Auto Accident Injury in New Mexico

Have you suffered an injury due to a car accident in New Mexico? If so, your life may never be the same again. Injuries from a car accident can interfere with your ability both to work and to enjoy everyday activities. They can also be incredibly painful. As such, you need an auto accident attorney who understands the laws in NM that will fight for your legal rights and help you receive the financial compensation you deserve.

Auto Accident Injury Statistics in New Mexico

According to the National Safety Council, in 2019 about 4.4 million people suffered serious injuries in motor vehicle accidents and an estimated 38,000 were killed. The New Mexico Department of Transportation reported 46,786 auto accidents in the state in 2018, with 19,790 injuries and 392 deaths as a result.

Some of the most common reasons for those accidents included failure to yield the right of way, inattentive drivers and following too closely. Passenger vehicles accounted for 55.9% of the accidents resulting in injuries, and 8.1% of the fatal accidents involved motorcycles. Since then, New Mexico has begun a motorcycle rider safety training program to hopefully cut down on the number of motorcyclists involved in fatal accidents.

What to Do After an Auto Accident

It’s important to be prepared in the event you are a victim of a car accident. Below are the steps to remember immediately after your crash.

Receive Immediate Medical Attention

What is the most important step that you need to take after an auto accident? You need to receive immediate and proper medical treatment. You may believe that the injuries sustained after an auto accident are minor. Proper medical treatment helps ensure that you have not sustained any internal injuries that you may not be aware of.

File a Police Report

Even if no one sustained injuries, you still need to call 911 and request law enforcement assistance. When officers arrive, jot down each one’s name and badge number. Answer their questions honestly, but don’t volunteer any unasked for information, especially your thoughts on exactly what happened or who caused the car accident. Be sure to ask the officers for the number of their police report. Also ask when and where you can get a copy of it, including how much it will cost you.

In New Mexico, your police report must be sent to the DOT within just one day following your accident. To obtain a copy of that report for yourself, you’ll need to contact the police department of the officer that issued the report, fill out the Records Request form and pay a fee.

Gather the Appropriate Documentation

While waiting for officers to arrive after a car accident, collect information from all other drivers involved in the accident, including the following:

• Full name, address, phone number and email address
• Driver’s license state and number
• Auto insurance company name, policy number and phone number

Use your cell phone to take pictures of each driver’s license, auto insurance card, your vehicle and each additional vehicle involved in the car accident. Don’t rely on verbal communication. Having as much information as possible will only help you and your case later on. Try to keep this exchange as civil and friendly as possible. However, do not apologize for causing the accident or indicate in any way that you think you may have caused it.

Recovering Damages After an Auto Accident Injury

After surviving a car accident, the emotional and economic toll it takes can be staggering. You are not only dealing with the mental anguish that comes with being involved in a crash, but you may also be experiencing severe physical harm as well.

Common injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents include:

• Burn injuries
• Back and neck injuries, such as whiplash
• Brain and head injuries
• Broken bones
• Spinal injuries
• Soft tissue injuries

In 2018, New Mexico fatal crashes cost the state $573.5 million. Around $76 million of that covered motorcycle accidents with $15 million that included bicyclists. Individuals involved in those accidents had tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of expenses for common auto accident injuries such as broken ribs, internal bleeding, ruptured spleens, collapsed lungs and more.

Hiring a car accident lawyer ensures you have the financial ability to cover any losses that have occurred as a result of a crash. An auto accident attorney will also help you handle the paperwork that you will have to complete from insurance companies. This boosts your odds of receiving the insurance compensation you deserve.

Auto Accident Laws in New Mexico

Liability Laws for NM

When car accidents happen, it is essential to determine who bears responsibility for the resulting damage and medical bills. Determining fault impacts everything from your insurance claim and level of liability to the amount of confusion you may endure during the claims process.

As a “pure comparative negligence” state, New Mexico allows compensation for individuals for the amount of their damages minus their amount of fault. Although you can receive a percentage of the damages, you and your insurance company would also be responsible for a percentage of the other driver’s losses.

Statute of Limitations in NM

Each state has its own tort laws that determine the statute of limitations on a claim. In some states, this gives you just one year to file a claim in court, while some others may give you up to six years. New Mexico’s statute of limitations for auto accident cases is three years. This means you have three years from the day of your accident to file a lawsuit against the other party, and the family of a deceased victim would also have three years to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

This is why it is important to consult with an attorney immediately after your car crash. Don’t wait and risk losing out on any compensation they can recover.

Work With an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer In New Mexico

After a car accident, you have enough to worry about. We can help you find an auto accident attorney for your unique case. Get the financial restitution that you deserve if you’re the victim of someone else’s conduct.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in NM!

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