If you have been injured in an accident, you may feel overwhelmed and have many questions. You’re probably wondering how you’ll pay your medical bills, whether the insurance company is offering a fair payment or a lowball settlement, and what you need to do to successfully navigate the legal process.
Uncertainties about your path to physical and financial recovery can be overwhelming, especially if you’re struggling with a serious injury. Fortunately, a Las Cruces personal injury lawyer from Zinda Law Group can provide the answers you need to understand the legal process and the representation you need to recover maximum compensation.
About Personal Injury Law in Las Cruces, NM
Personal injury is a catch-all term for all injuries one can sustain in an accident caused by another party. Every personal injury claim has two basic parts: liability and damages. If you were involved in an auto collision, a Las Cruces car accident lawyer could help you prove that the other driver is liable, or in other words, responsible for your damages.
Damages are the forms of compensation you could receive from a successful personal injury claim. In other words, damages are the financial remedies the liable party owes you for your losses.
For example, if you get injured in an auto collision, and your attorney proves that the other motorist caused the crash, then the offending driver may have to pay for your treatment expenses, property damage costs, and other losses.
Proving Liability
To prove liability, a personal injury lawyer from Las Cruces must show that the person who caused the injury owed a duty of care to the victim. A duty of care is a legal responsibility that all people have to act in a way that prevents others from suffering predictable harm.
However, this is only the first step in proving liability. To fully establish that the other party should be held liable for your losses, your attorney must prove all of the following elements:
- The at-fault party owed you a legal duty of care.
- The at-fault party breached their legal duty.
- You were injured as a result of the at-fault party’s actions.
- The at-fault party’s breach of the duty of care caused your injury and financial losses.
Our team can use evidence and your testimony to establish the elements listed above. Once we’ve done so, your case will likely result in a payment that’s large enough to cover all of your accident-related expenses and losses.
Injuries We Can File a Claim for in Las Cruces
Accidents can happen at any time and place, making it possible for you to suffer several different injuries with varying degrees of severity. Fortunately, a Las Cruces personal injury attorney can seek compensation for nearly any health condition resulting from an accident.
No matter how badly you’ve been hurt, our team can demand the financial support you need to afford current, ongoing, and future treatment expenses for the following injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Broken bones
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Burns
- Internal bleeding
- And more
No matter the type of accident you suffered, if your injuries were caused by the negligence of another person or company, our team can help. We have experience handling cases big and small and can help you get back on your feet after an accident.
What to Do After Being Injured in an Accident in Las Cruces
If you’ve been injured in a car wreck, workplace accident, truck collision, or another type of incident, there are a few steps you can take to ensure your case goes as smoothly as possible. Before your reach out to one of our personal injury lawyers from Las Cruces, take the following actions:
Seek Medical Attention
If you’ve been hurt in an incident, get checked out by a medical provider ASAP. Do not think you don’t need to go to the hospital because you aren’t in serious pain. The shock and adrenaline from an accident can often mask the pain from severe and life-threatening conditions.
Going to an urgent care facility or hospital would be best to ensure you are healthy. It’s common for accident victims to think they’re fine after an accident, only to suffer complications from an injury later because they did not get the proper care.
Report the Accident
After an accident, you should report what happened to the police. The police will conduct an investigation and write an official incident report. Their report may include information about who was at fault, which will be key if you decide to file a claim.
Document the Accident
When you file a personal injury claim, you must prove that the at-fault party’s careless or negligent actions caused the accident, your injuries, and losses. Consequently, you must present evidence that the negligent party was indeed negligent.
To show this, you must support your claim with hard facts and evidence. Photos, testimony from witnesses, and other forms of evidence can be used to bolster your claim. You should also keep any medical bills and other records of expenses you incurred.
If your injuries have stopped you from going to work, you’ll want to gather your previous paychecks, as your attorney can use them to recover compensation for your lost wages.
Witness testimony is often important in personal injury cases.
If anyone saw the accident, you should ask them for their names and contact information. If any witnesses took photos or videos of the incident, ask them for copies. Make sure to hand any photos you or others took over to your personal injury lawyers from Las Cruces so they can use them as evidence.
CASE RESULTS
Why It’s Important to Act Quickly If You Have a Personal Injury Claim
If you think you may have a personal injury claim, it is essential to act quickly for several reasons, including:
- The statute of limitations
- The availability of evidence
- The predatory practices of insurance companies
Statute of Limitations for New Mexico
If you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit in Las Cruces, you have three years from the date of the injury to do so. It is important that you file before the three-year deadline passes because a court will not hear your case if you file past the deadline.
However, there can be exceptions to this rule, so it is always smart to consult an attorney. An experienced personal injury lawyer can review your case and determine the deadline that applies to you.
Evidence Disappears
It’s crucial to act quickly because evidence that can help prove your case has a tendency to disappear over time. Things get lost. People or witnesses move away, forget important details or even pass away. A personal injury attorney can help ensure you collect all the critical pieces of evidence for your case as soon as possible.
