Whether you’re a local resident or a visitor, being aware of frequent accident areas can potentially help you avoid a major incident.
The following are some of the most dangerous roads here in Albuquerque:
At intersections, there are a variety of variables that must be considered at all times. Multiple traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, turn lanes, and other potentially distracted drivers increase the risk of a collision. Be sure to always keep an eye out for wandering or aggressive pedestrians crossing the roads illegally, particularly around popular tourist destinations.
Unfortunately, there are dozens of different intersections in the Albuquerque area that have a high amount of car accidents and injuries. Here are some of the most dangerous intersections based on their overall volume of traffic, crash density, and number of accidents per year:
Some common themes to be aware of regarding many of these dangerous intersections are the high density of both traffic and accidents that are close to highways and other major roadways. With traffic signals, high congestion of vehicles, and increasing speeds, it’s critical to the safety of yourself and the drivers around you that you keep your eyes on the road and stay alert while behind the wheel.
Distracted driving is one of the most common forms of negligence that causes auto accidents. Texting, talking on the phone, trying to change music, messing with a GPS, and even talking to another passenger can all distract a driver for an instant and cause an accident. Couple this with traffic congestion, impatience, and negligence, and it can result in accidents on almost any road.
While you don’t have control over other negligent drivers, there are steps you can take.
Granted, you do not have any control over the negligence of other drivers on the road, but there are some things that you can control in order to remain alert and lessen the chances of a potential collision:
In short, obeying all traffic laws, staying alert by avoiding distractions, and exercising caution while behind the wheel will significantly reduce your risks of experiencing a car accident. However, accidents still can happen, even when you don’t do anything wrong. Do not hesitate to contact a trusted car accident attorney in Albuquerque to discuss your case and ensure that you can begin receiving the benefits you deserve.
A: Unfortunately, there are too many dangerous intersections that have a consistent history of frequent car accidents. The intersection of Paseo Del Norte at Coors Boulevard tops many local lists of the worst in Albuquerque, while the intersection of Central Avenue and Coors Boulevard is high as well in terms of crash density.
A: The most frequent highway accidents in Albuquerque occur along I-40. Some of the highest density of accidents along the I-40 stretch occurs near Exit 140 and Exits 154-158, which covers about 5 miles of highway road. Exit 232-226A along I-25 has seen a number of fatal car accidents as well.
A: Central Avenue is widely considered Albuquerque’s “main street.” The street travels east to west through Downtown, Old Town, and other notable areas of the city on what used to be part of Route 66. Central Avenue experiences the most significant density of traffic in the city on a daily basis.
Accidents can happen at any time and in any place. With the alarmingly high rate of distracted driving throughout New Mexico and the high crash density stretch down popular Central Avenue, it’s vital to your safety that you remain alert at all times and obey the traffic laws accordingly.
At Berenson & Associates, PC, our aim is to ensure that you are treated with compassion while receiving the highest standard of legal care possible. With over 25 years of law experience, our personal injury attorneys understand that each case presents its own unique circumstances and must be treated as such to ensure that you receive the fullest extent of your due compensation. We consider it a privilege to serve the Albuquerque area and would be honored to represent you.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and start taking legal action.
]]>We can never predict when an automobile accident will occur, although we can take proactive steps to lower those risks. If you or a loved one was injured in a car crash, the attorneys at Berenson & Associates, PC, can represent your family in a civil claim that helps you recover, both emotionally and financially, from the accident. A successful case could hold the negligent party accountable while helping the victim of a car crash recoup lost wages and more.
A 2023 survey of 3,000 motorists identified the most feared roads in the country. Topping the most feared list was the New Mexico stretch of U.S. Route 285. Speed contributes to the danger of traveling along the highway west of the City of Jal. The 50-mile stretch was recently designated a safety corridor in an effort to lower car crash incidents. On any given day, an average of two-thirds of cars traversing the highway drive over the speed limit. Some vehicles drive in excess of 100 miles per hour (161 kph).
Recent data shows that drivers are more than eight times more likely to have a deadly crash in Bernalillo County than the national average. Pedestrians are also at a higher risk of being struck in that county. The same report found that 29 pedestrians were killed between San Mateo and Eubank over the past five years.
Although a collision can occur at any time, there are certain times of day and seasons of the year when collisions tend to occur more often. Being aware of these risks can help you be on the lookout for dangerous situations that require extra caution.
