Lakewood Dog Bite Lawyers
Dogs are very popular pets in the Lakewood, CO area and throughout the US. While most dogs are pleasant, friendly, and love to be around people, there is always a risk of a dog injuring someone unprovoked. When dog bites happen, victims may not only suffer painful bite wounds but also serious secondary injuries like infections, head trauma, and broken bones. If you or a loved one recently sustained any form of injury in a dog attack, a Lakewood dog bite attorney is your best resource for insights into your case.
Why Do I Need an Attorney for a Dog Bite Claim?
Colorado upholds a strict liability statute when it comes to dog bites. This means that if any dog bites someone else, the owner is strictly liable for all resulting damages whether or not the owner knew the dog could injure someone. While this may seem like it would make any dog bite injury claim more straightforward, the reality is that any personal injury claim in Lakewood, CO, can become a complicated legal battle without the right representation on your side.
Hiring an experienced Lakewood dog bite attorney is one of the best steps anyone can take toward recovery after a dog bite injury. These attacks often cause multiple injuries, some of which may require surgery and entail a long and painful recovery period. Hiring a reliable Lakewood dog bite lawyer increases the chance of securing a suitable recovery for these losses. If you do not secure legal representation for your claim, you could wind up with little to nothing in terms of compensation for your damages.
Why Choose the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal?
It’s natural to feel frustrated and uncertain after you or a loved one suffers dog bite injuries when you did nothing to provoke the dog to attack. At the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal, we know how damaging and traumatic dog attacks are for victims and the severe economic impacts they can have on victims and their families. If you need reliable legal representation to handle your dog bite injury claim on your behalf so you can recover in peace, call our firm. We are more than capable of providing the legal counsel you need during this difficult time.
The legal team at the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal takes a client-focused approach to civil litigation. This means we take time to get to know every client we represent, learning how their injuries have impacted their lives and what they need to recover as fully as possible. When you choose the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal as your Lakewood dog bite attorneys, you are investing in professional representation for your claim and responsive communication with a reliable and compassionate attorney committed to ensuring your recovery.
Possible Dog Attack Damages
Bites are just one of the many possible injuries a dog can inflict on a victim. In many dog attack claims in Lakewood, CO, victims sustain much more than just bite-related injuries. For example, a very large dog can easily knock a fully grown adult to the ground, potentially causing broken bones, soft tissue injuries, brain damage, or a spinal injury. Dog bites can also become infected or cause crushing injuries at the bite location, potentially leading to long-term loss of motor function or disability.
Medical expenses are likely to be one of a dog attack victim’s biggest claimable damages in a dog bite injury lawsuit. An experienced Lakewood dog bite attorney can help not only their client secure compensation for their immediate medical expenses but also anticipated future medical bills to cover necessary rehabilitation, ongoing treatments, and subsequent surgical procedures. Many dog attacks result in months or years of pain and recovery for victims.
Colorado state law allows personal injury claimants to receive compensation for the pain and suffering they experience due to the negligence of the defendants in their claims. While this pertains to physical pain associated with injuries, it also applies to psychological distress and emotional trauma. A dog attack can be an incredibly traumatic experience for the victim, and a good attorney can ensure their client is fairly compensated for their pain and suffering.
In the event a dog attack leaves the victim partially or totally disabled, it is quite likely the plaintiff will not only secure significant compensation for pain and suffering and both immediate and future medical expenses but also lose future earning potential. For example, if the victim can no longer do their job or return to the same job, their finances could crumble. Their Lakewood dog bite lawyer can help them secure compensation for the income they could have reasonably expected to earn in the future had their injury not occurred.
Defendants’ Potential Defenses
Colorado’s strict liability statute for dog attacks may prove troublesome for dog owners whose pets suddenly attack without warning or provocation. However, a few defenses are available to a dog owner facing civil action from a victim injured by their pet. If the defendant can prove that the plaintiff was either trespassing on private property when the accident occurred or provoked the dog to attack, either could work as an affirmative defense for the defendant and cast fault on the plaintiff.
Colorado upholds a modified comparative negligence statute. This means if the plaintiff is found partially at fault for causing their claimed damages, they lose a percentage of the case award to reflect their partial fault. In any Colorado personal injury claim in which the plaintiff is found to be more at fault than the defendant or more than 50% at fault, they may not recover any damages.
Start Building Your Dog Attack Claim Today
Time is a critical factor after suffering any type of personal injury, especially one as damaging as a dog bite. The sooner you connect with an attorney to start building your case, the better your chances are of succeeding with your injury claim. Compiling your case swiftly is also beneficial in the face of mounting economic losses resulting from your dog bite injury.
If you are ready to discuss your options for legal recourse following a dog attack, contact the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal today to schedule a complimentary review of your personal injury claim. We will let you know what to expect from filing your claim and how our firm can assist you during your legal proceedings.