New Mexico Car Accident Lawyer

A New Mexico man from Clayton was killed in an accident in Dumas Texas when a tractor-trailer veered into his lane on Highway 87 in Moore County. The fatal semi-truck accident highlights an important issue in New Mexico wrongful death claims. There are two issues that require exploration such accidents one being the liability insurance and the other being uninsured motorist coverage. Each such focus requires a distinct analysis of law whether Texas or New Mexico law applies.

Uninsured motorist law arises from contract disputes and as a result, and wrongful death car accident claims, the law of the location of the contract was entered into takes precedent. In simple liability claims, the law from the location of the accident takes center stage. In such claims, it is oftentimes important to consider both jurisdictions to ensure thorough representation and a maximum recovery.

Personal injury attorneys handling wrongful death cases must be prepared to explore all areas of law whether local or out-of-state to ensure the highest possible recovery for their clients.

A recent drunk driver crash in San Juan County, near Waterflow, New Mexico has claimed the life of a Corrales man. The accident occurred when a drunk driver, who, according to police officers was speeding in a shoulder, struck a vehicle that was pulled over with its hazard lights on. Sadly, police were aware of the drunk driver before the accident occurred. Calls had come in to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Department regarding a pickup truck that was speeding on the shoulder of US 64.

Although Sheriff’s deputies attempted to locate the drunk driver, they knew that it was too late when they received word of the accident. The drunk driving accident victims were a man and woman from Corollas New Mexico. Although accident claimed the life of a man, the drunk driver, as well as a passenger in the vehicle that was pulled over have survived.

Initial reports have suggested that the drunk driver was a repeat offender and had pleaded guilty to DWI in 2006. The accident serves as a completely unnecessary reminder regarding New Mexico’s affliction of drunk drivers.

A single vehicle rollover accident outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico has resulted in the death of one man. Remarkably, there appears to be no witnessed the accident as it was discovered by a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s officer on a routine patrol. Upon arriving at the scene, the deputy noticed that both occupants, a man and a woman and had been ejected from the vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee.

Thus far, authorities believe that the woman was driving while the man, now deceased, was a passenger in the Albuquerque area car accident. According to the investigation, it appears that neither accident victim was wearing a seatbelt as both were ejected from the vehicle. One of the unique issues presented by the accident is whether the use, or lack thereof, of a seatbelt can affect recovery in New Mexico accidents.

Regarding this issue, New Mexico law seems to suggest that the failure to use a seatbelt is not admissible as evidence of comparative fault in New Mexico accidents. Comparative fault would suggest that the injured passenger is partially responsible for his or her injury as a result of failing to wear a seatbelt. The investigation has also led authorities to believe that the woman was drinking while driving and they have been intoxicated. As is often times the case in such accidents, the driver’s injuries are reported as minor.

A fiery crash in Taos County, New Mexico near Pilar has claimed the life of two victims and injured many others. According to accounts, there were a total of six vehicles involved in the New Mexico car accident that occurred on Highway 68.  Immediately following the collision, some of the accident victims were transported by helicopter while others were sent to hospitals in Espinola, Taos, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. The accident resulted in a two hour closure of Highway 68 while it was investigated by police.

Multi-vehicle accidents in New Mexico can result in confusion as well as the denial of claims by insurance companies. New Mexico accident law allows for comparative fault. This means that each person involved in an accident is responsible for the same percentage that they were at fault. When there are multiple vehicles involved in New Mexico car accidents, there is more opportunity for insurance companies to point the finger at other people. As the Albuquerque car accident lawyers at the Fine Law Firm are aware, New Mexico multi-vehicle accidents such as the one that occurred in Taos County, often require a familiarity with New Mexico accident law to determine if insurance companies are following mandatory rules or instead attempting to hide behind the confusion.

An SUV full of people was involved in a fatal New Mexico car accident near Socorro, NM. Although accident investigators are still looking into the accident, it is believed that a blown tire contributed to, if not caused, the accident. Such accidents are not terribly common in New Mexico, but when they occur, they often result in serious, if not fatal, injuries.

When such injuries occur, there is no amount of money that can fully compensate the victims and their families, but, that being said, the New Mexico rollover lawyers at the Fine Law Firm have seen such money go a long way toward helping o improve the quality of life for the survivors.

Cases involving New Mexico rollover accidents, as well as those involving defective tires and crashworthiness are generally very technical. It is important for plaintiffs to hire attorneys experienced with these sorts of cases and aware of the nuances involved. Not every single vehicle New Mexico accident will be a viable case, but it is wise to have such cases evaluated by a professional.

A Santa Fe attorney made his way into the news for an unfortunate reason recently. According to new reports, a member of the State Bar, and well-known attorney critically injured a man in downtown Santa Fe. The Santa Fe car accident, a hit-and-run, happened outside a bar. After striking and injuring the accident victim, the Santa Fe attorney fled the scene and was eventually stopped near the convention center, blocks from the scene of the accident.

Also troubling is the fact that the attorney’s passenger is a state police Sergeant assigned to the governor’s security detail. Although this story reflects that no one is above the law, it also unfortunately goes further to cast a negative light on local New Mexico attorneys.

The attorney now faces both criminal and civil charges. Based on his conduct of fleeing the scene, he likely has exposure for punitive damages in the event they are pursued. These damages are generally excluded by liability insurance which may leave the Santa Fe attorney having to take a closer look at some of his assets.

It was an unusual ending to an all too common occurrence in New Mexico.  A drunk driver was being chased by police near Cochiti, New Mexico when he got out of his vehicle thinking it was in park.  However, the driver was drunk and anaware that the vehicle was in reverse and not park.  As a result, the police chase ended when the drunk driver ran over… himself.

Remarkably, the driver sustained only minor injuries and was treated in Santa Fe.  The chase itself will no doubt be played on late nite cable television shows based on outrageous polcie chases.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has been busy smacking around some shiny new cars and recently released the results of its 2009 vehicle crash safety tests.  The tests are divided into various body sizes for the vehicles such as: large cars, midsize cars, minivans, large trucks, small trucks, etc.  The study essentially assumes the worse, that you will be involved in a New Mexico car accident, and from there helps you pick the best possible car to be in.  The study certainly doesn’t prevent accidents, but may be effective at preventing more serious injuries.  

Among the vehicles that seemed to rank the highest, Ford and Volvo.  Now, if only these results could save the entire auto industry.

A driver involved in an Albuquerque car accident fled the scene after injuring two people. The accident happened near I-25 and Paseo Del Norte. The driver caused the accident when he struck a truck carrying an 18 and a 12 year old. As is common with many accidents in which the driver flees the scene, the police found drug paraphernalia in his vehicle.

As a result of running away from the public or the accident, the driver faces additional criminal penalties in addition to the civil liability. As New Mexico car accident attorneys are aware, for the injured accident victims, the driver’s conduct could also trigger the availability of punitive damages if uninsured motorist coverage is an option. Anyone with information relating to the hit and run accident should contact Albuquerque police.

An elderly woman passed away following a single vehicle accident in Rio Rancho. She was the only occupant in the vehicle and police continue to investigate the cause. The Rio Rancho Fire Department was passing by at the time of the accident and responded to the crash almost immediately. They noted that at the time of the accident, rocks and debris were thrown on top of their fire truck as it passed.

The vehicle went through a light pole near Unser and Pine Street. Police are unsure if the woman suffered a medical episode that led to the accident.