Truck Accidents in New Mexico: What You Need to Know

If you’ve ever driven on U.S. 285 between Roswell and Carlsbad, or taken NM 529 through the oil fields, you know the feeling: a fully loaded semi or oil tanker pushing up behind you, hugging your bumper like you’re not even there. In southeastern New Mexico, these trucks are a daily reality. And who among us hasn’t had a near miss? I used to drive a small car and my whole car used to shake when one would pass by me.  Sometimes you just have to hang on!

Most of the time, we all share the road without issue. But when something goes wrong—when a truck weighing 80,000 pounds hits a passenger vehicle—the results are devastating. Lives are changed in an instant.

At The Injury and Disability Law Center, I’ve helped many New Mexicans hurt in serious truck crashes. As an experienced truck accident attorney, I’ve recovered millions of dollars for clients by holding trucking companies and insurers accountable. And I’ve walked with families through some of the hardest moments of their lives. Because the reality is when you work with a client injured in a truck accident, you are often working with their entire family because the entire family is often impacted directly or indirectly. And you are not only sorting out legal issues, but you must also work through many areas of life together such as how to handle the emotional trauma. Life is rarely the same after a truck accident.

Let me explain what makes truck accidents so different, why they require a lawyer who knows what they’re doing, and what you should do if it happens to you.

What Is a Truck Accident?

A truck accident involves a commercial motor vehicle—usually a semi-truck, flatbed, oil field hauler, or delivery truck. These rigs can weigh up to 20 or 30 times more than a regular passenger vehicle. When they hit a car, the physics alone predict the outcome. 

I have even represented individuals hit by garbage trucks and snowplows.  Regardless of the type of truck, there is a constant theme – big trucks cause big damages. 

In southeast New Mexico, the risk is even higher. Carlsbad, Hobbs, Artesia, and Roswell see constant heavy truck traffic from the oil and gas industry. Tankers, equipment haulers, and water trucks race against tight deadlines, often on rural roads not built for that kind of volume.

It’s not uncommon for drivers to be fatigued, under pressure, or poorly trained. And when that leads to a crash, the consequences are life-altering.

Why Truck Accidents Are Different from Car Accidents

This might seem like an obvious answer, but there’s more to the differences than many people realize. Truck accidents are different from start to finish: in the injuries, in the law, in the insurance, and in the kind of investigation required. So, let’s talk about some of the differences. 

The Injuries Are More Severe and Often Permanent

When you’re hit by a 40-ton vehicle, the injuries are almost always serious. I’ve represented clients who suffered:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord damage
• Crushed limbs
• Crushed sternums and other bones
• Burns
• Long-term disabilities (since we also have a Social Security disability practice at our law office, we have helped some of our former truck accident clients file for disability when they were unable to work). 

Some will never work again. Some face lifelong medical treatment. And for others, the crash ends in tragedy. 

There is often tremendous pain, suffering, and emotional trauma as well. Even when the physical injuries aren’t catastrophic, the emotional toll of a truck accident can be overwhelming. Many of my clients have suffered serious emotional trauma after a collision with a semi or oil field truck.

I’ve had clients who couldn’t drive for months afterward. Some suffered from nightmares, anxiety, panic attacks, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These are real injuries.  

That’s why pain and suffering damages are often higher in truck accident cases. The sheer fear, helplessness, and long-term emotional disruption caused by these crashes can leave lasting scars, even when bones heal. The emotional injuries can be just as tough to heal from as the physical injuries.  

As your attorney, I make sure those experiences aren’t overlooked or undervalued. I have fought for my clients to be compensated fairly for these types of injuries.   

Career-Ending Injuries and Future Lost Wages

One of the most devastating aspects of truck accident injuries is their impact on your career. Many clients can no longer return to work—or must give up careers they’ve spent decades building.

I represented a woman who was severely injured in a truck accident and could no longer return to her lucrative profession. It wasn’t just the injury—it was the end of everything she had worked toward. We brought in economic experts to calculate what her lost future earnings would be, including promotions, bonuses, and benefits. We were able to recover significant compensation to help her and her family move forward financially.

Losing your ability to work is a terrifying reality. It creates not only economic strain but emotional distress. I’ve helped many clients secure their futures after their careers were cut short.  

The Insurance Is Bigger But So Is the Fight

Most commercial trucks carry at least $750,000 to $1 million in liability coverage. Some have much more.  There are regulations that require commercial trucks to carry insurance at these levels, which is much higher than most personal auto policies.  But don’t let that fool you, the insurance companies have teams of lawyers and adjusters trained to minimize payouts.

They do this by attempting to shift liability (fault) to you as much as possible because New Mexico is a comparative fault state which means percentages of fault can be apportioned to each driver.  When damages are significant, even shifts of a few percentages matter.  Everything becomes a battle. 

