Were you or your child injured by a dog attack in Pueblo, CO?
At Ganderton Law Personal Injury Law Firm, we help dog bite victims across Pueblo and the surrounding area hold negligent owners accountable.
If a dog bite has left you with painful injuries and questions about who will pay for treating them, a knowledgeable legal advocate can answer your queries and guide you to a fair solution. Our Pueblo, CO dog bite lawyer can pinpoint the responsible owner, place a fair value on your injuries, and manage the insurance company claim for damages from start to finish. Ganderton Law Personal Injury Law Firm has guided injured Coloradans through these claims for twenty years. Your consultation is free, and no fee is owed unless we recover compensation for you.
Dog Bite Lawyer Pueblo, CO
A dog bite claim is a civil case that lets an injured person seek payment from the owner of the dog that attacked them. Under Colorado law, a dog’s owner can be held responsible for the medical costs and other harm a bite causes. Serious attacks often bring complications well beyond the initial wound, including infection, permanent scarring, and lasting nerve damage.
A Pueblo dog bite attorney studies how the attack unfolded, confirms who owned the dog, and locates the insurance that may cover your losses. There is no charge for that first conversation.
Types of Dog Bite Cases We Handle in Pueblo
Dog bite claims range from a single deep puncture to a devastating mauling. Our attorneys have represented injured clients across Pueblo and the surrounding area for two decades. The cases we see most often include the following:
- Attacks on children. Children account for a large share of serious dog bite victims, often with wounds to the face, head, and neck. Their height and their eagerness to reach for animals put them at greater risk. We approach these cases with careful attention to a child’s future.
- Brain injuries. A large dog can knock a person to the ground or bite near the skull, causing a traumatic brain injury. Children and older adults are especially vulnerable to lasting cognitive harm. We work with medical specialists to document these serious injuries.
- Facial injuries and scarring. Bites to the face can leave permanent disfigurement and call for reconstructive surgery. A fair recovery should reflect future procedures and the emotional cost of visible scars. We document the full extent of that harm.
- Puncture wounds and infections. A dog’s teeth push bacteria deep into tissue, which can lead to serious infection or rabies exposure. Fast medical care matters, and so does saving evidence of the wound. We help victims tie the injury to the attack.
- Attacks on private property. Many bites occur at a residence, where private property liability can be difficult to sort out. A tenant and a property owner may both bear responsibility, and homeowners insurance often applies. We track down every source of coverage.
- Delivery and service workers. Postal carriers, delivery drivers, and utility crews face routine exposure to loose dogs. When an owner disregards a known danger, these workers frequently have strong claims. We pursue full compensation for their injuries.
- Wrongful death. In the most heartbreaking cases, a dog attack ends a life, most often a child’s or an older adult’s. Surviving relatives may bring a wrongful death claim against the owner. We handle these matters with compassion and determination.
Why Choose Ganderton Law Personal Injury Law Firm as my Dog Bite Lawyer in Pueblo, CO?
Two Decades Representing Injured Coloradans
David Ganderton has represented injured Coloradans for twenty years and holds bar admissions in Colorado, Wyoming, and Florida. He completed his law degree at Stetson University College of Law and his undergraduate studies at Florida State University. The National Trial Lawyers has recognized him among its Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and he has earned Best Personal Injury Attorney honors in the Colorado Springs Gazette’s Best of the Springs awards. He stays connected to the region through the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce. Injured clients benefit from the education and proven experience of a personal injury lawyer in Pueblo, CO equipped to handle a dog attack of any severity.
Proven Results on a Contingency Basis
Past results never promise a particular outcome, but they show the standard we bring to every case. Throughout Colorado, our firm has recovered millions of dollars for injured people and families through settlements and verdicts. We take dog bite claims on a contingency basis, so you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Clients hear from us regularly as their case develops.