Insurance Companies
Most personal injury lawsuits look to collect damages from the insurance company of the person who caused the harm. Insurance companies are businesses with shareholders, and they try as hard as they can to avoid paying out settlements because it impacts their financial bottom line.
If you delay hiring a personal injury attorney, you could be giving the insurance company more time to get their defensive strategy in place, which reduces the likelihood of the best possible settlement.
How to File a Las Cruces Personal Injury Claim
If you’ve never been hurt in an accident before, you may not know how to get started on your claim. Fortunately, our personal injury attorneys from Las Cruces make it incredibly easy to start a claim. Here are the first steps you should take to initiate a claim:
Hire an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer
Taking action after a personal injury incident can be extremely difficult, especially if you’re dealing with pain and emotional distress from the accident. Fortunately, a seasoned attorney can handle the entirety of your case, giving you the time you need to focus on the healing process.
Having a lawyer by your side can dramatically increase your chances of receiving a fair payment. That’s because you’ll be less likely to make an error that could cost you your compensation. Insurance companies also take claims more seriously when they see that a renowned law firm is involved with the case.
Mediation
Once you submit a claim, a judge may schedule a court date or a mediation session with a professional mediator who will work with you and the at-fault party to try to reach a fair agreement. A personal injury attorney from our team in Las Cruces can assist you with this process and make sure a fair conclusion is reached.
Investigation/Discovery
If an agreement isn’t reached during the mediation phase, your claim could progress to the investigation stage, which is also known as discovery. During this phase, our Las Cruces personal injury lawyers will gather relevant evidence and records required to file a claim.
These may include copies of your treatment bills, testimony from eyewitnesses, police accident reports, and depositions. A deposition is an interview that your attorney can conduct with individuals who have information relevant to your case.
Case Settlement
A case settlement may happen during the mediation phase but may also be reached during the discovery/investigative stage. If an insurer offers you a case settlement, have your lawyer look it over. Remember, once you accept an offer, you can’t go back on the agreement and ask for more.
Don’t accept the offer, as it might not cover all your economic and non-economic losses. An attorney can review the offer, determine if it meets your needs, and negotiate for a higher payment if the initial offer isn’t large enough to cover all your losses.
Trial
A lawyer may have to take your case to trial if the discovery phase doesn’t result in a settlement. Depending on your case, you could have a bench or jury trial. In a bench trial, a judge will make a ruling based on the evidence presented.
Judges are less involved in jury trials, though they still determine which laws apply to the case. As the name suggests, the jury will decide the outcome of your case in a jury trial.
At Zinda Law Group, our team has 15 years of trial experience, in which they helped countless individuals get the compensation they were owed. We’re confident that we have what it takes to get the best possible case results for you.
Damages Our Personal Injury Attorneys from Las Cruces Can Pursue
When you work with an attorney from our firm, they’ll determine which economic and non-economic damages you should receive from a claim. They’ll also use special calculations to figure out the overall value of your personal injury claim.
Economic losses include the following:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future lost wages
- Damaged property
- Past and future loss of earning capacity
Non-economic losses include the following:
- Emotional trauma and distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
These damages can provide the support you need to cover your losses, cope with the pain from your injuries, and deal with the emotional fallout from your accident. We understand how important it is that you receive the compensation you need to put your accident behind you, which is why we’ll work tirelessly to recover the damages you’re owed.
Wrongful Death Damages
If your loved one has passed away due to injuries suffered in an accident, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death suit. If successful, your lawsuit could yield the financial support you need to cope with your tragic loss and cover expenses related to your loved one’s passing.
Our wrongful death attorneys can guide you through the legal process with compassion and patience, ensuring all the correct steps are taken to maximize your recovery. If we win your case, you could receive any of the following damages:
- Funeral costs
- Burial expenses
- End-of-life medical care expenses
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of financial support
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of consortium and/or guidance
Our Awards
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA BY THE NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (2016-2020)
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA (2009, 2011-2012, 2014-2021), & NEIL SOLOMON (2020-2021)
AWARDED TO JACK ZINDA (2016-2020)
LIFETIME MEMBERS JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA
Common Types of Personal Injury Cases in Las Cruces
At the Zinda Law Group, we help with all kinds of personal injury cases. Whatever damages you suffered as the result of an accident, we can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Las Cruces Bike Accidents
Bicycle accidents in Las Cruces can take a number of different forms. While riding your bike, you could be injured by a collision with a car, a truck, or even another bicycle. If someone has acted in a way that caused your injuries while riding a bike, we can help you understand your rights and figure out what damages you may be entitled to claim.
Las Cruces Car Accidents
Our attorneys know the city of Las Cruces. They understand the complexities of car accidents in Las Cruces that can involve drivers from Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. They understand how to handle cases involving uninsured motorists and other unique scenarios that can be common in Las Cruces.
