Dog Bites 101

By Colorado Personal Injury Attorney on August 31, 2019

Dogs are some of the most loyal, dedicated, and helpful friends anyone can have. There’s no question why they are referred to as “man’s best friend.” But when a dog gets scared or becomes aggressive, it can lash out at unsuspecting victims. Being bitten is extremely dangerous, with possible infection of the rabies virus, disfigurement, and a host of other complications.

Under Colorado law, it is possible for victims of dog bites to sue the dog’s owners for damages, but it can only occur if there was a serious bodily injury. In this situation, “serious bodily injury” means at least one of the following:

• Severe bone fractures
• Risk of long-lasting loss or impairment of an organ or part of the body
• Substantial risk of death
• Risk of serious permanent disfigurement

Medium-to-large dogs have an extremely powerful bite. The pressure from a single dog’s jaws is enough to tear into muscle tissue, damage nerves, and cause serious damage to virtually any part of the body. Beyond the physical damage you can receive from a dog bite, it is all too easy for microorganisms to transfer from the dog’s mouth into your body, where a virus or a dangerous strain of bacteria can enter your bloodstream and wreak havoc. MRSA, tetanus, and, of course, the rabies virus, can all be transmitted through a dog bite.

Colorado Dog Bite Liability

The state of Colorado operates under the principle of “strict liability,” which means that the dog’s owner is responsible for the victim’s injuries, regardless of whether the owner attempted to prevent harm. However, if the victim files his claim as a personal injury case, he will only be able to receive financial compensation that covers “economic damages.” These are things such as medical expenses, lost wages, and other factors that are easily measurable. Emotional pain and other examples of “non-economic damages” cannot be recovered under principles of strict liability.

Get Help from Experienced Dog Bite Attorneys

When someone reaches down to pet a cute dog, they don’t expect to be on the receiving end of a severe dog bite. While the majority of dog bites don’t result in serious bodily injury, the ones that do can be disastrous. If you, your child, or your loved one has been bitten by a dog, it’s important that you understand your options.

At the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, we can guide you through all the relevant details about dog bite laws and help you fight your case. We can also get you set up with additional medical treatment and specialists, if you need them. One split-second accident shouldn’t have lifelong consequences. Give our Boulder dog bite lawyers a call at (303) 665-2929 for more information.