law

Colorado is what is known as a strict liability state when it comes to dog bites. That means you do not have to prove the dog owner was careless or that they knew the dog was dangerous. You only have to prove that their dog bit you and caused injury.

Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-21-124, a dog owner is liable if their dog bites someone who is lawfully on public or private property, regardless of whether the dog has ever bitten anyone before. It does not matter if the dog is normally friendly. It does not matter if the owner had no reason to expect an attack. The law holds them responsible.

This is important because many people hesitate to file a claim when they know the dog has never been aggressive in the past. They feel like it would be unfair. But the law recognizes that even a well-behaved dog can bite under the wrong circumstances, and when that happens, the victim should not be left to pay the price.

There are limited exceptions. If you were trespassing, or if you provoked the dog, the owner may have a defense. But in the vast majority of cases—especially those involving children or people who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time—strict liability applies.

Leash Laws and Owner Responsibility in Northglenn

Northglenn, like many cities in the Denver metro area, has local ordinances that require dogs to be under control at all times. Dogs must be leashed in public spaces, and owners are required to prevent their animals from running at large.

When a dog is off-leash in violation of local law and bites someone, that violation can strengthen your case. It shows that the owner was not following the rules designed to protect the public. Even if the bite itself is governed by strict liability, evidence of a leash law violation can support claims for additional damages or demonstrate a pattern of negligence.

If the dog that bit you was loose in a public park, running through a neighborhood without a leash, or allowed to roam freely in an unfenced yard, that matters. It shows the owner failed to take basic precautions.

What to Do Immediately After a Dog Bite

The steps you take right after a dog bite can make a significant difference in your health and in your ability to recover compensation later.

First, seek medical attention. Even if the bite seems minor, have it evaluated by a doctor. Dog bites can introduce bacteria deep into tissue, and infections can develop quickly. A medical record created immediately after the incident also serves as critical evidence that the injury occurred and was serious enough to require treatment.

Second, identify the dog and its owner if possible. Get the owner’s name, address, and contact information. Ask whether the dog is current on its rabies vaccination. If the dog is a stray or if the owner cannot be located immediately, report the bite to Northglenn Animal Control. They can help track down the animal and assess whether it poses a public health risk.

Third, document everything. Take photographs of your injuries as soon as possible and continue to photograph them as they heal. Photograph the location where the bite occurred. If there are witnesses, get their names and contact information. Write down exactly what happened while the details are still fresh in your mind.

Finally, contact a dog bite lawyer before you speak to any insurance company. The dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance may reach out to you quickly, and they may offer a settlement. Do not accept anything or give a recorded statement until you have spoken with an attorney who can protect your interests.

Homeowner’s Insurance and Dog Bite Claims

Most dog bite claims are covered by the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. These policies typically include liability coverage for injuries that occur on or off the insured property, and dog bites fall under that coverage.

This is important because it means you are not necessarily seeking compensation directly from a friend or neighbor. You are making a claim against their insurance company. The dog owner may not pay anything out of pocket. That is what insurance is for.

Insurance companies, however, are not on your side. Their goal is to pay as little as possible. They may try to minimize your injuries, argue that you provoked the dog, or pressure you into accepting a settlement before you understand the full extent of your damages.

Having an experienced dog bite lawyer on your side means the insurance company cannot take advantage of you. Kirk McCormick and Jay Murphy know how these companies operate, and they know how to push back when an offer is unfair.

Damages You Can Recover After a Dog Bite

Colorado law allows dog bite victims to recover several types of damages. The goal is to make you whole—to put you in the position you would have been in if the bite had never occurred.

Medical expenses are the most obvious form of damages. This includes emergency room visits, doctor’s appointments, surgery, prescription medications, wound care, and any future medical treatment related to the bite. If the bite caused scarring or disfigurement, you may also recover compensation for reconstructive surgery or other procedures designed to minimize the visible impact of the injury.

Lost wages are compensable if the injury caused you to miss work. If the bite required surgery or an extended recovery period, you may also be entitled to compensation for lost earning capacity if your ability to work in the future has been affected.

Pain and suffering damages account for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the attack. This is not just about the moment of the bite. It includes the fear, anxiety, and trauma that follow. For children, this can be especially significant. A young child who develops a lasting fear of dogs has lost something real, and that loss deserves to be recognized.

In cases involving severe disfigurement or permanent scarring, additional damages may be available. Scars on the face, hands, or other visible areas can affect a person’s self-esteem, their social interactions, and their quality of life. Colorado law allows victims to seek compensation for these intangible but very real harms.

