$75M Recovered for Our Clients
At the Tenge Law Firm LLC, our goal is to achieve the best possible result for our clients as soon as possible. Each case and each client is different, so we work directly with clients to meet their needs for medical care and personal situations. We have enjoyed great success, with exceedingly high client satisfaction, using this approach.
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$3,250,000 Rollover auto accident involving defective roof and serious injuries
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$1,500,000 Tire blowout on I-70 causing serious injuries
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$1,475,000 Auto accident with head, neck and back injuries
What Are the Dangers of a Dog Bite Injury?
While we all want to think that dogs are safe and non-threatening, the truth is that these animals can cause significant injuries. Even domesticated animals, like dogs, still have a certain amount of instinct left from their wild ancestors.
Whether it is out of fear or poor behavior, a dog attack can lead to:
- Deep Lacerations, Scars, and amputations
- Infected Wounds
- Traumatic Brain Injuries and spinal cord damage if a victim is knocked over,
- Soft-Tissue Injuries from bites, nails, or falling over,
- Broken Bones from a strong enough bite,
- Nerve Damage from deep bites,
- Eye Injuries and Facial Scars,
- Emotional Trauma, especially for young adults and children.
Children, in particular, can suffer catastrophic injuries as a result of a dog bite, as well as the elderly and disabled. That is why dog attacks and bites should be taken seriously, and victims should not hesitate to go to a doctor. Dog bites can include a wide variety of infectious diseases that can negatively affect a victim's life if not properly treated. After seeking medical attention, you should also reach out to a Denver dog bite attorney to review the types of damages you can seek in a personal injury case.
Hundreds of 5-star Reviews. Exceptional Results
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"Definitely made it a stress-free experience"
Brenda was my attorney. She was amazing, helped me through the whole process. Definitely made it a stress-free experience, especially after going through something so traumatic! Was extremely attentive and always kept me updated on how my case was going! I would 1000% recommend them to everyone and anyone!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
- Zitlaly O. -
"They treated me like family"
Todd, Liz and Nina were amazing. They handled my case very professionally. I recommend this law firm to anyone looking for a great firm. They treated me like family
- Jenn K. -
"Would highly recommend to anyone!!"
Tenge Law Firm helped me out when I was in a accident that involved my whole family. They were great and fast with the entire process, and were awesome at keeping me updated throughout the entire process. Would highly recommend to anyone!!
- Zack K. -
"They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well."
Paige and Nina were a delight to work with. They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well. They made me feel like I was in good hands and could trust them!
- Rachel V. -
"Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient"
I highly recommend this law firm! They take care of everything in a timely manner & alleviate any harassment while you recover from injuries. Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient...if you need an attorney, Tenge Law is the place to go!
- Betty C.
What Damages Can You Recover After a Dog Bite Attack?
Dog bites fall under personal injury laws, meaning that there is a range of damages you can pursue in a case. Insurance companies and courts often divide these types of damages into two camps: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages will cover all of your financial costs related to the dog attack. In simple terms, this means you can seek compensation for:
- Changes to Your Home If You Are Disabled
- Lost Wages
- Lost Earning Capacity
- Property Damage
- Medical Expenses, past, present, and future
Regarding economic damages, your personal injury attorney will factor in every cent you lost to this attack. That goes beyond your medical bills to include any wages you lost as a result of taking time off work to receive treatment or because your injuries made it difficult to work.
This also includes any future wages you may have lost due to long-term disabilities from the attack, especially if you require additional equipment to go about your daily life.
Non-economic damages, in contrast, account for the non-financial damages you have suffered.
Under Colorado dog bite laws, victims normally cannot receive compensation for non-economic damages, but you can seek these damages under negligence laws if the owner was negligent. Non-economic damages are often intangible and harder to pin down, but victims can pursue compensation for:
- Pain and Suffering,
- Loss of Enjoyment,
- Mental Anguish, and
- Loss of Consortium.
But to seek damages in a dog bite attack, you must first have a party to file a case against.
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Reviews
When our clients are happy, they say so. Whether we’re being described for how well we communicate, our responsiveness, or the quality of our service, we’re consistently rated 5.0 out of 5.0 by those we represent.
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Ratings
As an industry leader in the field of personal injury, we're proud to maintain a superb 10.0 out of 10.0 rating on AVVO.com, have a preeminent AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and have recently been awarded Client Champion Platinum status from Lawyers.com.
