ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Personal Injury Attorney Assisting Clients with Dog Bite Injuries
Did you know that around 4.5 million dog bites occur annually in the United States? To put that figure another way, approximately 900,000 dog bite victims end up with infections due to their injuries.
Furthermore, around 9,500 people require hospitalization due to the severity of their injuries.
It is important to recognize that almost any dog can bite when it feels threatened and that most dog bite injuries happen to individuals who know the dog’s owner. In other words, stray dogs typically are not the source of most dog bite injuries.
If you or your child recently suffered a severe dog bite injury, it is crucial to hold the owner accountable. You should not have to pay the extensive medical bills and surgical costs involved in recovering from a dog bite.
Statute of Limitations in a New Mexico Dog Bite Claim
It is essential for anyone in New Mexico who has suffered injuries in a dog attack to know that New Mexico law (N.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-8) gives plaintiffs three years from the date of the incident to file a compensation claim. While the statute of limitations gives you three years, the sooner you file your claim, the sooner you may receive compensation.
Who Is At Greatest Risk of a Dog Bite Injury?
While we cannot predict who will face injuries from a dog attack with any specificity, the CDC does provide important information about risk factors. According to the CDC, dogs are most likely to bite children. In terms of sex or gender, men are more likely than women to sustain a dog bite injury.
New Mexico Law on Dog Bites
Some states have specific dog bite statutes, but New Mexico does not. Instead of having a law, New Mexico has what is known as a “one bite” rule. To receive compensation in a dog bite claim, the injury victim has the burden of proving the following:
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The dog exhibited a dangerous propensity or disposition before the bite occurred;
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The dog’s owner knew or should have known that the dog had a dangerous tendency or disposition; and
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The owner knew or should have known that the dog could attack.
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