Injured in a Truck Accident in New Mexico? Let Us Put Our Experience to Work for You
Being injured in a truck accident in New Mexico can turn your life upside down, and it may be difficult to obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries from the negligent truck driver and trucking company.
At The Injury & Disability Law Center, we take over the burden of fighting for the settlements our clients deserve so they can recover from their injuries and get their lives back on track after a truck accident. Take advantage of our free consultation to learn about your legal options and how we can assist you and your family.
Types of Cases Our New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyers Handle
While many truck accidents in New Mexico involve semi-trucks, this is not always the case. Many other types of trucks travel on our roads and highways, and their drivers can cause the same types of devastating injuries that occur with big-rigs. Types of truck collision cases our experienced legal team handles include:
- Semi-trucks
- Delivery trucks
- Box trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Tow trucks
- Tanker trucks
- Cement trucks
- Utility trucks
- Rental trucks
- Flatbed trucks
- Commercial buses
New Mexico Truck Wrecks Can Be Very Complicated
If you or a family member are hurt or killed in a truck accident, your claim for compensation will be more complicated than a typical motor vehicle crash claim. Some key ways that truck accidents are cases are different include:
- Regulations. Truckers and trucking companies are required to follow federal and state regulations designed to promote truck safety and prevent accidents. Violations of these rules are often the cause of preventable truck wrecks.
- Value of your claim. Because trucks are big and heavy, truck accident victims are likely to suffer serious, long-term injuries; this can greatly increase the value of the claim. As a result, insurance companies for the truck driver and trucking company are more likely to fight long and hard to deny your claim or try to get you to accept less than what you are entitled to in your settlement.
- More liable parties. Often, fault for a truck accident falls on multiple parties—not just the truck driver. A skilled truck accident lawyer can help identify all of the possible at-fault parties to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Because of these differences, it is crucial to hire an attorney with significant experience representing truck accident victims.
Leading Causes of Truck Accidents in New Mexico
While some of the causes of truck crashes are the same for auto collisions, others are unique to accidents involving trucks. Top causes of truck accidents include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving, such as texting, talking on a cell phone, or looking at a GPS
- Drunk and drugged driving
- Truck driver fatigue—often caused by failure to follow the federal hours of service regulations that limit the number of hours truckers can drive without a break
- Failure to inspect and maintain the truck
- Improper cargo loading
The Serious Nature of Truck Accident Injuries
Many truck accident victims face significant long-term injuries requiring expensive medical treatments and time off work to recover—if they can return to work at all. Common injuries that result from these accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and other brain injuries—some causing permanent brain damage
- Back and neck injuries
- Spinal injuries—including partial or total paralysis
- Limb amputations
- Serious burns causing nerve damage, scarring, and permanent disfigurement
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Death
Parties Who May Be Responsible for Your Truck Accident Injuries
Under New Mexico law, you may be entitled to damages—compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more—if a negligent truck driver caused your wreck. You may also have the right to pursue a claim against other at-fault parties, and it is important to do so because it increases the likelihood that you’ll receive the full settlement you deserve for your injuries. Depending on the specific circumstances of your truck wreck, the liable parties may include the:
- Trucker. The truck driver’s negligent driving practices or violation of federal regulations is often the cause of serious truck wrecks.
- Trucking company. The trucking company may be held liable for the truck driver’s actions under a legal theory known as vicarious liability. In addition, it may have been negligent by encouraging hours of service violations, hiring unqualified drivers, or failing to properly maintain its commercial fleet.
- Shipper. The shipper could be responsible if the cargo was not loaded or secured properly, and this failure caused your crash.
- Repair facility. Many trucking companies have contracts with truck maintenance and repair services. If mechanics at the truck service center failed to identify truck defects or make necessary repairs—and these issues contributed to your accident—the facility could face liability for your injuries.
- Parts and truck manufacturers. If a design or manufacturing defect caused the truck’s brakes, tires, steering, or another component to fail, you may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
Our Truck Accident Lawyers Will Fight for You
Our skilled and dedicated trucking accident lawyers will provide you with the personalized service you expect and the attention to detail and tenacity you need to resolve your truck accident case. We’ll take care of everything from start to finish, including filing your claim, gathering evidence, and negotiating with insurance companies. We can even help coordinate your medical care with providers who do not charge upfront fees if that is a concern for you.
Call Now (575) 300-4000
We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you pay nothing up front. You only owe us attorney fees once we settle your case. To learn more about why we’re the right truck accident law firm for you, call our Roswell office or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation today.