Colorado Dog Bite Laws: Owner Liability and Deadlines

Colorado has a dog bite statute, but it only covers certain situations; other cases follow traditional common-law rules.

Colorado dog bite law at a glance

Question	Answer
Type of rule	Strict liability for serious injury or death; common law otherwise
Main statute	C.R.S. 13-21-124
Damages	Economic damages under the statute
Filing deadline	2 years (Justia)

What Colorado law says

C.R.S. 13-21-124 covers serious bodily injury or death to a person lawfully on public or private property.
Exceptions: trespassers, posted "no trespassing" or "beware of dog" property, knowing provocation, vets and other professionals on duty, police and military dogs, and working farm or hunting dogs on the owner's property.
Smaller injuries are handled under the one-bite rule and negligence.

Strict liability vs. the one-bite rule

The statute imposes liability only in the situations it lists. Outside those situations, injured people rely on the common law: showing the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous (the "one-bite" rule) or that the owner was negligent.

Dangerous dog rules in Colorado

Counties define vicious dogs and require their control (30-15-101).
A county offense involving bodily injury by a dog is a class 2 misdemeanor per offense (30-15-102(2)).
C.R.S. 18-9-204.5 makes unlawful ownership of a dangerous dog a crime.

Deadline to file a claim

Justia's 50-state survey lists 2 years as the general personal injury deadline (statute of limitations) in Colorado. The clock usually starts on the day of the bite. Different deadlines can apply to claims against a government agency or on behalf of a child, so confirm the deadline for your situation with a licensed attorney.

What to do after a dog bite

Get medical care, even for a small puncture; bites can become infected.
Get the owner's name, contact details and the dog's rabies vaccination status.
Report the bite to local animal control or the health department; many places require it so the dog can be observed for rabies.
Photograph the injuries and the location, and write down witness names.
Keep medical bills and records of missed work, and talk to an attorney before signing anything from an insurer.

If you own a dog that has bitten someone, follow any confinement order from animal control, keep the dog's rabies vaccination current, and consider working with a trainer or behaviorist. Leash rules are covered in Colorado leash laws.

Sources

This page summarizes state statutes for general information and is not legal advice. Laws change and cities and counties often add their own rules; check the current statute and your local ordinance, or ask a licensed attorney about your situation.

Colorado Dog Bite Laws