If you were bitten by a dog in Colorado and the dog’s owner was intoxicated during the incident, you may be wondering about your legal rights. Drunk owner dog bite lawsuits in Colorado are not only serious but also subject to specific laws and deadlines. Knowing the statute of limitations, liability rules, and how to recover compensation can be the difference between winning and losing a case.
Understanding Dog Bite Laws in Colorado
Colorado follows a strict liability approach when it comes to dog bites. This means a dog owner can be held responsible for injuries their dog causes, regardless of whether the dog had a history of aggression. This applies to incidents on public or private property, as long as the injured person was lawfully present.
The Role of a Drunk Owner
When a dog bite occurs while the dog owner is intoxicated, it can be used as evidence of negligence. Although Colorado does not require proof of negligence in dog bite claims, intoxication may add weight to a personal injury claim.
This applies particularly when seeking non economic damages like emotional distress or post-traumatic stress disorder. In these cases, the court may view the dog owner as liable for increased bodily injury risks.
The dog owner responsible may then have to face serious legal action and even financial penalties. Personal injury attorneys for dog bites can be a great asset during this time against Colorado dog owners.
However, you must first understand Colorado’s dog bite statute and time limits for serious injuries for your dog attack claim. Even in the case of a minor dog bite, you need to follow the law.
Colorado’s Dog Bite Statute and Time Limits
There’s one thing you need to ensure before doing for drunk owner dog bite lawsuits in Colorado: Time limits explained.
Under Colorado’s dog bite statute, victims must file a lawsuit within two years from the date of the dog bite incident.
This statute of limitations is critical. Missing this deadline means you lose your right to pursue a dog bite injury claim, no matter how severe the injuries sustained. Prompt medical treatment and legal consultation are vital.
Other factors, like the dog owner’s knowledge during the personal injury law cases, may impact the case. Moreover, whether or not the event occurred on the dog owner’s property can also be a major key player in such cases.
What Injuries Qualify for a Lawsuit?
Colorado law specifies that lawsuits may be filed if the dog bite results in serious bodily injury, such as:
Broken bones:
A dog bite causing fractures is classified as a serious bodily injury and clearly qualifies for legal action. Fractures often lead to significant medical bills, require long-term medical treatment, and may cause lifelong complications.
A fractured bone can also limit a victim’s ability to work, creating additional economic damages that should be addressed in court.
Soft tissue injuries requiring surgery:
Lacerations and muscle damage caused by a dog attack that require surgical repair are serious and warrant compensation. Surgery often leads to extended recovery times, pain, scarring, and mounting future medical expenses.
These injuries may also result in reduced mobility and chronic pain, deeply affecting daily life and future income opportunities.
Serious permanent disfigurement:
Injuries from a dog bite that leave permanent marks or deformities can result in profound psychological harm and emotional distress. Victims often experience anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social stigma.
Permanent scars and facial injuries are especially impactful and can support claims for substantial non economic damages in a dog bite lawsuit.
Injuries posing a substantial risk of death:
When a dog bite injury causes heavy bleeding, infection, or hits vital organs, it may fall under this category. These types of injuries are not only physically traumatic but also require urgent and often costly medical treatment.
Legal claims for such injuries are serious and generally result in higher compensation awards to address both economic and non economic damages.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Drunk-Owner Dog Bite In Colorado?
A dog owner is primarily responsible, especially in Colorado dog bite cases involving strict liability. However, in some instances, other parties may be liable, such as:
A dog groomer or temporary caretaker:
If the dog was in the care of a professional, such as a groomer or boarding facility, during the dog bite incident, that person may also share legal responsibility.
They have a duty to monitor and control the dog and may be considered negligent if their actions or inattention contributed to the dog attack.
An individual keeping the dog on their private property:
Someone who is temporarily housing the dog could be liable, especially if they allowed the dog access to others or failed to secure it properly.
