Colorado has a complicated dog bite statute that imposes strict liability upon a dog owner when the victim suffers a serious bodily injury, but limits the victim’s compensation to only “economic loss.” To collect full damages, the victim has to prove the elements of the one bite rule, the doctrine of negligence, or the doctrine of negligence per se for violating an animal control law. There are further restrictions, such as the state’s “cap” on damages for certain types of injuries. Because of the complexity of the law in this state, an attorney must be consulted to prosecute or defend a dog bite case, or injustice might result.
