Dog attacks are violent events that can lead to long-term physical and emotional scars. At Manning Herington, our Denver personal injury lawyers are passionate about helping dog bite victims seek justice and rebuild their lives after devastating animal attacks.
We can help you receive the medical care that you need, go up against a pet owner and insurance company, and fight for the case outcome that you deserve. Contact us today to start with a free case consultation with a highly experienced Denver dog bite lawyer.
Robert Manning is a highly skilled Denver personal injury attorney who is dedicated to protecting the rights of injury victims and recovering fair compensation. Attorney Robert Manning brings over 15 years of legal experience and specializes in personal injury cases such as car accidents, motorcycle accidents, spinal cord injuries, and more. As lead attorney at Manning Herington, Robert offers expert legal representation and works to help clients who have suffered from serious accidents or injuries.
Attorney Ross Herington is a strategically aggressive and trial-proven personal injury attorney advocating for the rights of injury victims and accident survivors across Colorado and the entire country. His vast knowledge of the intricacies of the legal system are unparalleled. He has handled thousands of cases in his 10+ year career and is committed to safeguarding injury victim’s rights with integrity and compassion.
“I’ve worked with Mr. Manning on several cases for myself as well as referring many of my clients. Everyone I’ve sent his way has been very impressed with his knowledge of the law and the process, his availability through the process, and his professionalism in everything he does. It is with supreme confidence that I refer Mr. Manning out to my clients, friends and family.”
– Richard S.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“My experience here has been amazing. Everyone is so helpful and nice. Robert Manning has a great personality and is focused on making sure you get the outcome you want and deserve. He cares about his clients and will make sure that you never go without a question unanswered.”
– Abbi W.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Sadly, not everyone survives their dog bite injuries. According to DogsBite.org, 48 victims lost their lives in fatal dog attacks in the U.S. the latest year data is available (2019). In the 15-year period from 2005 to 2019, canines killed 521 victims. In 2022, there were 5,300 attacks on postal service workers according to the United States Postal Service.
If you lost a loved one due to a fatal dog attack, you may need an experienced wrongful death attorney in Denver to help you obtain fair compensation. Wrongful death is a loss of life due to the careless or wrongful act of another. This includes a pet owner’s neglect to prevent a dog attack, such as by unlawfully owning a dog that has been deemed dangerous by the Bureau of Animal Protection under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-9-204.5.
Holding a pet owner responsible for a fatal dog attack could provide survivors with compensation for funeral and burial costs, loss of the decedent’s earnings, lost inheritance, their grief and anguish, and more.
Under Colorado Revised Statutes, Section 13-21-124, a pet owner can be held responsible for any injuries inflicted by a dog if the victim was lawfully on public or private property at the time of the incident.
The law states:
13-21-124. Civil actions against dog owners.
(2) a person or a personal representative of a person who suffers serious bodily injury or death from being bitten by a dog while lawfully on public or private property, shall be entitled to bring a civil action to recover economic damages against the dog owner regardless of the viciousness or dangerous propensities of the dog or the dog owner’s knowledge or lack of knowledge of the dog’s viciousness or dangerous propensities.
Colorado uses a strict liability dog bite law, meaning the pet owner can be held responsible regardless of any prior knowledge of the dog’s vicious propensities (or lack thereof). Negligence is not required to prove in a dog bite injury case.
Colorado’s dog bite law is favorable to victims as it does not require proof that the pet owner knew or reasonably should have known about the dog’s potential to harm others. Even if a dog never bit someone or behaved violently in the past, the pet owner can be held liable (legally and financially responsible) for the victim’s losses under state law.
During your dog bite injury case, we can work to prove the following:
If the elements of Colorado’s strict liability dog bite law are not met, a claim may still be brought against a dog owner on the basis of negligence. Evidence of negligence is required to prove this type of case, such as a pet owner who violated a local leash law or unlawfully harbored a restricted breed listed under Denver’s Ordinance Sec. 8-67.