Las Cruces Premises Injuries
Premises cases involve an injury to a person on someone else’s property. These can happen in hundreds of different ways but often take on the form of a slip and fall case, falling merchandise at a store, trip and fall cases, and injuries that occur at a hotel or some other property owned by a business that has a duty to keep you safe.
Santa Fe Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians in Las Cruces are susceptible to all sorts of hazards in the streets. Whether it be cars, bicycles, or even electronic scooters, pedestrians are not exempt from road injuries just because they may not be operating a motor vehicle.
Las Cruces Truck Accidents
Trucking accidents are some of the more complex personal injury cases. Las Cruces, being uniquely situated near Texas and Mexico, sees a lot of trucks passing through on the roadways. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, it’s crucial that you call one of our Las Cruces personal injury attorneys quickly.
Large trucking companies have the resources to act fast in order to protect themselves in the event that a truck injured someone.
Las Cruces Wrongful Death Cases
Wrongful death cases are the hardest for all parties involved because there is nothing worse than losing a loved one. On a positive note, these are the cases where we know we can make the biggest difference for our clients.
Of course, no one can return your loved one to you after a wrongful death. However, we can help navigate these complex cases, get you the justice you deserve, and make sure that something like this never happens again.
Las Cruces Dog Bite and Animal Attack Cases
If you or a loved one has been attacked by a dog or other animal belonging to a neighbor, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. This is especially true if the pet owner knew the pet had a tendency to attack people and the owner failed to adequately restrain their pet.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
It’s important for you to understand that, at the end of the day, insurance adjusters work for the insurance provider. As a result, adjusters will usually try to reduce the amount of compensation you receive or attempt to reject your claim, leaving you with no financial recovery.
When you go to an insurance provider to get your accident-related losses reimbursed, you’ll want to know exactly how much your claim is worth. Knowing your claim’s value will help you and your personal injury attorney from Las Cruces determine if a settlement offer is too low.
Many claimants are left without the compensation they’re owed because they hastily agree to a settlement offer without consulting with a skilled lawyer. Our firm won’t let you accept an offer that doesn’t meet your needs. We’ll keep working on your case until we get the payment you deserve.
Why Hire Zinda Law Group?
The Las Cruces personal injury attorneys at Zinda Law Group have helped thousands of individuals recover the compensation they deserved for their injuries. Our highly experienced lawyers are able to deliver the knowledge and resources of a large firm but with the personalized and compassionate attention of a small practice.
Here are just some of the things that set us apart from other law firms:
- Client Service: Our clients receive the individualized attention they deserve. From the initial consultation to the final result, our attorneys guide clients every step of the way. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Maximize Recoveries: We seek to maximize our recovery in every case, and our firm has achieved many outstanding settlements for our deserving clients.
- Resources: We have the ability to handle large case expenses, conduct investigations, hire expert witnesses, and utilize cutting-edge technology from the start to help build the strongest case possible.
- Litigation-Focused: We treat every case as if it is going to trial, and our attorneys have the knowledge and experience necessary to fully litigate a case from beginning to end.
- Fast Results: Our skilled and aggressive attorneys reach favorable results efficiently and expediently.
FAQs
How Much does It Cost to Hire a Las Cruces Personal Injury Lawyer?
Our firm is proud to state that we operate on contingency-fee agreements with our clients. This means that if we do not win any amount for your claim, you will not owe us anything. If we recover compensation on your behalf, your attorney will take a portion of your winnings.
When do I Hire a Las Cruces Personal Injury Attorney?
Simply put, if you’ve been injured in an incident caused by another party, you’ll, at the very least, want to meet with a lawyer to discuss your legal options. We strongly advise hiring an attorney if any of the following statements apply to your situation:
- Your injury is severe
- Your insurance company representative is contacting you
- You are uncomfortable with the legal or settlement process
- Your insurance company is refusing to pay the amount you believe is owed to you
- An insurance company tries to dispute liability
How Long does It Take to Get a Personal Injury Check in New Mexico?
Because every personal injury case is different, the length of time it takes for a victim to receive a personal injury check depends on a number of factors, such as:
- Legal or factual complexities of the victim’s case
- The victim’s case involves a large sum of money
- The victim is in the hospital or receiving treatment at the time the case is filed.
How Much Is My Case Worth?
How much your case is worth depends on several factors. To name just a few, the severity of the injuries you sustained, the amount of medical expenses you incurred, and the earnings you’re predicted to lose are all considered when calculating the value of your case.
Las Cruces Resources
Get Help from Our Las Cruces Injury Attorneys Today
The Las Cruces personal injury lawyers at Zinda Law Group want to help relieve the stress and financial burdens that come with being an accident victim. Our attorneys can take over the entire legal process on your behalf so you can focus on what’s most important: your recovery.
We can help you understand your legal rights and answer any questions you may have about your case or our firm. To get started on your case, contact our legal team and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an attorney from our firm.
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