Between spring and summer, most fatal car collisions occur between 8 p.m. and midnight. This is most likely due to factors like low visibility and driver fatigue. The most dangerous time shifts to 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. from November through March. Of the 12 months, August, July, and October are the deadliest. Vehicle crashes tend to spike on Labor Day and Memorial Day.
Environments can have a contributing role in vehicle crash statistics. Anyone who lives in an urban area is statistically more likely to experience a highway crash, while rural areas see more accidents on small local roads.
Age is another factor. Teenagers are far more likely to experience a car accident than more experienced drivers.
Drivers can greatly reduce the risk of being in an accident by:
Even the most careful driving practices cannot prevent you from becoming involved in a driving accident. In those cases, you may require the legal services of a personal injury lawyer.
First, focus on your immediate safety and the safety of those around you. If you are in a serious accident, call the police. They may send an ambulance to the location. If the police come to the scene, provide a detailed account of what led to the accident. Take photos of the car wreck scene. That evidence could prove important later on. Once you are safely away from the accident scene, start researching a New Mexico law firm that has experience handling personal injury cases involving motor vehicles.
A: In 2021, there were 13,955 total traffic accidents in Albuquerque. As Albuquerque grows, those figures are likely to grow. As noted earlier, speed is a contributing factor to many car accidents in New Mexico. In general, speeding is a top contributor to car crashes across the nation, along with factors like driver age and alcohol consumption.
A: Head-on collisions are more likely to cause serious injury or a fatality due to the combined speeds of both vehicles and the direct impact on the driver and front passenger. Similarly, any time a vehicle hits an object straight on, whether it be a stationary car or a large object, those collisions can cause serious damage. Side-impact collisions are also one of the more fatal forms of car collisions. Side-impact airbags were invented to cut down on the force and damage caused by one car colliding into the side of another vehicle.
A: Any vehicle model must pass federal and state guidelines before it can be sold in the United States. Many of the most “accident-prone” vehicles end up being the most popular vehicles, meaning that their higher presence on the roads is a leading contributor to their higher prevalence in car accidents. Honda Accords and Ford Mustangs are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents than, say, a rare imported car.
A: There is no single factor that contributes to vehicle accidents. While there are rare occasions where a mechanical failure or unseen object on the road can cause an accident, most collisions occur as the result of driver error. Drivers are prone to being distracted or engaging in speeding or aggressive driving. When a driver is at fault for injuring another driver, a personal injury attorney can seek monetary damages through civil litigation.
Automobile accidents may be a reality of life, but it doesn’t mean that the other party cannot be held liable for damages. If you or a loved one was involved in a car crash that resulted from the other driver’s negligence, you could be entitled to monetary damages.
Personal injury cases can be complicated and involve multiple parties. Working with an experienced law firm, like Berenson & Associates, PC, can improve the chances that your case will have a successful outcome. Don’t put off scheduling your consultation with one of our esteemed attorneys.
]]>Wrongful death is an avoidable death caused by another person’s wrongful behavior, such as negligence and intentional unlawful actions. Negligence happens when a person fails to exercise reasonable care when performing their duties or when they skip essential steps when performing their duties due to recklessness or indifference. Wrongful death happens in nursing homes because of the following reasons:
Surviving family members can hold the people or the facility accountable by pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit.
If you lost a loved one because of nursing home abuse and negligence, it might have happened more than once before in the same facility. It might not be an isolated case. By holding the people or facility liable for their actions, you can get justice for your loved one and prevent others from suffering the same fate.
The loss of a loved one is so difficult to accept. Imagine if the death was preventable. Your loved one would be alive today had the nursing home given them the standard of care they promised to provide.
]]>Someone involved in a collision in New Mexico may feel as though the other driver was to blame, especially if it seems that they had their phone in their hand before the crash occurred. Is someone texting at the wheel automatically responsible for a collision that has occurred?
Like most other states, New Mexico has made it illegal to manually use a mobile device while operating in motor vehicle. Therefore, someone texting while driving has violated traffic laws and potentially opened themselves up to liability. While this may only be a mild traffic violation, even simple mistakes, like failing to use a turn signal, can cause a crash and make someone liable for the results of the wreck. Breaking traffic laws will usually make someone at fault for a crash.
In addition to being a wrongful act, distracted driving is also a negligent act, as it involves doing something that most people recognize is not safe. Most drivers recognize the risk involved in texting or otherwise handling a phone while driving. Some people will even try to delete the evidence of their text messages or hide their phone to help them more convincingly deny the claim that they used it right before the crash.
