New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyers

Your First Steps After a Truck Accident

Got hit by an 18-wheeler? Your health comes first. Move to safety if you can. Call 911 immediately. Tell them a commercial truck was involved.

Don't refuse medical treatment at the scene. Adrenaline masks serious injuries. Internal bleeding and brain trauma show symptoms hours later. Get checked by doctors right away.

Follow all medical advice after the crash. Keep every appointment. Document all treatments. Your medical records prove injury severity later.

Preserve Critical Evidence

Truck accident scenes disappear fast. Take photos of everything before vehicles move. Capture truck damage, skid marks, and road conditions. Get the truck's DOT number and company name.

Collect witness contact information immediately. People leave accident scenes quickly. Their statements prove what really happened. Write down what witnesses saw while memory stays fresh.

Don't sign anything from trucking company representatives. They arrive at crash scenes fast. Their goal is protecting the company. Talk to your lawyer first.

Report the Accident Properly

Call New Mexico State Police for crashes on highways. Contact local police for city accidents. Get the official police report number. Request a copy of the report later.

Report the crash to your insurance company. Stick to basic facts only. Don't admit fault or speculate about causes. Save detailed discussions for your attorney.

New Mexico requires accident reports for crashes causing injury or property damage over $500. File your report within the required timeframe.

Why You Need a New Mexico Truck Accident Attorney

Commercial trucks follow different rules than regular cars. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets nationwide trucking standards. New Mexico adds its own state regulations on top.

Your lawyer knows these complex federal and state requirements. They investigate whether companies violated safety rules. Regulation violations strengthen your compensation claim significantly.

Trucking companies have teams of lawyers protecting their interests. You need equal legal firepower fighting for your rights.

Complex Liability and Multiple Parties

Truck accidents involve way more defendants than car crashes. The driver, trucking company, maintenance contractor, and cargo loader all share potential liability. Truck manufacturers and parts companies can be responsible too.

Each party has separate insurance coverage and legal teams. Your attorney identifies all liable parties. Going after multiple defendants maximizes your compensation recovery.

Don't let one party blame another while you get nothing. Expert lawyers hold everyone accountable for their role.

Severe Injuries and Catastrophic Damages

Trucks weigh 80,000 pounds fully loaded. Passenger vehicles weigh 4,000 pounds average. This massive size difference causes devastating injuries.

Truck accident victims face traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and crushed limbs. These catastrophic injuries mean lifelong medical care. Your compensation must cover decades of future treatment.

Standard car accident settlements won't cut it here. Specialized truck accident attorneys fight for what you truly need.

Understanding Commercial Truck Accident Cases

Jackknife crashes happen when trailer swings perpendicular to the cab. The truck forms a dangerous V-shape blocking multiple lanes. These accidents often involve several vehicles at once.

Rollovers occur when trucks take curves too fast. Top-heavy trailers tip over onto their sides. Cargo spills across highways creating additional hazards.

Driver error, brake failure, and improper loading cause these crashes. Your lawyer determines the root cause through expert investigation.

Rear-End and Underride Collisions

Trucks need much longer stopping distances than cars. Tailgating trucks can't brake fast enough. Rear-end collisions crush smaller vehicles completely.

Underride accidents happen when cars slide beneath truck trailers. Inadequate rear guards fail to stop vehicles. These crashes cause severe head and chest injuries.

Federal underride guard standards exist for protection. Your attorney checks whether guards met safety requirements.

Cargo and Loading Incidents

Improperly secured cargo becomes deadly during transport. Shifting loads cause trucks to jackknife or roll. Falling cargo strikes following vehicles directly.

Loading companies must follow strict cargo securement regulations. Overweight trucks handle poorly and brake slowly. Unbalanced loads make trucks unstable.

Your lawyer investigates loading procedures and weight tickets. They determine if cargo violations contributed to your crash.

Investigating Your Truck Accident Case

Federal law limits truck drivers to 11 hours driving per 14-hour workday. Drivers must take 10-hour rest breaks between shifts. Weekly limits cap total driving hours too.