Hosting a dangerous dog without appropriate safeguards places visitors or passersby at significant risk, even on private property.
A dog show judge supervising the dog during a public event:
While rare, judges or handlers at competitive events who take custody of a dog for any duration could potentially bear liability if the dog bite occurs due to lack of control or improper handling.
The law will examine their responsibility and actions at the time of the dog bite injury.
Damages You May Recover In Such Cases
Victims of a dog bite injury may seek various forms of compensation, including:
Medical expenses and future medical bills:
You can be compensated for ER visits, doctor appointments, medication, and surgeries directly related to the dog bite. Ongoing treatment, such as physical therapy or follow-up procedures, also qualifies. Keeping detailed medical records is essential for calculating the total medical expenses owed.
Lost wages and future medical expenses:
If your injuries prevent you from working, either short-term or long-term, you can claim lost wages. If a doctor anticipates continued medical treatment, those costs may also be included. Your dog bite attorney can help assess the documentation needed to prove lost income and future health-related costs.
Emotional distress and post-traumatic stress disorder:
Psychological injuries are common after a dog bite, especially if the attack was violent or public. Victims may fear animals or social situations and require counseling or therapy. These experiences qualify for non-economic damages and should not be overlooked when building your dog bite injury claim.
Non-economic damages for pain and suffering:
Pain, trauma, inconvenience, and lifestyle changes can all be factored into compensation. These are harder to quantify but are no less real. Your dog bite lawyer will use testimony, journal entries, and expert witnesses to show how your life has been affected.
Economic damages tied to ongoing medical treatment:
Invoices, insurance statements, and out-of-pocket costs related to your injury all count. Even travel to appointments and assistive devices like crutches or braces may be included. When injuries are long-lasting, future medical bills should be projected and added to your claim.
A dog bite lawyer can better guide individuals regarding their lawsuits, ensuring dog bite victims get suitable compensation.
Additional Considerations in Dog Bite Lawsuits
The emotional and psychological impact of dog bite incidents is very serious. Therefore, we recommend keeping the additional consideration in dog bite lawsuits in check. These include:
- Colorado does not use the one bite rule: Unlike some states, Colorado law does not require the dog owner to have prior knowledge of the dog’s aggression. That means a first-time bite can still result in liability and financial recovery for the victim.
- Injuries caused by a predator control dog while performing its duty may fall under different rules. These special cases may be exempt from standard dog bite liability if the dog was actively performing duties under government-sanctioned predator control.
- A personal injury lawyer can help investigate whether a dog owner’s liability extends beyond negligence and into punitive damages. If the dog owner was drunk or acted recklessly, your dog bite lawyer may argue for higher compensation. Courts can award punitive damages to punish particularly dangerous behavior.
Take Legal Action Before Time Runs Out
Filing a dog bite lawsuit is not just about compensation. It helps ensure dangerous dogs are controlled and negligent owners held accountable. If you or a loved one is a dog bite victim, you should speak to a dog bite attorney as soon as possible.
An experienced attorney can:
- Evaluate your dog bite case in detail
- Help preserve evidence such as photos, witness accounts, and medical records
- Identify all liable parties, including the dog owner and others
- Assist in recovering economic damages, noneconomic damages, and additional costs
Get A Free Consultation with Bourassa Law Group
If you’ve suffered a dog bite injury—especially one involving a drunk dog owner—don’t delay. The statute of limitations in Colorado is strict, and missing it could bar you from seeking justice.
The Bourassa Law Group has deep experience with Colorado dog bite laws and personal injury cases. Our dog bite attorneys fight for the rights of dog bite injury victims and help them seek compensation for medical care, pain, trauma, and lost income. With us, the worry of “how much does a dog bite lawyer cost?” comes secondary. Your case matters first.
Contact Bourassa Law Group today for a free consultation. Let us help you hold negligent parties accountable and get the compensation you deserve.
1-800-870-8910