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Results
In the last ten years, we've recovered $75 million on behalf of our clients. Our motto is simple - our clients focus on recovering, while we handle the rest.
Who is Liable in a Dog Bite Accident?
Dog bite cases are typically filed against the dog's owner.
This can either be against their homeowners' insurance policy, renter's policy, or even animal insurance, depending on what policy they have. In instances where the owner does not have these types of insurance, you may be able to file a lawsuit directly against them as well.
However, this leaves out stray dogs who attack people. In these instances, it is significantly harder to place liability on one particular person, but there are a few options. First, if the dog was known to frequent a particular property, such as a parking lot, apartment building, or outdoor mall, then responsibility may fall on the property owner. To file a premises liability case against a negligent property owner, you must demonstrate that the owner knew about the dog or had received reports about the dog, failed to contact animal control or warn patrons or guests, and that failure to have the dog removed from the premises led to an attack and your injuries.
Denver County Animal Control Services has a duty to capture stray dogs and move them to shelters. Otherwise, residents can become victims of dangerous dog attacks. If the agency fails to respond to reports of stray dogs or previous attacks, you may be able to file a tort claim against the agency for damages. These cases are the most difficult and require strict adherence to government regulations, so you should not hesitate to contact an attorney to discuss your case.
There are also specific laws you will need to understand to determine if your claim is legitimate or not in Colorado.
What is the One Bite Rule?
Colorado is one of 18 states with a so-called One Bite Rule.
This means that defendants are only liable for damages if it can be proven that they had reasons to believe or know that their dog was dangerous.
So, at first glance, it sounds like a defendant gets one "warning" bite and is only liable for bites that happen afterward. This, however, is patently false.
In reality, an experienced dog bite attorney can often demonstrate that the owner knew well ahead of time that his or her dog was capable of aggressive behavior.
Some of the kinds of behavior that may indicate a potentially dangerous dog include the following:
- Threatening Behavior,
- Frightening Others,
- Barking at Strangers,
- Jumping on Others,
- Fighting with Other Dogs,
- Previous Complaints About the Dog, and
- Previous Dog Bite Attacks.
For these reasons, Mr. Tenge can help you recover damages even if the dog in question hadn't harmed anyone before.
Contact Tenge Law Firm, LLC today to get started with our Denver dog bite lawyer.
At the Tenge Law Firm LLC, we feel a profound responsibility to ensure our client’s physical and emotional well being during one of the worst times of their life. We've put together a page of resources to help you gain legal expertise and education about the law.
What Are Dangerous Dog Laws in Colorado?
Colorado counts itself among the 39 states with dangerous dog laws. These laws can require that a dog be labeled as dangerous and that restrictions be put into place.
All it usually takes is a complaint by someone who has been threatened, and then a hearing is held in which a judge decides whether sufficient evidence exists to label the dog as dangerous.
The owner of a dog that has been labeled as dangerous must then take certain precautions to prevent the dog from causing personal injuries to others. The owner may be required to keep the dog confined. Other potential restrictions include:
- Requiring "Beware of Dog" Signs,
- Purchasing Liability Insurance,
- Identifying the Dog with a Microchip, and
- Requiring That the Dog Wear a Special Brightly Colored Collar When Outside.
Violation of any of these restrictions can be considered grounds for gross negligence on the part of the dog owner and can allow a victim to pursue economic and non-economic damages in a claim.
Dog bite law is complex, but if you have an experienced dog bite attorney on your side, you have the potential to recover everything available to you under the law.
Contact Our Colorado Dog Bite Attorney Today
If you've suffered disfigurement or other severe injuries because of a vicious dog attack, you have the legal right to seek compensation from the dog's owner. The physical and emotional trauma caused by such accidents can be overwhelming, often leading to costly medical bills, lost wages, and long-term scarring. At Tenge Law Firm, Mr. J. Todd Tenge is committed to protecting the rights of dog bite victims and will aggressively advocate on your behalf to ensure you obtain the full and fair compensation you deserve. With extensive experience managing complex personal injury cases, Mr. Tenge understands the challenges victims face and will work tirelessly to hold negligent dog owners responsible.
Please contact the Tenge Law Firm, LLC using the form at the bottom of the page or call (720) 818-9044 today to schedule a free consultation with our dog bite attorney in Denver.