Understanding Dog Bite Cases
A dog bite case is a legal claim for the losses the dog-inflicted physical injury caused you to suffer. Colorado law lets a victim pursue payment for medical treatment, lost earnings, and the attack’s lasting effects. Dogs are considered property in Colorado, and owners are responsible for harm their pet causes.
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Dog Bite Cases
Colorado permits a bite victim to recover several kinds of compensation, and responsibility generally falls on the dog’s owner. Because the state uses a modified comparative negligence rule, any award decreases in proportion to the victim’s share of fault, and a victim who is 50% or more at fault recovers nothing. Proving the owner’s fault is the heart of the case.
Compensation in these cases may include:
- Emergency care, surgery, and rehabilitation
- Reconstructive and scar-revision treatment
- Wages lost during recovery
- Physical pain and emotional distress
- Permanent effects such as scarring or disability
An owner’s coverage may be limited, so we assess the policy limits at the start of the case.
What Are Important Aspects of a Dog Bite Case?
A few details often decide how strong a dog bite claim will be. Addressing them early protects your recovery.
- Immediate medical care builds a record linking your injuries to the attack
- Photos of the wounds and the scene preserve evidence that fades fast
- Naming the owner, and any landlord or tenant, matters for insurance coverage
- A report to animal control or public health lends weight to your account
What Is The Dog Bite Case Timeline?
Every claim moves a little differently, yet most follow a recognizable order. The outline below sets general expectations.
- A free consultation and a review of how the attack occurred
- Treatment and thorough documentation of your injuries
- Investigation into the owner, the dog’s past, and any insurance
- A demand to the insurer, followed by settlement negotiations
- A lawsuit and, if needed, a trial
Do not lose track of the filing deadline. Colorado generally gives an injured person two years from the date of the bite to file a claim.
What Should You Bring to Your Dog Bite Consultation?
A few documents let us size up your claim more quickly. If you have them, please bring the following to your first meeting.
- Photographs of your injuries and the location of the attack
- Medical records and bills tied to the bite
- The owner’s name, address, and insurance information
- Any animal control or police report from the incident
Writing down your questions beforehand helps you get the most benefit from our conversation. Expect a candid discussion of your rights and options, usually within a day or two of your call.
What Are Important Colorado Legal Resources for Dog Bite Cases?
A handful of public resources can help you safeguard your health and understand your rights after a dog attack in Pueblo.
- Report the bite to Pueblo County Public Health so any rabies risk can be assessed.
- Contact Animal Law Enforcement to report a dangerous or aggressive dog in the area.
- The CDC rabies guidance explains exposure risks and the importance of prompt care.
- The Colorado Revised Statutes set the two-year filing deadline, the comparative negligence rule, and the damages available to injury victims.
These resources offer general information only, and they are not a substitute for advice about your specific claim.
Reach Out to Ganderton Law Personal Injury Law Firm to Schedule a Consultation
You do not have to take on the insurance company by yourself. Contact us to set up a free consultation with our Pueblo dog bite lawyer. At Ganderton Law Personal Injury Law Firm, we handle these claims on a contingency basis, so you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. We will examine how the attack happened, answer your questions, and give you an honest read on your claim.
Dog Bite Statistics in Pueblo
Pueblo County shares its animal law enforcement with El Paso County, and the combined numbers are larger than most people expect. Officers with the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region responded to more than 2,300 calls about aggressive domestic pets across the two counties in a single year, which works out to roughly six calls a day. Many bites never get reported at all. The true count in Pueblo, CO is almost certainly higher.
The national picture explains why a Pueblo dog bite lawyer sees so many cases involving children. Kids are shorter, quicker to reach for an animal, and more likely to be bitten on the face or neck. Adults get bitten too, most often delivery workers, mail carriers, and neighbors walking past an unfenced yard.
- NIH dog bite research puts the number of Americans bitten each year at roughly 4.5 million, with about one in five needing medical attention.
- The same research found an average of 337,103 emergency department visits for dog bites every year between 2005 and 2013.
- Nearly 27,000 people needed reconstructive surgery for dog bite injuries in a single year.
