Did you or a loved one endure a dog attack in Westminster, Colorado? Severe dog bites can cause life-altering injuries, lasting emotional distress, and significant damages. A Westminster dog bite attorney at Dulin McQuinn Young can help you hold a negligent owner accountable for your experience. Reach out and start your personal injury claim today.
Why Choose Dulin McQuinn Young After a Dog Bite in Westminster?
Insurance companies aggressively defend dog attack claims. They simply don’t want to pay you. They may minimize the nature of your injuries or claim you provoked the animal. Our legal team can ensure the truth comes out and fight for the recovery you deserve.
Clients across Westminster, CO, select our practice because:
- Our attorneys have decades of experience handling dog bite claims throughout the Denver metropolitan region
- We understand Colorado’s dog attack laws
- We’ve recovered hundreds of millions for clients injured due to negligence
- We operate on a contingency fee standard, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we secure a financial recovery for you
- We’ve been recognized by leading legal services like Martindale-Hubbell and Avvo
Contact us today to consult with a Westminster dog bite lawyer who will protect your rights and put your interests first.
How an Attorney Helps With Your Dog Bite Claim
Securing financial compensation in a dog bite case involves more than showing that an attack occurred. You must show the severity of your harm and prove that the dog handler failed to exercise reasonable care. An experienced attorney will help you navigate the state’s dog bite laws and establish what happened.
Our legal team will help by:
- Investigating the scene to see if the dog was properly leashed or contained
- Finding the owner and identifying any available homeowner or renter insurance
- Checking animal control records for past aggressive behavior
- Gathering medical records for your emergency care and other treatments
- Proving negligence, such as broken leash laws, to seek compensation for pain and suffering
An experienced attorney can help you determine the right path for proving your case.
Overview of Colorado Dog Bite Liability Statutes
Colorado’s C.R.S. § 13-21-124 applies strict liability when a dog bites and seriously injures a person who is lawfully on public or private property. In these instances, you do not need to prove the owner knew of dangerous tendencies or acted carelessly. You only need to show you were bitten and did not provoke the animal. However, strict liability cases limit recovery to economic losses like medical bills and lost earnings.
To pursue non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, emotional trauma, or scarring, you must demonstrate the dog owner was negligent. Violations of local municipal codes commonly serve as evidence of negligence. Westminster requires that dogs remain on a leash in public areas, parks, and trails. An owner who lets a dog run free in violation of these restraint rules may be held liable when the dog bites.
What Compensation Can Be Recovered After a Dog Bite in Westminster?
The compensation you can recover depends on whether your case is built on strict liability, negligence, or a combination of both.
Depending on the circumstances, you may be eligible to recover damages for:
- Medical expenses
- Reconstructive surgery and surgical procedures
- Treatment for serious bacterial infections and follow-up care
- Physical rehabilitation therapy
- Lost wages and missed work time
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Long-term phobias of canines
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
- Expected future medical expenses for long-term recovery
Young children often suffer the worst damages in animal attacks, frequently sustaining facial injuries that require ongoing surgical care as they grow. An experienced personal injury lawyer will factor these long-term needs into your claim.
Contact a Westminster Dog Bite Attorney Today
If you sustained injuries in a dog attack in Westminster, Dulin McQuinn Young is ready to guide you through the legal process and make things right for your family. Reach out to our Westminster dog bite attorneys today for a free consultation.