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When someone gets hit by an 18-wheeler or commercial truck, their first thought is usually: “This is serious.” But their second thought is often based on something they’ve heard — not something that’s actually true.
Truck accidents in New Mexico: what you need to know is that they’re nothing like ordinary car crashes. In my 17 years of representing truck accident victims, I’ve handled truck accident cases across New Mexico, and I’ve seen how common myths can create confusion and lead people to make costly mistakes. Waiting too long, trusting the wrong insurance representative, or simply assuming the law works a certain way can hurt your chances of a full recovery — which is why consulting experienced truck accidents lawyers early on can make a major difference.
So let’s see if we clear up some of these misconceptions. Here are five of the biggest myths we hear about truck accidents, and the truth behind each one.
Myth #1: It’s just like a car accident, only bigger.
It’s easy to assume that a truck crash is just a larger version of a regular car wreck. After all, both involve vehicles, injuries, and insurance claims. But truck accidents are a different animal entirely.
First, you’re not just dealing with the driver. You’re dealing with a trucking company that has legal teams, corporate insurance policies, and protocols designed to reduce their financial exposure from day one. That means the moment the crash happens, they’re already working to protect their own interests.
Second, trucking is a federally regulated industry. Drivers and companies must comply with strict rules on things like driver hours, maintenance, drug testing, and vehicle weight. Violations of these rules often play a critical role in the case, but they’re easy to miss if you don’t know what to look for.
What seems like a straightforward rear-end collision can actually involve multiple legal layers, complex data, and specialized evidence that make these cases far more technical and harder to resolve fairly.
Add in the fact that damages are usually higher in truck cases, and you can see quickly why trucking companies and their insurers work hard to limit their exposure.
Myth #2: The insurance company will take care of me.
After a crash, the trucking company’s insurance adjuster may call you quickly, sounding helpful and professional. They might say they want to “move things along” or that they’re trying to “get you compensated.”
But it’s important to remember who they work for.
The adjuster is hired by the trucking company’s insurer. Their job is not to help you, it’s to limit the amount of money their company pays. One of their key strategies is to get you to settle early, before the full extent of your injuries and losses are known.
We’ve seen this many times. A person accepts a small settlement because it sounds fair at the time, only to later face mounting medical bills, chronic pain, and lost wages with no ability to reopen the claim. The adjuster may have been polite and professional, but their goal was to close the file as cheaply as possible.
You need someone who represents you — someone who can evaluate your claim based on your actual damages, not the trucking company’s bottom line.
The truck pictured here is what my client’s pickup looked like after an 18-wheeler pulled out in front of him. You do not want to rely on an insurance company to “take care of you” after you suffer injuries that result from collisions like this one.
Myth #3: If the driver admits fault, I don’t need a lawyer.
It might seem like an open-and-shut case. The truck driver says, “I’m sorry, it was my fault,” or the police report clearly shows they were to blame. That’s helpful, but it’s not enough.
Truck accident claims often involve more than just the driver. Liability can extend to the trucking company, the freight loader, a maintenance contractor, or even the truck’s manufacturer. One of these parties might deny involvement or shift blame to another, creating a web of finger-pointing that delays or derails your recovery.
Even if liability is admitted, the next battle is over damages. The trucking company may argue that your injuries aren’t as bad as you say, or that they were pre-existing. They may challenge your treatment, dispute your lost income, or minimize your pain and suffering.
Having a lawyer who knows how to prove causation and calculate long-term damages is critical. We’ve seen cases where the client got full value only because we were able to present detailed medical records, expert reports, and financial analysis to show the true impact of the crash.
Myth #4: I feel okay now, so I probably don’t need to go to the doctor.
In the hours or even days following a serious crash, many people don’t feel intense pain. The body produces adrenaline during trauma, which can mask symptoms. This can lead someone to believe they weren’t seriously hurt, so they delay or skip medical treatment altogether.
Unfortunately, this decision can come back to haunt you.
Neck and back injuries, soft tissue damage, concussions, and even internal injuries often don’t become fully symptomatic until several days later. If you don’t get checked out and documented early, the insurance company will likely claim that your injuries aren’t related to the crash — or that they must not be very serious.
We recently had a client that was in a truck accident that thought her injuries were just soft tissue, minor injuries. Even her doctor thought that initially. However, with time her symptoms became more significant. We encouraged her to get a second opinion, and it turns out she had ligament tears that were initially not obvious. These further examinations revealed she needed surgery. It is always best to get checked out and if you are still having issues, consider getting another medical opinion.
For these reasons we always advise clients to get a full medical evaluation right away, even if they feel fine. Not only does it protect your health, but it creates the paper trail needed to prove your injuries were caused by the accident.
Myth #5: I can wait a while before deciding what to do.
This is one of the most damaging myths we hear, and it’s one of the most common.
The trucking company is already at work behind the scenes. From the moment the crash is reported, they’re coordinating with their legal team, investigating the scene, preserving evidence favorable to them, and sometimes even deploying crash reconstruction experts.
Meanwhile, crucial evidence you need to prove your right to compensation for your injuries in a truck accident may begin to disappear. Black box data can be overwritten. Driver logs can go missing. Dashcam footage may not be saved. Witnesses forget details. Skid marks fade.
We act immediately and start our own investigation. The sooner we’re involved, the better chance we have to secure the documents, footage, and data needed to hold the trucking company accountable.
Waiting too long can make a strong case difficult —or even impossible — to prove.
Conclusion
Truck accident claims are filled with myths. They seem like they should work one way, but the reality is very different.
The injuries are more serious. The companies fight harder. The evidence is more technical. And the mistakes that can derail your case often happen early, sometimes before you even know you need help.
At The Injury and Disability Law Center, we understand how trucking companies operate, how the law applies, and what it takes to get a fair result. If you’re feeling unsure or overwhelmed after a crash, you don’t have to go it alone.
Our dedicated personal injury team here at The Injury and Disability Law Center is here to help you. Schedule your free initial consultation today by calling our office at 575-300-4000, starting a chat, or filling out our online form.
