Santa Fe Dog Bite Attorney
A dog attack is a violent incident that can be over in a matter of seconds, yet inflict a lifetime of damage on a victim. As a dog attack survivor in Santa Fe, New Mexico, it is important to understand your legal rights. You may be entitled to financial compensation from the owner or controller of the dog. Contact The Fine Law Firm to start your injury case with a free consultation with an Albuquerque dog bite attorney near you. Our team can help with cases across New Mexico, including Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
Why Hire Our Santa Fe Dog Bite Attorney?
- The Fine Law Firm has deep roots in New Mexico, with more than 40 years in the business of representing injured accident victims. We are locally respected and nationally recognized.
- Our team of personal injury attorneys has achieved outstanding results for past clients, with multiple multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts, including successful dog bite cases.
- Our dog bite injury attorneys in Santa Fe take cases on a contingency fee basis, with $0 charged in legal fees if we do not win a financial award for your dog bite case.
How Can a Santa Fe Dog Bite Lawyer Help?
Countless dog attacks in New Mexico occur due to pet owner negligence. Under New Mexico’s dog bite laws, victims generally have to prove negligence to be eligible for financial compensation from the pet owner’s insurance company. Proving your case is easier with help from an established personal injury lawyer in Santa Fe.
An attorney can visit the scene of the incident to conduct an investigation, which may include contacting the parties involved, obtaining photographs and video footage, and speaking with your doctors for medical evidence. Your lawyer can also hire experts to testify during your claim, if necessary. Your lawyer will do everything possible to optimize the outcome of your case.
Types of Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bite incidents can be violent, with a dog’s teeth and claws inflicting a severe amount of damage on a victim.
Common types of injuries include:
- Lacerations
- Puncture wounds
- Hand and finger injuries
- Facial injuries
- Eye or ear injuries
- Bone fractures
- Soft-tissue damage
- Nerve damage
- Infections and illnesses
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Fatal injuries
Young children and the elderly are especially at risk of suffering critical injuries in dog attacks.
Common Causes of Santa Fe Dog Bite Injuries
While dog attacks can seem random or unprovoked, they are often traced back to one or more preventable causes.
Common issues include:
- Poor dog training or a lack of proper socialization
- Violating a state or local leash or pet ownership law
- Failure to properly restrain a dog
- Allowing a dog to run at large unlawfully
- Failing to keep a dog that has been deemed dangerous contained
- Not properly fencing or securing a dog on private property
- Failing to warn visitors regarding a dog’s vicious propensities
- A dog’s protective or territorial instincts
- Pain, injury or illness, such as rabies
- Children left unsupervised with dogs
If the owner of the dog was negligent, or failed to control the dog with a proper amount of care, this could make you eligible for financial compensation from the pet owner for a related injury.
New Mexico’s Dog Bite Laws
New Mexico does not have a specific dog bite statute. Typically, when a dog bite injury claim is filed, the courts will apply a negligence or one-bite rule to determine liability (legal and financial responsibility). Both of these legal doctrines require the injured victim to prove using evidence that the pet owner or another defendant caused or contributed to the dog attack.
Negligence means that the defendant knew or reasonably should have known about the dog’s potential to bite but failed to take reasonable steps to prevent a foreseeable incident. The one-bite rule asks for evidence that the pet owner was aware of the dog’s aggressive nature because of a previous bite or attack, but did not do anything to protect others from this risk.
Compensation for Santa Fe Dog Bite Victims
A successful dog bite injury claim in Santa Fe could result in financial compensation being awarded to the victim for various economic and noneconomic damages.
Every case is unique, but available compensation may include:
- Medical costs associated with the attack, including hospital visits, surgeries, stitches and rabies shots
- Compensation for permanent disfigurement, scarring or disability caused by the dog attack
- Any personal property or belongings damaged by the dog
- Lost wages and earnings if your injuries affect your ability to work
- Pain, suffering, emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder or a new phobia of dogs
The true value of your dog bite injury claim may be more than an insurance provider initially offers. This is why it is important to contact an attorney about how much your claim is worth.
Steps to Take After Getting Attacked By a Dog in Santa Fe
If you get attacked or bitten by a dog in Santa Fe, taking the right steps immediately can help you protect your health, legal rights and ability to recover financial compensation from the responsible party.
Here’s what you should do:
- Seek immediate medical attention for any injuries. Dog bite injuries often require deep wound cleaning to prevent infection, as well as rabies shots if the dog is not up to date with its vaccinations.
- Identify the dog and its owner. Write down the pet owner’s name, contact information and property insurance details. Property insurance often covers these incidents in New Mexico. Contact the insurance company to file a claim for your injuries and bills as soon as possible.
- Call your local animal control authority in Santa Fe to report the attack. They may order a quarantine of the dog to check for rabies. Putting the incident on record can also help establish a history of the dog being aggressive in case of future claims.
If you are too badly injured to deal with the claims process right away, a dog bite injury lawyer in Santa Fe can handle it for you. This will ensure a fair case outcome without the stress of the legal process.
Contact Us for a Free Dog Bite Injury Case Review in Santa Fe
If you need information or advice about how to hold a pet owner liable for a dog bite injury in Santa Fe, don’t hesitate to contact The Fine Law Firm for a free consultation. We care about our clients and will work hard to achieve your unique case goals. Call us at (505) 494-1646 or contact us online today.