Las Cruces Side-Impact Accident Lawyer

Side-Impact Accident Attorney in Las Cruces, NM

Side-impact accidents range in severity from relatively minor to extremely serious. If you’ve been injured in an accident, you should consult a Las Cruces side-impact accident lawyer.

Trust Berenson & Associates, PC

If you’re looking for a Las Cruces car accident attorney who can help you decide how to move forward with your side-impact accident claim, you can trust Berenson & Associates, PC, to help. Our lead attorney has been in practice for over 25 years, and our entire team is committed to providing clients with comprehensive representation. No matter the severity of your injuries, we can help you get the compensation you deserve so you can focus on recovery.

Why Hire a Side-Impact Accident Lawyer?

In 2023, there were 9,356 T-bone crashes, accounting for 29.3% of all reported accidents that year. Of those accidents, 104 were fatal, and another 4,219 caused serious injuries. Nationwide, side-impact crashes accounted for 22% of all fatal accidents, killing 5,352 vehicle occupants.

If you were injured in a side-impact car crash or, even worse, lost a loved one in a T-bone accident, you should hire a side-impact accident lawyer to help you hold the liable party accountable. Your lawyer can help you file your claim, analyze evidence from the scene, and negotiate with insurance companies.

If necessary, a Las Cruces side impact accident lawyer can take your case to trial to fight for your legal rights.

Common Causes of Side-Impact Collisions

T-bone collisions and sideswipe accidents happen for many reasons. Some of the most common causes of these side-impact crashes include:

• Distracted driving
• Running stop signs or red lights
• Failing to check blind spots
• Failing to yield on left turns
• Driving while intoxicated
• Speeding
• Poor intersection design
• Adverse environmental conditions

Dangerous intersections, such as those found at Main Street and Elks Drive or Main Street and Solano Drive, can be hot spots for side-impact accidents in Las Cruces.

If another driver’s negligence was responsible for your crash, you may be able to recover compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. Even if environmental concerns like inclement weather played a role in your accident or you were partly to blame for the accident, you may still be able to seek compensation. When in doubt, ask a Las Cruces side-impact accident attorney to evaluate your case.

Common Injuries From Side-Impact Accidents

T-bone accidents often lead to severe or life-altering injuries, even when they occur at relatively low speeds. That’s because modern cars typically have fewer protective structures on their sides. Some have reinforced door frames or side-facing airbags, but the lack of crumple zones still places occupants at risk.

Common injuries include:

• TBIs
• Neck injuries
• Spinal cord damage
• Broken bones
• Internal bleeding
• Organ damage
• Whiplash
• Lacerations and contusions

No matter what type of injury you sustained during your accident, it’s worth scheduling a consultation with a car accident attorney to discuss your options.

Steps to Take After a Side-Impact Collision

Here’s what you should do if you want to maximize your chances of eventually being compensated for your pain and suffering:

• Prioritize safety. Assess yourself and other passengers for injuries. Call 911 immediately if anyone is seriously hurt.
• Contact law enforcement. Contact the police to file a police report. When filing your report, don’t speculate or apologize. State the facts as you know them, and be sure to get the report number.
• Gather information. Get contact information for everyone else involved in the accident and any witnesses.
• Document the scene. If it’s safe to do so, take photos or videos using your phone to document the accident scene, damage to the vehicles, the final positions of the cars, and all relevant traffic signs or signals.
• Seek a medical evaluation. Even if you aren’t sure whether you’ve been injured, you should head to the doctor as soon as possible for a complete medical evaluation.

FAQs About Side-Impact Accidents in Las Cruces, NM

What Happens When a Car Hits You From the Side?

When a car hits you from the side in a T-bone crash, the impact can throw your body violently against the struck side of the vehicle, causing severe damage like broken bones, internal injuries, spinal cord damage, and TBIs. Unfortunately, modern vehicles tend to offer less protection on the sides, with occupants often lacking side airbags. Even in relatively minor accidents, whiplash, fractures, and other soft and hard tissue injuries are common.

Who’s at Fault in a Side-Swipe Accident?

Who’s at fault in a side-swipe accident depends on the specifics of the case. In most side-swipe crashes, these accidents occur because one car leaves its travel lane without the driver checking to see if there’s another car in the way. This is referred to as an unsafe lane change, and the driver responsible for making that unsafe lane change is usually held responsible for the accident.

What Do I Do if Someone Side-Swipes My Car?

If someone side-swiped your car, the first thing you should do is move the vehicle to a safe location. From there, you can call the police to report the accident, exchange information with the driver, and document everything. Even if you think the accident was relatively minor, you should seek medical attention in case you sustained any injuries and should report it to your insurance company immediately.

Who’s at Fault for a T-Bone Accident?

The at-fault party in a T-bone accident depends on the circumstances. These accidents generally take place at intersections. As a result, fault usually falls to the driver who was illegally passing through the intersection, leaving them with the responsibility to pay for damages sustained. Because New Mexico is a comparative negligence state, you can still file a claim if you were partly to blame.

Your Las Cruces Side-Impact Accident Lawyer

Being T-boned is frightening and can result in serious, long-term injuries. A Las Cruces side-impact accident lawyer can help you hold the responsible driver accountable and pursue compensation for your losses. The team at Berenson & Associates, PC, has extensive experience handling side-impact accident claims and knows how to maximize recovery for injured clients. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.