Dogs are often friendly and fun, but they can also be dangerous. When a canine turns vicious, it could potentially cause severe injury to a person. Whether they bite someone on the hand and damage a tendon or cause a disfiguring wound to the cheek, a dog can inflict lasting injuries.
After a dog attacks you or a member of your family, you may have medical bills, damaged property and even lost wages to consider. When might you be able to bring a claim against the dog’s owner or against their insurance coverage?
What does New Mexico law say?
New Mexico does not have a specific dog bite statute, which means that the standard negligence and personal injury rules apply to a dog bite claim. To hold someone responsible for your losses, you will typically need to show either that they broke the law or that they were negligent.
A dog’s owner could be negligent in many different ways. They might have an animal that they know is aggressive and fail to restrain it or to warn visitors. They might let their dog out in the yard without a fence to keep it from attacking passersby. They could even let their dog run off-leash in a park with tragic consequences.
If you need to make an insurance claim or file a personal injury lawsuit after a dog bite attack, you will typically require proof that you suffered financial losses and that the animal’s owner is to blame. Depending on the circumstances, a dog bite attack might lead to complex insurance negotiations or even a lawsuit.