- CDC emergency department data shows dog bite injury rates are highest among children between five and nine years old.
- According to CDC guidance on dogs, dogs kept tied up are more likely to bite than dogs kept in a fenced yard.
Mistakes That Can Damage Your Dog Bite Claim
A dog bite attorney in Pueblo can fix many problems after the fact. These are the ones that are hardest to undo.
- Skipping medical care because the wound looks minor. Puncture wounds close over quickly and trap bacteria underneath. An infection that surfaces three days later is much harder to tie to the attack when there is no record from day one and gives the insurer room to argue something else caused the problem.
- Accepting an apology in place of information. Neighbors don’t want to make things awkward. But you still need the owner’s name, address, and insurance details. A verbal promise to cover the emergency room bill rarely survives the first invoice.
- Not reporting the bite. A report to Animal Law Enforcement creates an official record of the dog, its vaccination status, and any prior complaints. Without one, the case can turn into your word against the owner’s.
- Posting about the attack online. Adjusters read social media. A photo of you at Lake Pueblo two weeks later becomes an argument that your injuries were minor.
- Giving a recorded statement to the owner’s insurer. You are not required to. Adjusters ask leading questions about whether you approached the dog or startled it, and those answers get used to shift blame under Colorado’s comparative fault rule.
- Cashing the first check. When the insurer sends a check early, it is usually a fraction of what the claim is worth. Depositing it can close the claim before you know whether you will need scar revision.
- Letting evidence disappear. Torn clothing, photos of the wound as it heals, names of witnesses. Scars change over months, and a dog bite lawyer in Pueblo, CO will want a record of every stage.
- Underestimating the lasting effects. Nerve damage, a limp, anxiety around dogs, soft tissue injuries that never fully resolve. Insurers pay for what is documented, not for what you tolerate quietly.
- Waiting too long. Two years from the date of the bite is the general filing deadline in Colorado. Evidence goes stale well before that.
Pueblo Dog Bite Lawyer FAQs
How much does a dog bite lawyer in Pueblo, CO cost?
Nothing up front. Ganderton Law Personal Injury Law Firm handles dog bite claims on contingency, so our fee comes out of the recovery at the end. If there is no recovery, you owe us no attorney fee. We go over the percentage in writing before you sign anything.
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. You will speak with a Pueblo dog bite attorney, not an intake service. Bring what you have, ask what you want, and leave with an honest read on the claim. There’s no obligation afterward.
Who pays for my injuries after a dog bite in Pueblo?
Most often the dog owner’s homeowners or renters policy. A landlord’s policy sometimes applies as well. We identify every policy that could respond, because a single owner’s coverage may not be enough for a serious facial injury.
What if the dog belonged to a friend or relative?
The claim is made against the insurance policy, not the person’s savings. Many of our clients in Pueblo, CO were bitten by a dog they knew well. Filing a claim usually does not mean suing your neighbor personally.
Does it matter if I was on the owner’s property?
It can. Being invited onto the property is different from trespassing, and the location shapes how Colorado’s negligence rules apply. The same policies that respond to a slip and fall at a home often respond to a bite there.
Can I recover for scarring and emotional distress?
Yes. Colorado allows compensation for pain and suffering, disfigurement, and the emotional impact of an attack, alongside medical bills and lost wages. Noneconomic damages are subject to a statutory cap that the legislature raised through House Bill 24-1472 for cases filed on or after January 1, 2025.
How long does a dog bite case take?
Claims with clear liability and a finished course of treatment can resolve in a few months. Cases involving surgery or disputed fault take longer. How long claims take depends mostly on your recovery, because we don’t settle before the full extent of your injuries is known.
What if my child was bitten?
A parent or guardian brings the claim on the child’s behalf. Settlements for minors generally require court approval in Colorado, and the funds are protected until the child becomes an adult. Our dog bite attorneys in Pueblo handle that process for families regularly.
What if I was partly at fault?