What If the Dog Belonged to Someone You Know?

This is the hardest part for many dog bite victims. The attack did not come from a stranger’s dog. It came from a friend’s pet, a neighbor’s animal, or even a family member’s dog. You do not want to damage the relationship. You do not want to seem greedy or litigious.

But you are not being greedy. You are injured. Your child is injured. The medical bills are real. The trauma is real. And the dog owner’s insurance exists for exactly this reason.

Filing a claim does not mean you are trying to hurt the dog owner financially. In most cases, their insurance will handle the claim without any out-of-pocket cost to them. What it does mean is that you are making sure your family is taken care of.

You do not owe it to anyone to absorb the cost of someone else’s dog. The relationship may feel awkward for a time, but your child’s well-being comes first. Your own recovery comes first. A good friend or neighbor will understand that.

How Long You Have to File a Claim

In Colorado, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims—including dog bite claims—is generally two years from the date of the injury. That means you have two years from the date of the bite to file a lawsuit if a settlement cannot be reached.

Two years may sound like a long time, but it goes faster than you think. Medical treatment takes time. Negotiations with insurance companies take time. Evidence can disappear. Witnesses’ memories fade. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the stronger your case will be.

If the victim is a minor, different rules may apply. In some cases, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until the child turns eighteen. But waiting that long is almost never in the child’s best interest. Medical bills need to be paid now. Therapy and treatment need to happen now. Do not wait.

Why You Need a Dog Bite Lawyer

You do not legally need a lawyer to file a dog bite claim. But trying to handle the case on your own puts you at a serious disadvantage.

Insurance companies have lawyers. They have adjusters trained to minimize payouts. They have investigators whose job is to find reasons to deny your claim or reduce what they owe. You are dealing with a system designed to protect their bottom line, not your family.

A dog bite lawyer levels the playing field. Kirk McCormick and Jay Murphy at McCormick & Murphy, P.C. know how to investigate dog bite cases, gather the evidence needed to prove liability, and negotiate with insurance companies from a position of strength. They know what your case is worth, and they will not let an insurance company lowball you.

If a fair settlement cannot be reached, they are prepared to take the case to court. Most dog bite cases settle before trial, but having a lawyer who is willing and able to litigate makes all the difference in the settlement negotiations.

Dog Bites Involving Children

Children are disproportionately affected by dog bites. They are smaller, which makes them more vulnerable to serious injury. They are more likely to be bitten on the face, head, or neck because of their height. And they are less able to read the warning signs that a dog is about to attack.

A dog bite can be a defining trauma for a child. It can create a fear of animals that lasts into adulthood. It can leave visible scars that affect their self-image during some of the most formative years of their life. It can lead to bullying, social withdrawal, or anxiety.

These are not minor concerns. They are serious, lasting harms that deserve to be addressed. When you file a claim on behalf of your child, you are not overreacting. You are being a responsible parent.

Colorado law allows parents and guardians to bring claims on behalf of injured children. The compensation recovered can be used to pay for medical treatment, therapy, future reconstructive surgery, and the other costs associated with the injury.

What McCormick & Murphy, P.C. Does for Dog Bite Victims in Northglenn

Kirk McCormick and Jay Murphy have spent years helping personal injury victims in Northglenn and across the Denver metro area. They know the local courts. They know the insurance companies. And they know how to build a case that gets results.

When you work with McCormick & Murphy, P.C., you are not a case number. You are a person who has been through something traumatic, and you deserve to be treated with respect and empathy. Kirk and Jay take the time to listen to your story, understand what you are facing, and explain your options in plain language.

They handle every aspect of the case so you can focus on recovery. That means investigating the incident, identifying all available insurance coverage, negotiating with adjusters, and if necessary, filing a lawsuit and taking the case to trial.

You do not pay anything upfront. McCormick & Murphy, P.C. works on a contingency fee basis, which means they only get paid if you recover compensation. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.

You Have Rights. You Have Options.

A dog bite is not something you just have to live with. You do not have to pay the medical bills yourself. You do not have to let your child suffer in silence because you feel bad about taking action.

The dog owner is responsible. Their insurance is there to cover injuries like yours. And the law is on your side.

If you or your child has been bitten by a dog in Northglenn, contact McCormick & Murphy, P.C. at 888-668-1182. Kirk McCormick and Jay Murphy will review your case, answer your questions, and help you understand what comes next. The consultation is free, and you are under no obligation.

You have been through enough. Let someone who knows how to handle these cases take it from here.