There could be evidence, including data records from a phone company or traffic camera footage, that can help prove one driver texted prior to the collision. So long as the person affected by the collision has proof corroborating their claims that the other driver texted at the wheel, it may be possible to file a claim against their insurance or to take the distracted driver to court if someone files a personal injury lawsuit.
Civil litigation is sometimes necessary when insurance isn’t sufficient to cover crash costs. Seeking legal guidance and better understanding New Mexico traffic laws might make it easier for some people to respond to the aftermath of a recent collision.
]]>When families choose to move someone into a nursing home, the goal is usually to help ensure their safety and overall quality of life despite their increasing support needs. Unfortunately, many nursing homes try to keep staffing levels as low as possible, which can reduce the standard of living for the residents who reside there. As a result, chronic challenges related to hygiene and patient care are part of the reason why infestations and infections often move through understaffed nursing homes quite quickly.
Researchers acknowledge that anytime there is a large number of people sharing a relatively small space, the possibility of infections caused by viruses, bacteria or even fungi can spread very quickly. Pests that attack the human body may also proliferate in such spaces. For example, scabies, which are tiny insects that lay their eggs under the skin, can rapidly pass from patient to patient in a nursing home. So can lice and bed bugs. On their own, these infestations can make people uncomfortable. If left untreated, they can put someone’s health at risk. They can also cause secondary infections that could have major medical consequences.
Unfortunately, there is no surefire means of completely eliminating pathogens or pests from a facility like a nursing home. They will always find ways to enter such facilities. Still, staff members can potentially limit their spread with the right practices. Monitoring each patient carefully for signs of illness and discomfort is crucial to accurately identifying the issue as quickly as possible. Engaging in proper sanitation practices can also make a major difference. Having enough staff on hand to ensure the cleanliness of the residents and the spaces will be important as well.
When family members of an individual who has been sickened at a nursing home believe that the situation reflects a poor standard of care, it may be possible to hold the facility accountable for their medical expenses and other related losses. Understanding the issues that arise at nursing homes may empower family members to speak up on behalf of a vulnerable loved one.
]]>Studies show that care facilities, such as nursing homes, tend to overuse potent drugs, especially antipsychotic drugs used to treat mental health disorders. This phenomenon is an issue across the country, with a 22% nationwide increase in psychotropic drug use from 2001 to 2010 alone. Still, this type of medication could be beneficial if controlled and taken correctly.
Unfortunately, vulnerable groups, such as older adults, have a higher chance of overmedicating with these drugs. These incidents could happen for many reasons, including failure to consider alternative treatments and therapy.
Additionally, these prescription medicines tend to receive health insurance coverage rather than therapy, making it preferable for elders with limited financial resources. In 2007 alone, one in seven nursing home residents received Medicare benefits for these potent substances. A federal analysis also revealed some Medicare claims for this medication go against excessive or unnecessary medication use regulations. Overmedicating on these powerful drugs could have grave consequences.
If prescribed recklessly, these drugs could worsen an elder’s condition, potentially leading to severe health issues and even death. Misuse could also result in serious side effects and symptoms, including unusual weight gain, increased diabetes risks and muscle spasms.
These forms of overmedication could be elder abuse, requiring immediate action to prevent further harm. Reporting these incidents could help address the abuse early and hold the responsible parties accountable for their violations.
]]>A concussion is the result of the head getting hit, causing the brain to rattle around the skull, which releases chemicals and can damage brain cells. These chemicals can create an imbalance in the brain and make victims feel dizzy or confused.
Some concussions can cause people to lose consciousness and experience amnesia. The longer a victim stays unconscious, the more severe the TBI often is. Let’s look at the three levels of TBI.
The majority of TBIs are considered mild. The symptoms of a mild TBI may include dizziness and confusion. Some mild TBIs can result in short-term loss of consciousness and amnesia. Amnesia is the inability to remember or process information about events that have passed.
A victim may experience a moderate TBI if they’re unconscious for more than half an hour but no more than a day. Victims may then experience up to 24 hours of amnesia and confusion for a week. Victims may also experience long-term cognitive difficulties, such as attention deficiency, memory issues, irritability and even personality disorders.
A severe TBI is the result of someone experiencing loss of consciousness that lasts for over a day. At this point, a victim may be considered comatose. People who recover from comas may need rehabilitation. However, they still often suffer long-term cognitive difficulties and amnesia.