They often send investigators to the crash scene before your car is even towed. They’ll gather evidence, speak to witnesses, and build a defense right away. That’s why you need a legal team doing the same thing for you. 

We have a team of experts and accident reconstructionists that we work with on our truck accident cases that use the latest tools in advanced technology and resources to analyze crash scenes, preserve key evidence, and build a clear, fact-based case on your behalf. Crucial evidence you need to prove your right to compensation for your injuries in a truck accident—such as black box data, driver logs, and inspection records—can be lost or destroyed if not secured quickly. Acting fast gives your legal team the best chance of building a strong claim before that vital proof disappears.

There Are Strict Safety Rules Truckers Must Follow

Truck drivers and their employers must comply with both federal and state safety regulations, including:

• Hours-of-Service rules – to prevent driver fatigue
• Vehicle inspections and maintenance logs
• Drug and alcohol testing
• Driver qualification standards
• Load securement and weight limits

If any of these rules are broken, it can become a powerful piece of your case. But it takes an experienced truck accident lawyer to uncover those violations and use them effectively because companies that violate these types of safety laws are clever in how they conceal and hide violations. 

Multiple Parties May Be Liable

Truck accident claims often involve more than just the driver. Depending on the facts, we may pursue claims against:

• The trucking company
• A maintenance contractor
• The company that loaded the truck
• A part manufacturer
• A logistics or leasing company

That’s why truck cases are more complex than typical car crashes and why they demand a skilled legal strategy.

What If a Loved One Was Killed in a Truck Accident?

Tragically, many truck crashes result in fatalities. The size and speed of these vehicles make survival less likely, especially for those in smaller passenger cars.

If you’ve lost a spouse, parent, child, or other family member in a trucking accident, you may have the right to bring a wrongful death claim. This type of lawsuit allows surviving family members to seek compensation for:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical bills prior to death
• Lost financial support and benefits
• Loss of companionship and emotional suffering
• Pain and suffering of the deceased
• Value of life damages

These cases are always difficult, but I’ve helped many New Mexico families hold those at fault accountable for the death of a loved one. It won’t undo the loss, but it can bring financial security and a sense of justice. 

What to Do After a Truck Accident in New Mexico

If you or someone you love is involved in a truck crash whether near Roswell, Carlsbad, or anywhere in southeastern New Mexico, here’s what to do:

1. Get Medical Attention Immediately – Even if you feel okay, some injuries take time to show up.
2. Call an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer Right Away – Time is critical. Important evidence like driver logs, black box data, and vehicle maintenance records can disappear fast.
3. Don’t Speak to the Trucking Company or Their Insurer – Let your lawyer do the talking.
4. Take pictures and video at the scene. 
5. And DO NOT post on social media about your accident or anything involving it.  Insurance companies love to use that against you. 

These items only scratch the surface of what you should do (and not do), but these things will help protect you. Focus on getting help – medically and legally. 

Why You Need a Lawyer Who Knows Truck Accident Law

These cases are not for generalists. Trucking companies and their insurers are prepared, aggressive, and determined to avoid liability.

At The Injury and Disability Law Center, we’ve handled truck accident cases across Roswell, Carlsbad, Artesia, Hobbs, and the surrounding areas. We know the oil field traffic. We know the highways. And we know how to investigate, document, and fight these cases.

We’ve recovered millions of dollars for New Mexicans injured by reckless or negligent trucking operations. We work with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and economists to fully understand your losses—and demand what you’re owed.

You can see a few of our recent truck accident cases:

$2 Million For Client Involved in T-bone Collision with Tractor Trailer:

$1,200,000 Recovered For The Family of a Man Killed in a Rollover Truck Wreck:

$1 Million Recovered for Client Injured in Truck Accident:

What We Do for You

When you hire us after a truck crash, here’s what we take care of:

• Preservation of evidence – including black box data, video footage, and inspection logs
• Thorough investigation of all responsible parties
• Expert analysis of career loss, future medical needs, and life care costs
• Handling all communication with insurers so you can focus on healing
• Aggressive negotiation and litigation, if needed, to recover the full value of your claim

And if your case involves a wrongful death, we’ll walk family members through every step with compassion and strength. If it reaches that point, there are a lot of matters to sort through, many of which we help with that have nothing to do with the law. But we know how important it is to help walk families through this difficult chapter in their lives. 

Let’s Talk

Truck accidents are life changing. But you don’t have to face it alone.

If you were injured or if you lost someone you love in a truck crash in or near Roswell, Carlsbad, or anywhere in New Mexico, we can help. Call us today for a free consultation. You don’t pay us unless we recover money for you.

Let us carry the legal burden—so you can focus on putting your life back together.

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.