Colorado uses modified comparative negligence. Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, and a person found 50% or more responsible recovers nothing. Insurers push this argument hard in dog bite cases, so talk to a Pueblo, CO dog bite attorney before you answer their questions.
Is my dog bite settlement taxable?
Compensation for physical injuries is generally not taxed as income. Portions allocated to lost wages or interest can be treated differently. Whether a settlement is taxable depends on how it is structured, and we can refer you to a tax professional.
Important Resources for Pueblo Dog Bite Cases
Most Dangerous Locations for Dog Bites in Pueblo
Dog bites in Pueblo, CO tend to happen where people and unrestrained dogs share close quarters. A loose dog that slips a fence can also dart into traffic on Northern Avenue and cause a car accident as easily as a bite.
Residential streets and neighborhoods:
- Bessemer. Older homes on narrow lots with alley access and aging fences that give a dog more ways out of a yard.
- East Side. Dense residential blocks where dogs are often kept in front yards a few feet from the sidewalk.
- Belmont and Eastwood Heights. Heavier foot traffic from joggers, students, and delivery drivers near homes with dogs.
Parks, trails, and public spaces:
- City Park. Crowded on weekends, with off-leash dogs near the playground and picnic areas.
- Mineral Palace Park. Walking paths shared by families and dog owners beside UCHealth Parkview.
- Arkansas River Levee Trail. Cyclists and joggers pass dogs on long retractable leashes at speed.
Important Local Resources for Pueblo Dog Bite Cases
The first calls after a bite are about your health and the dog’s status, not your claim. These Pueblo agencies handle treatment, quarantine, and reporting.
- Pueblo Animal Services: (719) 544-3005, for quarantine and animal records
- Animal Law Enforcement: (719) 302-8798, to report a dangerous or aggressive dog
- Pueblo Public Health Department: (719) 583-4300, for bite reports and rabies follow-up
- UCHealth Parkview Medical Center: (719) 584-4000, a Level III trauma center for serious wounds
- Pueblo Police Department: (719) 553-2502, non-emergency line for reports inside city limits
Ganderton Law Personal Injury Law Firm does not endorse and is not affiliated with any organization listed above. They appear for informational purposes only.
About Ganderton Law Personal Injury Law Firm
Ganderton Law Personal Injury Law Firm serves Pueblo from our office on Bonforte Boulevard, and we represent injured people, never insurers. Founder David Ganderton is a member of the Denver Bar Association and the El Paso County Bar Association, and Colorado Springs Gazette readers have voted him Best Lawyer and our firm Best Law Firm in the Best of the Springs awards.
He supports The Exodus Road, Safe Families for Children, and Denver Kids, and the firm funds a Justice Advocacy Scholarship for students. Our premises liability results include a $350,000 recovery for a client who needed spinal surgery after a fall on someone else’s property, the same category of coverage that often pays a dog bite claim.
What Our Clients Say
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“I have consulted multiple big lawyers, you know the ones you see on tv commercials or on the billboards and I felt so discouraged and unheard. I was recommended David Ganderton and decided to give it one last shot. Being able to speak with him directly made me feel not like a paycheck but as a person. He accepted my case and walked me through everything. This was a nerve wrecking time since I have never been through anything like this, but he was always there. We finally came to a settlement and I can’t help but feel like David was a huge blessing to me.” – Breana Mchale-See
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Additional Resources for Pueblo Dog Bite Cases
- Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Dog Bites?
- Why Juries See The Full Medical Bill
- Proving Lost Income in a Colorado Injury Case
- 5 Personal Injury FAQs
- Questions to Ask Your Lawyer
Contact Ganderton Law Personal Injury Law Firm
A dog attack leaves wounds that heal on their own schedule and bills that don’t wait. Our team can review how the attack happened, explain what your claim is worth, and deal with the owner’s insurer so you can focus on treatment. The consultation is free, and there are no fees unless we win. Contact us to schedule a meeting at our Pueblo office or by phone.
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