Learn How to Avoid Dog Bites in New Mexico

Animal attacks, especially dog bites, can leave a victim with psychological damage for life. A victim will generally have facial scars, since the face is an attacking dog's primary target.

Recent reports have shown that children are the most frequent victims of dog bites, followed by senior citizens and Postal Service carriers. The numbers are astounding, showing almost 3,000 documented dog bite injuries to mail carriers in 2007; in recent years, however, the Postal Service experienced worse numbers, including almost 7,000 dog bite injuries in one year.

Due to the increase in dog attacks, the United States Postal Service teamed up with the Humane Society to educate people on how to prevent dog bites and protect themselves if an animal attack occurs. Tips that may help avoid a dog bite include:

• Do not approach a stray or unfamiliar dog
• Do not pet a dog unless it sniffs you first
• Roll into a ball and stay still if you are knocked down by a dog
• Do not look a dog directly in the eye or hold eye contact for too long
• Do not turn around and run away from a dog
• Do not try to take food or a bone away from a dog

Dog bites and attacks occur frequently, and according to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) approximately 4.5 million people suffer from animal attacks each year. Numbers indicate that one in five dog bite victims requires medical attention, and according to the CDC about 31,000 people had reconstructive surgery in 2006 as a result of dog bites.

Some of the breeds of dogs that are most prone to attacking are Pit Bulls, Chow-Chows, Akitas, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, and Wolf-Dog mixes. A CDC study found that Pit Bulls are the breed responsible for approximately 60 percent of dog bite fatalities.

If you do become the victim of a New Mexico dog attack, try to identify the dog, take pictures if possible, and look to see whether any witnesses observed the attack. If anyone witnessed the animal attack, get their names and phone numbers. If you are hurt, seek medical attention and contact an experienced New Mexico dog bite attorney.

New Mexico dog bites can cause nerve damage, pain, and scarring. Animal attacks can also cause emotional trauma for the victim and can lead to lifelong psychological damage. If you or a loved one have been attacked by an animal or suffered from a dog bite in New Mexico, contact the law firm of Keller & Keller. We have been representing dog bite victims since 1936, and we have years of experience with these types of cases. Call today and speak with a knowledgeable New Mexico dog bite injury lawyer at (505) 938-2300 and receive a free legal evaluation.

We represent injured victims in the cities of Albuquerque, South Valley, Rio Rancho, Corrales, Bernalillo, Placitas, Tijeras, Los Lunas, Edgewood, Moriarty, Santa Fe, Los Cruces, Roswell, Silver City, Alamogordo, and in the counties of Bernalillo County, Sandoval County, Valencia County, Santa Fe County, Dona Ana County, and Torrance County and throughout New Mexico.

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