Erie Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog attacks can happen in an instant, sometimes leaving physical and emotional scarring. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite, the dog bite lawyers at Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC can help. We specialize in making sure that a dog owner is held responsible for the behavior of his or her dog, and that our clients are fully compensated for his or her harms or losses. Whether the victim is a child an elderly person or anyone in between, we encourage you to call our experienced dog bite attorneys in Erie, Colorado for your free consultation. Call us today at 303-543-1000.

In Colorado, dog owners are responsible for the actions of their animals, including dogs. It is up to the owner of the dog to make sure that he or she knows the dog and takes appropriate action to protect friends, visitors, and the general public from the dog’s behavior. This means doing things like locking the dog up if it is suspected that children or other strangers may cause the dog to act aggressively or defensively. The bottom line is that if a dog hurts someone, the owner bears the consequences.

At Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, our Erie dog bite lawyers will work with the applicable law enforcement agency to get the information needed to civilly prosecute those responsible for the dog. We have worked with various animal control units, as well as local police departments, to get the information we need. Sometimes, but not always, local law enforcement will bring criminal charges against the owner of dog, and we will obtain that investigation to help us identify which insurance policies would cover the victim’s harms and losses. Usually we will file a notice of claim against the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy, but we can also look at renter’s insurance policies and the assets of the dog owner.

One of the things many lawyers incorrectly do when handling a dog bite case is they value the case by relying too heavily on the medical bills of the victim. A good Erie dog bite attorney, however, will understand that dog bite cases are valued differently from traditional personal injury claims. That is to say, medical bills are only a small driver of case value compared to factors like scarring and emotional impact.

At Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, we will take the time to make sure you have explored and learned the cost of all avenues of medical treatment, including what your future medical needs might be, before presenting your claim to the insurance company. For example, in many cases a child who has suffered scarring or disfigurement on his or her face will want to wait until they turn 18 before making their own decision on getting plastic surgery or similar facial reconstruction surgery.

Whereas the initial ER bills might only be a few thousand dollars, future surgeries may well end up costing tens of thousands of dollars, and our lawyers want to make sure that those losses are included in any settlement of your claim. This is also true for mental health impacts of a dog bite. Many of our clients have worked with therapists specializing in trauma from dog bites and other animal attacks. We can help you find the right therapist for you that will not only provide you with treatment of your condition, but can help document your injuries for the insurance adjuster.

If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, the most important thing to do is seek medical treatment. Once you feel that the medical aspect of things is under control, it is critical to notify law enforcement of the situation. In many cases, law enforcement – even animal control – will conduct a thorough investigation that learns of evidence well before any attorney can get it. Having law enforcement on your side can only help your case if you decide to ultimately hire a dog bite lawyer at a later date. Again, although most cases will settle, there is some information that is easily obtainable by the authorities but may take a lawsuit before an attorney is able to get that same evidence.

With that said, returning to the scene to take photographs, photographing the injuries after they happen, finding out who actually owns the dog and whether there is a homeowner’s policy will all be very helpful when it comes time to pursue your dog bite claim. Making sure that you get the names and numbers of any eyewitnesses can also be invaluable.

At Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, our Erie dog bite lawyers are ready to help you and your family after a serious dog bite. Call us today at 303-543-1000 for your free consultation. We look forward to meeting you.