Dog Attack Attorney in Las Cruces

Dog Bite Injury? Call Aranda Today!

Were you injured in a dog attack in Las Cruces, New Mexico? You may be able to file a civil lawsuit to obtain damages for your injuries. It is essential to consult with a dog attack attorney as soon as possible. A dog attack attorney can make sure that you receive the money you deserve after an attack. Dog attacks can be serious, even life-threatening. You should not have to pay for a dog owner’s negligence.

The dog attack attorneys at the Aranda Law Firm will fight to make sure that you and your family get the largest possible recovery in your case. If you or a loved one was injured in a dog attack, they will work tirelessly to pursue a claim on your behalf. You should not settle for less than your case is worth.

Contact the Aranda Law Firm today at (575) 386-5100 to schedule a FREE consultation with our dog attack attorney if you were bitten or attacked by a dog in Las Cruces.

What You Need to Know About Dog Attacks

Dogs are man’s best friend, but they are still animals. In the blink of an eye, even the most friendly canine can become aggressive. The dog may be scared or have food aggression, but the fact of the matter is that a dog attack can cause serious, potentially catastrophic injuries. An owner must be held accountable if they either knew that their dog was vicious or failed to take the proper precautions to prevent an attack from happening.

If you are injured in a dog attack, you might be able to obtain compensation for your injuries. However, you need to speak with a dog attack attorney in Las Cruces immediately after the attack to ensure you receive the maximum recovery available.

Dog Bites and Your Rights

If you are harmed by a dog, you have certain rights. Even if you were inside another person’s home when the dog attack occurred, you may still have the right to obtain compensation. Dog owners who are negligent in securing their pets or who fail to follow the proper safety measures regarding their “dangerous dog” may be held liable for any resulting damages.

It is vital to make sure that you document everything that happened before, during, and after the attack. Try to write down where the dog was located before it bit you and what the animal was doing. All of this information may become essential in proving your case.

Dangerous Dogs, Defined

The State of New Mexico defines a dangerous dog as one that has caused “serious injury to a person or domestic animal.” The owner of a dangerous dog that causes harm to another person may be held civilly and criminally liable.

Serious injuries are considered any physical injury that causes:

“Broken bones
Multiple bites
Disfiguring lacerations requiring sutures or reconstructive surgery.”

A dog may also be labeled as a potentially dangerous dog if they cause an injury to a person or pet that is minor or less severe, chase a person or animal in an aggressive manner without provocation, or act aggressively within its fence or enclosure and appear to have the ability to jump over.

Dog Bite Liability in New Mexico

While New Mexico does not have a specific civil statute addressing dog bites or attacks, it recognizes something similar to a “one bite” rule. The state generally imposes liability on an owner when they knew or should have known that their animal had vicious tendencies. A dog owner may also be found liable for negligence if they breached the duty of care owed to the injury victim, resulting in their harm.

Damages in a Dog Attack Case

Damages in a dog attack case may include compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. In general, most damages awarded are compensatory or designed to compensate you for your injuries and other losses.

Damages in a dog attack case may include compensation for:

Medical bills
Lost wages
Loss of future earning capacity
Future medical care and treatment
Pain and suffering

Injuries in a dog attack can be severe. It can end up costing tens of thousands of dollars in medical care and treatment to repair the lacerations caused by a bite. In some instances, the damage may be permanent. A Las Cruces dog attack attorney can help ensure you receive the money you need to cover all of your losses.

Dog Bites and the Statute of Limitations

As with other personal injury cases in New Mexico, you generally have three years from the date of the incident to bring a cause of action. This means that you will have three years from the date of the dog attack to file a claim against a liable party, such as the dog owner. Failure to file a claim within the statute of limitations could mean that your case is denied. Luckily, a trusted Las Cruces dog attack attorney can assist you with this.

What to Do If You Are Attacked by a Dog

If you are attacked by a dog, you need to seek emergency medical treatment immediately. Dogs carry bacteria in their mouths that can cause a serious infection. Failure to seek medical treatment could cause severe complications and may affect your recovery.

Immediately after a dog bite, you need to:

Contact 9-1-1. Let them know that you or your loved one has been injured in a dog attack. The dispatcher can send an ambulance to perform emergency medical treatment if needed.

Obtain information about the owner. In most cases, it is the dog owner who can be held liable for the attack. If you are able, try to obtain information about the owner of the animal.

Ask for eyewitness contact information. If there were any witnesses, ask for them to give you their contact information. Eyewitnesses can help corroborate your version of events.

Take pictures and videos at the scene. It may be helpful to take pictures and videos at the scene, particularly if the dog was not in a secure enclosure when the attack occurred.

Seek medical treatment. All dog bites should be looked at by a trained medical professional. Even if they do not seem severe, they can cause serious infections. The wound should be disinfected and treated by a doctor.

Contact a Las Cruces dog attack attorney. As soon as you are able, contact a dog attack attorney in Las Cruces. A lawyer can help determine if you should pursue a cause of action against an owner or another liable party.

Failing to take action can result in your claim for damages being denied or a reduction in your compensation. Do not wait to seek medical treatment or to contact a dog attack attorney. It could hurt your case.

Injured in a Dog Attack? Contact the Aranda Law Firm

Were you injured in a dog attack in Las Cruces, New Mexico? Contact the Aranda Law Firm today at (575) 386-5100 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. Depending on the circumstances of the case, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

The Las Cruces dog attack attorneys at the Aranda Law Firm are well-versed in handling complex cases. You should not have to worry about how you are going to pay your medical bills after an unprovoked dog attack. Get the legal representation you need to get the results you deserve.