{"id":371955,"date":"2019-07-02T15:40:19","date_gmt":"2019-07-02T20:40:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/colorado-law\/colorado-dog-bite-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-05-07T16:18:30","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T21:18:30","slug":"colorado-dog-bite-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/colorado-law\/colorado-dog-bite-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Dog Bite Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Colorado Dog Bite Laws<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Kit Yona, M.A.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Katrina Wilson, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Most interactions between people and dogs are fine, even joyful. No relationship is perfect, though, and the danger of a dog attack is always present. In the United States, over 4.5 million victims a year suffer a dog attack<\/a>. Over 800,000 of them suffer a personal injury requiring significant medical treatment.<\/p>\r\n

Colorado\u2019s dog bite laws<\/a> are designed to lessen the risk of someone experiencing a dog attack while punishing those who don\u2019t control dangerous dogs at the same time. If you\u2019re attacked, you can make a claim against the dog owner to recover medical expenses.<\/p>\r\n

Understanding how Colorado\u2019s dog bite laws work lets you understand what to do in case the unthinkable happens. Read on to learn more useful, in-depth information.<\/p>\r\n

Strict Liability, Negligence, and Dog Bites<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Colorado uses both strict liability<\/a> and negligence<\/a> to determine liability and damages for dog bites. While some states use the \u201cone bite rule<\/a>\u201d to offer a dog owner some liability protection if their dog hasn\u2019t bitten anyone before, Colorado does not. It doesn\u2019t matter if the owner of the dog wasn\u2019t aware of the dog\u2019s viciousness.<\/p>\r\n

Whether strict liability or negligence is applied often depends on the severity of the physical injury. Understanding what each one means makes it easier to know which to expect.<\/p>\r\n

Strict Liability<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

A strict liability standard<\/a> means that the dog owner is liable for dog bite injuries regardless of whether the owner knew the dog would bite or not. Colorado saves the use of strict liability for bites that cause serious injuries.<\/p>\r\n

A serious injury<\/a> is one that results in, or where there is a substantial risk of infirmaries that include:<\/p>\r\n