The legal staff at 505 Legal is here to help dog bite injury victims in Farmington.
If you or a loved one has recently sustained a dog bite injury, get in touch with 505 Legal today for a free consultation and case evaluation from a skilled Farmington dog bite lawyer.
There is no obligation for you to hire the firm or take any legal action. We wish to provide reliable information during this stressful and upsetting time.
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The simple, short answer is no: dog bite victims are not required to hire a lawyer or have any legal representation when they move forward with a Farmington dog bite injury lawsuit. The legal system is willing to allow all victims the opportunity to pursue a lawsuit on their own. But after getting bitten by a dog in Farmington, you should carefully evaluate your options before deciding that you will represent yourself in this legal matter.
The process of a dog bite lawsuit in Farmington is not as simple as it might be in other states. There are additional complexities in New Mexico law related to dog bites that can make these cases more difficult for the victim to successfully litigate.
The wise choice for many dog bite victims is to reach out to 505 Legal, take part in a free consultation, and learn more about the legal merit of your case. If you do have grounds for a lawsuit, know that in nearly all instances, a case that a lawyer handles will result in significantly larger compensation or settlement amounts for the victim than if they litigate the case on their own.
Being attacked and bitten by a dog can be a traumatic experience for anyone. There is also the potential for the injuries to be painful and for the care or treatment related to them to be somewhat unpleasant.
When you are dealing with all of these challenges, the last thing you need is added concerns about the legal ramifications of the incident.
Reach out to 505 Legal today and know that you will get all the facts you need to decide if you are ready to file a Farmington dog bite lawsuit and if you want a 505 Legal dog bite lawyer in Farmington to handle this matter for you.
Dogs are a very popular choice among Farmington residents who want a pet. As such, you could encounter dogs in a wide array of places around town, from walking down the street to parks, shopping areas, or even some restaurants with outdoor dining options.
It is also common to see dogs contained in a yard when you are walking in the community or riding your bicycle.
But the greatest number of dogs that you will encounter in a single location is typically going to be at a dog park.
In Farmington, you will find two locations with spaces specifically for dogs to run and play off-leash. These fenced areas were created to provide a safe setting for dogs and humans to relax and enjoy time where the animals can be free to explore and interact. The locations are:
Both of these parks require the dogs to remain on a leash and under their owner’s control until they are inside the fenced area. The nearby walking trails are pet-friendly. But if you are going to use the trails, the dog must be leashed at all times.
Residents who use these parks need to understand that there are likely to be more dogs here than in other parts of the city. But the owner is still responsible for maintaining control of the animal and ensuring the safety of others who could come into contact with their dog.
New Mexico uses a one-bite rule when defining dog-bite liability. What this means for others is that the owner of a dog is typically not automatically liable for the damage caused by their dog on its first bite. Of course, there can be further investigation into the matter that determines the owner to be liable, but it is not an automatic assumption as it would be in a state that uses a strict liability system.
If you suffer a dog bite and feel that the owner of the dog should be held accountable for your injuries and losses, you or your Farmington dog bite lawyer will need to establish that the owner knew or should have known that the dog was dangerous. Another possibility for establishing a dog owner’s negligence after their animal has bitten a victim is to show that the owner violated a local leash law by allowing the animal to run at large at the time of the bite.
As the victim of a dog bite, you could face some significant medical expenses, lost income, and therapy costs. All of these expenses are sure to add to the stress of this already unpleasant situation. The best way to eliminate the added concern about your finances after your dog bite injury incident is to meet with a 505 Legal Farmington dog bite lawyer to discuss the case valuation process.
You will work together to compile all of your economic damages related to the incident. These are the losses and expenses that have a clear dollar value and can include:
In addition to these expenses and losses, you can include non-economic damages in the calculation process. These are items that will impact the quality of your life after the incident but have no clear dollar value. Working with your 505 Legal dog bite lawyer, you will assign values to these losses and issues to be able to be monetarily compensated for the impact they have on your future. These issues can include:
In New Mexico, a dog bite victim has 3 years from the date of the injury to file their dog bite lawsuit with the court. This time limit is strictly enforced, and once it has expired, the victim is no longer permitted to pursue legal action to recover compensation for the losses and expenses resulting from that particular bite.
Reach out to the staff at 505 Legal if you have further questions about the time remaining for you to take action or your options for a Farmington dog bite lawsuit.
The physical damage or severity of a dog bite can vary greatly depending on the dog’s size and strength. A smaller dog might leave little visible damage to the skin. But there is always the potential for an infection any time a dog’s tooth breaks human skin, and dog saliva is introduced into the human body. Dogs carry many bacteria in their saliva that are harmless to them but can cause serious infections in humans. Seek a medical evaluation for any dog bite for added safety and peace of mind.
Most dog bite infections can be treated with antibiotics and will respond best when they are administered at the first indication of an infection, which can be determined by:
Yes, any dog saliva can carry bacteria that could make a human sick or cause a serious infection. Contact the dog’s owner or the vet who treats the dog to confirm its vaccination status and overall health. If the dog is a stray or you cannot locate the owner, seek medical care immediately, as additional preventive treatment may be needed to ensure your health and safety.
Knowing your legal rights and options for a lawsuit, and securing compensation, are always helpful after any injury. The team at 505 Legal is happy to meet with all Farmington dog-bite injury victims to help them understand their options and the potential outcomes in each scenario. The visit is always free, and you are not obligated to hire 505 Legal, even if you later opt to pursue a lawsuit. Our only purpose is to ensure you have all the facts before making these important choices.
If you do decide to move forward with a dog bite lawsuit, know that a 505 Legal dog bite lawyer will handle the case for you, and you never need to make any out-of-pocket payments for those services.
We only get paid after the matter is resolved, and you have the compensation or settlement funds, including money to cover your legal expenses.
