Colorado Dog Bite Laws: Strict Liability & Medical Steps

Colorado holds a dog owner strictly liable when their dog bites someone who is lawfully on public or private property and causes serious bodily injury or death (C.R.S. § 13-21-124(2)). You don't have to prove the dog was vicious or that the owner knew it might bite. That strict liability covers economic damages, like medical bills and lost pay. Pain and suffering, or a bite that is not “serious,” is pursued through an ordinary negligence claim instead. Dog bites are common. About 4.5 million people are bitten in the U.S. each year, most of them children (American Veterinary Medical Association, via Insurance Information Institute, 2026).

What should I do right after a dog bite?

1. 1. Stop the bleeding with firm pressure from a clean, dry cloth.
2. 2. Rinse the wound with mild soap and warm running water for 3 to 5 minutes.
3. 3. Get medical care the same day for any bite that breaks the skin.
4. 4. Go right away if the bite is on the face, head, neck, hand, fingers, or feet.
5. 5. Get the owner's name and address, and ask whether the dog's rabies shots are current.
6. 6. Call animal control or the police if the dog is a stray, unknown, or unvaccinated.
7. 7. Photograph the wound every day as it heals, and keep every bill.

Those first-aid steps come from MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine's patient site (MedlinePlus: Animal bites, self-care). It notes that a bite wound may need stitches, a tetanus shot, antibiotics, or even surgery. It also warns that children are much more likely than adults to be bitten on the face, head, or neck.

What does “strict liability” mean for a Colorado dog bite?

Strict liability means the owner is responsible without any proof of fault. Many states still use a “one free bite” idea, where you must show the dog had bitten before or the owner knew it was dangerous. Colorado dropped that for serious bites. The statute lets you recover “regardless of the viciousness or dangerous propensities of the dog” and regardless of what the owner knew.

The law also defines who counts as an owner, and it's broader than people expect. It includes anyone “owning, possessing, harboring, keeping,” or having control or custody of the dog (C.R.S. § 13-21-124(1)(c)). A friend who was dog-sitting, or a business that keeps a dog on site, can be the “owner” for this purpose.

What counts as a “serious bodily injury” under the dog bite law?

Colorado's dog bite statute borrows its meaning from the criminal code (C.R.S. § 18-1-901(3)(p)). A bite qualifies if, when it happens or later, it involves any of these:

• • A substantial risk of death.
• • A substantial risk of serious permanent disfigurement, like a facial scar.
• • A substantial risk of long-term loss or impairment of a body part, such as a hand that won't grip.
• • Broken bones or fractures.
• • Second- or third-degree burns.

The phrase “or later” matters. A bite that looks like a puncture on day one can turn into a tendon injury or a scar that needs revision surgery. Keep going to follow-up visits, because the record of how the wound healed is part of proving the injury was serious.

When does a Colorado dog owner avoid strict liability?

C.R.S. § 13-21-124(5) lists six situations where the owner is not strictly liable for a bite:

1. 1. The person bitten was unlawfully on public or private property.
2. 2. The bite happened on the owner's property, and it was clearly posted with a “no trespassing” or “beware of dog” sign.
3. 3. A police or military dog was on duty.
4. 4. The person bitten knowingly provoked the dog.
5. 5. The person was a vet worker, groomer, shelter worker, dog handler, trainer, or show judge doing that job.
6. 6. A hunting, herding, farm, ranch, or predator-control dog was working on its owner's land.

Two of those deserve a closer look. “Lawfully on property” includes a mail carrier or meter reader doing their job, an invited guest, and a person on their own land (subsection 4). And provocation must be knowing. A toddler who hugs a dog is not the same as a teenager poking it with a stick, and these fights usually turn on witnesses and the injury pattern.

Can I recover for a dog bite that isn't “serious”?

Yes, through negligence. The statute says nothing in it limits “any other cause of action predicated on other negligence” (C.R.S. § 13-21-124(6)(a)). A negligence claim can reach a smaller bite, and it can also recover pain and suffering, which the strict-liability section does not. You then need to show the owner was careless, for example:

• • Letting the dog run loose against a local leash rule.
• • Ignoring a dog they knew had snapped at people before.
• • Leaving a broken gate or fence unfixed.

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I've cleaned a lot of bite wounds in the ER, and the small ones fooled people most. A dog's tooth drives bacteria deep through a tiny hole, and a hand bite can look fine for a day before it swells. Get it seen, and get it written down.

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How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in Colorado?

Plan on two years from the bite. C.R.S. § 13-80-102(1) sets two years for tort claims and for “all actions for strict liability.” If a city or county dog, or a public worker, was involved, a written notice is due within 182 days of discovering the injury under C.R.S. § 24-10-109. Our statute of limitations guide covers the exceptions for children.

A dog bite claim is often paid through the owner's homeowner's or renter's policy, not out of a neighbor's pocket. Nationally, the average dog-bite claim paid by homeowners insurance cost $65,450 in 2025 (Insurance Information Institute and State Farm, 2026). That is why the first-aid record and the follow-up visits matter so much. If you were bitten in Durango or anywhere in the Four Corners, our dog bite practice, part of our personal injury practice in Durango, can sort out which rule applies. Reach out for a free consultation.