New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer

What Does a Personal Injury Attorney Do?

A personal injury lawyer helps people who have suffered injuries in accidents caused by another party’s conduct. They accomplish this by assessing the claim during a consultation and investigating how the accident occurred. This investigation can involve speaking with eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, as well as gathering photos, medical records and anything else that shows how the incident happened.

Once they have put together a strong case demonstrating that the other party was negligent or wrongful in their conduct, a New Mexico personal injury lawyer can begin negotiating with insurance companies. The goal is to obtain a settlement. If that’s not possible, then a personal injury lawyer can take the case to court.

What to Look for When Choosing New Mexico Personal Injury Attorneys

When deciding on the right New Mexico personal injury lawyer to hire for your claim, look for someone with experience in the exact type of claim you’re filing. Some attorneys could be well-versed in medical malpractice, for example, but may not have as much experience with premises liability cases.

Make certain that they have helped clients receive substantial settlements or jury verdicts in the past. If you see a lot of small settlement amounts, that could point to an attorney who simply chooses to accept fast offers.

You should also ensure they work on a contingency fee basis, and it’s important to be able to get in contact with them quickly when needed.

Common Types of Personal Injury Claims Filed in New Mexico

Generally, if you’re injured because of another party’s misconduct, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim. Some claim types, however, occur more frequently in New Mexico than others.

Car Accidents

In 2023, there were 42,836 crashes on public roadways in New Mexico. Most of these accidents occurred because of driver inattention, but speeding and intoxication also played a role.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents

Vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists also suffer their share of accidents. In 2023, pedestrian fatalities rose to 108, which is one of the highest levels the state has seen in years. Cyclists were involved in 302 crashes throughout New Mexico.

Truck Accidents

Semitrucks can cause serious collisions because of the amount of force they exert on impact. On an average day in New Mexico in 2023, a semitruck crash occurred every three hours.

Motorcycle Accidents

Bikers have less protection than other operators of motor vehicles. Even if they wear helmets and safety gear, they can still be flung from their motorcycles or suffer crushing injuries.

Slip and Fall Accidents

If you slip and fall on another party’s property, you can file a claim against them for negligence when they knew of the potential danger but did nothing about it. This can occur if there are spills on the floor, uncleared ice or broken steps.

Medical Malpractice

A medical professional who breaches their duty of care to provide treatment that matches the accepted standard can be held liable for medical malpractice.

Dog Bites

In New Mexico, the dog’s owner is not immediately liable after a bite. You must demonstrate that the owner knew the animal was dangerous and did nothing to prevent the bite. This is called the “one-bite rule.”

Workplace Accidents

Accidents that occur at your place of work often require you to file workers’ compensation claims to cover medical expenses and lost wages. If third parties contributed to the accident, you can file a lawsuit against them.

Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?

To have a valid personal injury claim, you must demonstrate that the other party’s conduct was negligent or intentionally wrongful, as in instances of assault. Negligence means showing that they owed you a duty of care that they breached, causing losses for which you can be compensated.

When Should I Hire a Personal Injury Law Firm?

You should hire a personal injury law firm as soon as possible after an accident. It’s especially vital to do so if there are multiple parties involved, there are disputes about fault or your losses are catastrophic.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in New Mexico?

In most cases, the statute of limitations in New Mexico is three years from the date of the injury. There may be exceptions, however, so it’s vital to hire a New Mexico personal injury lawyer immediately to protect your claim.

Common Damages in Personal Injury Cases

You can receive both economic and non-economic damages in a personal injury case.

Medical Bills

Economic damages can cover all of your medical expenses, including future costs.

Property Damage

If property, such as vehicles or electronics, was damaged, you can receive compensation for that, too.

Lost Income

If you had to miss work to receive treatment, economic damages can cover your lost wages.

Lost Earning Capacity

When you suffer injuries that are so severe you can’t return to work, economic damages can cover your loss of earning capacity, too.

Pain and Suffering

Non-economic damages address the physical and emotional distress the injuries caused via pain and suffering compensation.

Loss of Consortium

If a loved one dies in an accident, you can receive compensation for loss of support and companionship.

Serving Personal Injury Clients Across New Mexico

At ConsumerShield, we connect injured people with New Mexico personal injury lawyers in cities across the state, such as:

• Albuquerque
• Las Cruces
• Clovis
• Rio Rancho
• Santa Fe
• Farmington
• Roswell
• Grants
• North Valley
• Belen
• Ruidoso

These are only some of the cities where we can provide assistance.

Connect With Experienced New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyers

If you have been injured because of another party’s conduct, we can help at ConsumerShield. We can connect you with qualified local lawyers to assist you through your legal challenges. Contact us to get started today.