Accidents involving commercial vehicles–especially large commercial trucks such as 18-wheelers–are often devastating due to the sheer size and force of these vehicles compared to passenger vehicles.
In an instant, your life can be changed forever by the actions of a stranger who was negligent while driving, or perhaps they only failed to take the proper precautions to avoid an accident. That’s why calling a commercial vehicle accident lawyer in New Mexico is essential.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a commercial vehicle accident in New Mexico, you should call the New Mexico truck accident lawyers from Zinda Law Group today to schedule your free consultation with our team. If we are not able to win your case, you will not owe us anything.
What Commercial Vehicles Cause Accidents in New Mexico?
While many people associate commercial vehicles with 18-wheelers, those trucks are only one type of a wide variety of commercial vehicles, which also include:
- Semi-trucks
- Delivery vans or trucks
- Food or ice cream trucks
- Ride-hailing vehicles such as taxis
- Passenger buses
- Limousines
- Cargo vans
- Box trucks
- Utility trucks
- Cement trucks
Regardless of the type of commercial vehicle that hit you or your loved one, the legal advice of an experienced New Mexico commercial vehicle accident attorney can help you determine the best course of action for you to take next.
Contact one of our experienced commercial vehicle accident lawyers to discuss your legal options; we may be able to help you pursue the maximum compensation you may be entitled to.
Who Is Liable for a New Mexico Commercial Vehicle Accident?
Depending on the specific circumstances of the case, a variety of parties may be potentially liable for a New Mexico commercial vehicle accident, including:
The Commercial Vehicle Driver
As in most automobile accident cases, an injured victim can often pursue a claim against the driver who caused the accident. Commercial drivers are often under significant stress to meet tight deadlines, and this urgency often leads to accidents.
Common examples of negligence by commercial vehicle drivers include:
- Speeding
- Reckless driving, such as weaving in and out of traffic
- Distracted driving
- Following other vehicles too closely
- Driving while under the influence of substances, including prescription drugs
- Fatigued driving, especially if the driver fails to follow regulations limiting the number of hours the driver is allowed to drive per day
However, in many cases, the negligent driver alone may not be able to fully compensate the victim for the injuries and damages suffered in the accident. Therefore, further compensation may be sought from another party, such as the employer of that driver.
You can learn more about this process with a New Mexico commercial vehicle accident lawyer.
The Company that Owns the Commercial Vehicle
In commercial vehicle accident cases, your attorney may also be able to help you pursue compensation from the other driver’s employer.
As the driver’s employer or the company that owns the vehicle involved in the accident, the company may be liable for its driver negligently causing an accident or failing to properly maintain or inspect their vehicles before allowing them to be used.
The company may also be liable if it has negligent policies, such as:
- Urging drivers to speed or drive fatigued to meet strict deadlines
- Requiring or pressuring drivers to drive more than is allowed under federal regulations
- Not complying with applicable rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
- Hiring unsafe drivers with histories of traffic accidents or traffic violations
Your commercial vehicle accident lawyer in New Mexico can investigate the company’s actions to see if they’re liable for your losses.
Mechanics in New Mexico
In some cases, a mechanic hired to service or repair a commercial vehicle may be liable for an accident if the mechanic performed a negligent job in any necessary repairs or routine maintenance.
If this negligence results in an accident, the injured victim may be able to pursue a claim against the negligent mechanic. Discuss this possibility with your New Mexico commercial vehicle accident lawyer.
Manufacturers or Distributors in New Mexico
Finally, suppose defective parts or a vehicle defect caused the accident. In that case, you may be able to pursue a claim against the manufacturer that created the defective product and any retailer or distributor involved in the marketing or sale of the product or vehicle.
For example, suppose defective brakes caused an accident. In that case, the vehicle’s manufacturer may be liable for any damages suffered in the accident, in addition to any distributor or retailer who may have helped market or sell the defective brakes used in the commercial vehicle involved in the accident.
If you have been injured in a commercial vehicle accident, an experienced New Mexico personal injury lawyer can help you understand your legal options and where your potential compensation could come from. They can also help you determine who may be liable for your injuries and how much compensation you may recover for damages caused by the accident.
How Much Compensation do You Get for a Commercial Vehicle Accident in New Mexico?
The amount of compensation you may be entitled to for any injuries and damages you suffered in a commercial vehicle accident will depend on your case’s unique facts and circumstances.
