Pueblo County · Off-leash and dog-park attacks
Pueblo West Off-Leash Dog Attack Lawyers
Bitten by a loose dog in Pueblo West? Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Off-Leash Attacks and Colorado Law
A dog does not have to attack someone on the owner's property for that person to have a claim. If you were lawfully in a public place in Pueblo West and suffered a serious injury from a dog bite, C.R.S. § 13‑21‑124 can still apply, even along a trail, a road shoulder, or an open stretch of land.
An off-leash dog also raises the question of ordinary negligence. If an owner let a dog run loose in an area where control was expected, and that decision led to your injury, that can support a claim separate from the statute, depending on the facts.
Dog parks fall into a different category. People who bring dogs to a shared off-leash space generally accept that dogs will make contact with each other. That does not mean every dog-park incident is a dead end, and it does not mean every incident is an automatic claim. What matters is how the injury happened, whether it was a dog-to-dog scuffle that caught a person in the middle, or an attack that went beyond what anyone using the park could reasonably expect.
Building the Case After a Public-Place Attack
Off-leash cases live or die on location details. We want to know exactly where the dog was when it approached, whether it was on a leash or running free, and whether there were posted rules for that area. Photos of the scene, including any fencing, signage, or open gates, help establish what happened before the injuries themselves came into focus.
Witnesses matter even more in public settings, because other people on the trail, in the park, or along the road may have seen the dog beforehand and can describe its behavior. Get names and contact information if you can. If animal control responded or a report was made, that documentation becomes part of the file, along with medical records from treatment, including care received at UCHealth Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo.
- Note the exact location: trail, road, or park area
- Get names and numbers of anyone who saw the dog beforehand
- Photograph the scene, any signage, and your injuries
- Seek medical care and keep all records
- Write down what the dog was doing before it approached you
Pueblo West Cases We Handle
Pueblo West has open stretches along U.S. Highway 50, McCulloch Boulevard, Joe Martinez Boulevard, and Pueblo Boulevard where dogs are sometimes let off leash despite the risk. We handle claims arising from these public areas as well as incidents at shared open spaces used for off-leash exercise.
If your case needs to go to court, it would typically be filed in Pueblo County Combined Courts. Our office is at 301 N. Main Street in Pueblo, and we meet with Pueblo West clients to go over what happened, where it happened, and what evidence is available from that specific location.
What You May Be Able to Recover
- Medical bills for treatment and follow-up care
- Scarring or disfigurement from the bite
- Lost wages while you recovered
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical needs related to the injury
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Pueblo West — and read client testimonials.
A pickup hit me from behind on Hwy 50 east of Pueblo. The insurer offered $2,600. McCormick & Murphy helped with treatment, filed suit, and the case settled at mediation for $165,000.
C. O., Pueblo · Highway 50 crash
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, coverage, venue, and evidence.
Pueblo West Off-leash and dog-park attacks FAQ
Can I have a claim if the dog attacked me on a public trail in Pueblo West?
Yes. If you were lawfully in that public space and suffered a serious injury, the statute can apply, and a negligence claim may also be available depending on how the dog was being controlled at the time.
Does a dog park injury automatically mean I have a case?
Not automatically. People at dog parks accept some level of contact between dogs, but an attack that goes beyond normal rough play or that involves a dog attacking a person can still support a claim.
What if I don't know who owns the dog?
Witnesses, photos, and any animal control response can help identify the owner. The sooner you gather this information after the incident, the better the chances of tracking down the responsible party.
Does it matter if the dog was technically off leash somewhere leashes are required?
It can. Whether the dog was leashed and where the incident occurred are both facts we look at closely, since they affect both the statutory claim and any negligence argument.
Where would my case be handled if it goes to court?
Cases arising in Pueblo West are generally handled through Pueblo County Combined Courts. We can walk you through what that process looks like during a free consultation.
Discuss a Pueblo West dog bite
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.