Trucking companies pressure drivers to falsify logs. Exhausted drivers cause preventable crashes. Hours of Service violations prove negligence directly.

Your attorney subpoenas driver logs before companies destroy them. These records reveal dangerous violation patterns.

Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection Records

Commercial trucks require regular maintenance and safety inspections. Federal regulations mandate specific inspection schedules. Companies must document all maintenance work performed.

Brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering problems cause crashes. Skipped maintenance and ignored defects kill people. Maintenance records prove company negligence.

Your lawyer demands complete maintenance files immediately. Companies hide or destroy evidence if you wait.

Electronic Logging Devices and Black Box Data

Modern trucks have Electronic Logging Devices tracking driving hours. Black boxes record speed, braking, and other critical data. This technology provides undeniable crash evidence.

ELD and black box data shows exactly what happened. The information reveals speeding, hard braking, and sudden swerves. Companies can't argue with electronic evidence.

Your attorney preserves this data before it gets overwritten. Trucking companies won't voluntarily hand over damaging information.

The Legal Process for Truck Accidents in New Mexico

Your lawyer files claims against every responsible party. The driver's employer typically carries $1 million minimum insurance. Additional parties bring more coverage into play.

New Mexico follows comparative negligence rules for accident cases. You can recover damages even if partially at fault. Your compensation reduces by your fault percentage only.

Multiple insurance policies mean complex negotiations. Your attorney handles all communications and demands.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Compliance

FMCSA regulations govern interstate trucking operations throughout New Mexico. Companies must comply with federal safety standards. Violations provide direct evidence of negligence.

Your lawyer reviews FMCSA inspection reports and violation history. The agency maintains public records on trucking companies. Past violations show dangerous patterns of behavior.

Federal compliance failures strengthen your case significantly. Juries take safety violations very seriously.

Settlement Negotiations and Litigation

Most truck accident cases settle before trial. Insurance companies want to avoid big jury verdicts. Your attorney negotiates maximum compensation through settlement talks.

Some cases require filing lawsuits to get fair offers. Your lawyer prepares for trial while negotiating settlements. Trucking companies settle higher when you're ready to sue.

New Mexico gives you three years to file truck accident lawsuits. Don't wait too long to start the process.

Factors That Determine Truck Accident Compensation

Catastrophic injuries generate higher compensation awards. Permanent disabilities require lifetime care and support. Your settlement must cover all future medical expenses.

Past medical bills get reimbursed in full. Future treatment costs get calculated by medical experts. Surgery, rehabilitation, and adaptive equipment all factor in.

Don't settle before knowing your full injury extent. Your lawyer waits until doctors establish maximum medical improvement.

Lost Income and Future Earning Capacity

Truck accident injuries often prevent returning to work. Your settlement includes all lost wages and benefits. Future earning capacity matters even more than past income.

Permanent disabilities reduce lifetime earning potential dramatically. Economic experts calculate your lost career earnings. This compensation helps support your family long-term.

Young victims lose decades of potential income. Your attorney fights for full economic justice.

Trucking Company Insurance Coverage

Commercial trucks carry much higher insurance than regular vehicles. Federal minimums require $750,000 for general freight hauling. Hazardous materials carriers need $5 million coverage minimum.

Large trucking companies often carry excess umbrella policies. Multiple policies stack for maximum available compensation. Your lawyer identifies every insurance source possible.

Don't accept quick lowball settlement offers. Let your attorney uncover all available insurance first.

ConsumerShield Connects You With The Best New Mexico Truck Accident Attorneys

Truck accidents demand specialized legal knowledge and resources. Federal regulations and multiple liable parties create complex cases. You need attorneys who handle truck crashes every day.

ConsumerShield matches you with experienced New Mexico truck accident lawyers. Our network includes attorneys who've recovered millions for victims. They know FMCSA regulations and investigation techniques inside out.

Getting connected takes just minutes through our simple process. We evaluate your case and find the right attorney. You pay nothing unless your lawyer wins compensation.

Don't face trucking companies and their lawyers alone. Get expert legal help fighting for maximum compensation. Contact ConsumerShield today to find your New Mexico truck accident attorney.