However, a commercial vehicle accident attorney in New Mexico can help you seek maximum compensation, including for economic and non-economic, and punitive damages in some cases.
You may qualify for the following:
Economic Damages in New Mexico
You may be entitled to economic damages to compensate you for the expenses and costs you have suffered as a result of the accident, such as:
- Any medical bills incurred in diagnosing or treating your injuries
- Any future medical treatment that may be required
- Physical therapy
- Necessary modifications to your home to accommodate for injuries suffered in your accident
- At-home nursing care or therapy
- Temporary or permanent physical disabilities, such as amputated or paralyzed limbs
- Property damage, such as the cost to repair or replace your damaged vehicle
- Any lost income you have missed due to any work you missed while seeking treatment or recovering from your injuries
- Loss of earning capacity, such as if you are unable to continue earning the same level of income as a result of disabilities caused by the accident
We focus on the specific losses you sustained, allowing us to quickly build a claim tailored to your needs.
Non-Economic Damages in New Mexico
Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages may be more challenging to calculate, as they generally include intangible items that may not be quantifiable into a dollar amount as easily as a medical bill can.
Non-economic damages you may be entitled to after your accident include compensation for pain and suffering caused by your injuries and your emotional anguish. Discuss these losses with a New Mexico commercial vehicle accident lawyer.
Punitive Damages in New Mexico
Punitive damages may not be available in every case. However, these damages may be awarded in some accident cases if the behavior that caused the wreck was substantially egregious enough to warrant punishing the negligent driver or the driver’s employer.
Further, punitive damages may also be awarded in some instances to serve as a warning to others, with the hopes of deterring such behavior in the future.
How Can Our Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer Help You in New Mexico?
Successfully obtaining the maximum compensation you may be entitled to usually depends upon choosing the right New Mexico commercial vehicle accident attorney to handle your case.
First, it is essential to remember that experience is crucial in choosing the right attorney, especially in commercial vehicle accident cases, given the unique nature of these accidents compared to other automobile accidents.
By hiring our team, you will benefit from their years of experience helping other accident victims; you can rest assured knowing your attorney is skilled in negotiating with insurance companies and company lawyers to obtain compensation for your damages.
What Does a Lawyer Charge for Commercial Vehicle Accident Claims?
Our team uses contingency pricing to handle commercial vehicle accident cases in New Mexico. Therefore, you’ll only have to pay us for legal fees after we resolve your claim either in court or through a settlement.
We’ll receive a percentage of your final financial award after assisting you.
How do We Investigate Commercial Vehicle Accidents?
Our experienced attorneys will begin by conducting a thorough commercial vehicle accident investigation to gather evidence to determine the cause of your accident and who may be liable for your injuries and damages.
Your commercial vehicle accident attorney in New Mexico may gather the following kinds of evidence, which are essential to proving your case, such as:
- Any recorders, dash-cam footage, fleet-monitoring systems, or similar tools that are used in many commercial vehicles and may help indicate whether the driver was negligent
- Witness statements from anyone who saw the accident
- Cellphone records which may indicate whether the driver was using their cell phone at the time of the crash
- Maintenance records for the vehicle
- The driver’s traffic record to determine whether the driver has a history of traffic citations or accidents
- Any accident reports
- Pictures or videos of the scene of the accident
We change our investigative strategies to meet the specific needs of your claim in New Mexico.
Can You Settle a Commercial Vehicle Accident Claim with a Lawyer?
The insurance company representing the other driver or their employer will generally have a team of skilled lawyers whose sole purpose is ensuring the insurer pays as little compensation as possible to settle any accident claims.
Fortunately, a New Mexico commercial vehicle accident lawyer can help level this playing field as they use their years of experience negotiating with insurance companies to help you obtain a reasonable settlement from the insurance company.
Our team also understands the need to move quickly after a New Mexico commercial vehicle accident. Waiting too long can allow the statute of limitations to expire, meaning the court could dismiss your claim for compensation.
Contact a New Mexico Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer Now
Commercial vehicle accidents can often be devastating, especially if they involve large semi-trucks or similar vehicles that cause substantial damage due to their size and weight.
Fortunately, a New Mexico commercial vehicle accident lawyer can help you seek the compensation you may be entitled to, allowing you to focus on your recovery while your attorney handles your case.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a commercial vehicle accident in New Mexico, call Zinda Law Group as soon as possible to schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced commercial vehicle accident lawyers. We are prepared to discuss your legal options and which next steps would be most beneficial for you.