If you or a loved one suffered a TBI after a car accident, then you should be aware of your legal options to seek compensation. Having legal guidance can help.
]]>Unfortunately, the CYFD is notorious for failing to serve its purpose to intervene when children are at risk. In some cases, failures by the CYFD result in lifelong trauma or even the death of a vulnerable individual. Why is it so common for the CYFD to fail in its efforts to protect children from abuse committed by family members or caregivers?
According to an internal review of agency obligations, it appears that the CYFD has routinely had new responsibilities added without any adjustments made to other responsibilities for the organization. This has led to contradictory and even impossible-to-meet expectations for the organization and confusion among the people working there, which makes them less effective at their jobs.
For example, requirements now impose stricter standards for employee conduct and training, making it harder to both hire and retain professionals at the CYFD. At the same time, the organization wants to speed up hiring as much as possible to onboard more workers, as many CYFD professionals have caseloads too high for them to manage reasonably.
The unfortunate truth is that many children who need support from the state end up slipping through the cracks in a broken system and not getting help in a timely manner. Some of these children or young adults will end up permanently traumatized, while others might actually die.
Hopefully, more attention to the failings of the CYFD in recent years will lead to significant reform at the state level. Until that occurs, family members of children in dangerous situations need to understand their rights and options. One of the many ways that people can push for reform and promotes enhanced responsibility by the state is to take legal action against the CYFD when it fails.
It is often only court rulings and financial consequences that prompt systemic change. Pursuing a lawsuit against the CYFD might be a reasonable response if the agency investigated and substantiated claims against a family but failed to intervene for the protection of a child.
]]>It is a form of exploitation that often occurs in nursing homes, where residents may be physically or mentally frail, making them more susceptible to manipulation and deception. Continue reading to find out what qualifies as elder financial abuse in a nursing home.
One common form of elder financial abuse involves unauthorized withdrawals or transfers from the senior’s bank accounts. This could be done by family members, caregivers or even strangers who gain access to the individual’s financial information.
Seniors may also be targeted through fraudulent schemes, such as:
These scams can trick older people into giving away their money or personal information. Identity theft is a significant concern for elderly individuals, as it can lead to substantial financial losses.
Detecting elder financial abuse can be challenging, as victims may hesitate to report it due to fear, shame or dependency on the abuser. However, certain signs may indicate potential abuse.
An excellent indication is frequent or large withdrawals, transfers to unfamiliar accounts or sudden changes in financial patterns. You should also note that perpetrators often try to isolate the older person from their support network to maintain control over their finances.
Another giveaway is if there are sudden changes to the person’s will, power of attorney, or beneficiary designations. And overall, seniors who seem fearful or anxious in the presence of specific caregivers may be experiencing abuse.
Elder financial abuse is a grave concern that deserves keen attention and proactive measures. By understanding the different forms of abuse and recognizing the signs, you can strive to protect your elderly loved ones in nursing homes.
]]>If you suspect that your relative has been abused in their nursing home, then you should look for other signs of abuse to determine if it is occurring.
While there may be obvious signs of nursing home abuse that you can visually see, in many situations, the abuse will not be as easy to identify and you will need carefully consider the evidence.
Signs of physical abuse can be the easiest to notice. if you see injuries on your relative, such as bruising, partially healed wounds, cuts, or other lingering injuries, these can be caused by abuse. You should investigate these injuries if you find them. Abrasions or bruising can be a sign of physical or sexual abuse, so if you see these then you should report it.
If you notice significant changes in your loved one’s behavior, that can also be a sign of abuse. If they are not very talkative, being withdrawn and acting abnormally that can be a sign that they are being harassed or abused by staff. If they are not sleeping or eating properly that can be signs of stress caused by abuse.
Sometimes the signs of abuse are caused by a failure of the nursing home staff to care for your loved one. This can manifest in uncleanliness, bed sores, dehydration, and other signs that should have been addressed by the staff.
Many cases of elder abuse involve theft of possessions or money from nursing home residents by their caretakers, and if you notice that things are going missing, or that your loved one is always out of money, that could be a sign of abuse. You should take steps to stop this by removing valuables from the residence or placing them in a secure location.
Nobody deserves to be mistreated, especially the elderly. So if you believe that there is abuse going on, then your first decision should be to report it to the appropriate authorities. If you think criminal actions were involved then you should call the police and get law enforcement to investigate. An elder law attorney may also be necessary to fully address the issue.
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