Earlier this month in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a 35-year-old man was the victim of a severe dog bite in his groin when he was bitten by a pit bull that was attacking his eight-year-old daughter. According to an article from Reuters, the 90-pound dog bit the man’s daughter in the face and lacerated her cheek. The man intervened to rescue the girl and was attacked by the dog, which latched onto his groin. The man was rushed to a nearby hospital and treated for severe lacerations and partial detachment of his genitals. The eight-year-old girl was treated at the scene for minor injuries and released.
The Dangers of Dog Attacks
Dog attacks are common in New Mexico, and they are the cause of many hospitalizations every year. The dog involved in this attack had belonged to the man’s grandfather, who had recently passed away. The man was not familiar with this dog, and the family is lucky that the eight-year-old child was not more severely injured in the attack. People should always use caution when they are around dogs that they are not familiar with, especially larger dogs and potentially dangerous breeds like pit bulls.
Small children should never be allowed near dogs that are not known to be safe, and they should be supervised when playing around any animals. Dog bites are extremely painful and more prone to infection than other types of cuts, due to the bacteria present in the animals’ mouths. The scars and permanent injuries that are caused by dog bites can be debilitating and disfiguring to the unfortunate victims of an attack.
Responsibility for the Injury Caused by an Animal
A dog’s owner is legally responsible for the animal and can be held accountable for the pain and injury that is caused if his or her animal attacks another person. Often, the owner’s homeowner’s insurance company will be ultimately the party who is responsible for an attack. A homeowner is generally responsible for injuries to others that are caused by his or her negligence. Since most dogs present some inherent danger, dog owners have a duty to prevent their animals from attacking others. This duty may include adequately training the animal, installing fences around all or parts of a yard, giving verbal or written warnings about a dog, and not allowing the dog to get agitated when others are around.
If an attack occurs without any provocation, it is likely that the owner was negligent, and a New Mexico personal injury lawsuit could be filed to help compensate the victim for the damages from the attack.
Are You the Victim of a Dog Bite?
If you or someone you love has been bitten by somebody else’s dog and injured, the dog’s owner may be responsible for the damages. The New Mexico personal injury lawyers at The Fine Law Firm are experienced in trying cases that result from injuries caused by someone’s negligence, including dog bites. Our dedicated injury attorneys will personally get to know your case, and make sure that you get the best advice and advocacy that we can provide. If you’ve been injured, get the compensation you deserve. Contact us through our website or call 505-889-FINE to set up a free consultation today.
More Blog Posts:
Medical Helicopter Crashes in New Mexico, Killing Three, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, July 28, 2014.
New Mexico State Police Officer Injured by Drunk Driver Late Last Month, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, July 7, 2014.