Albuquerque Truck Accident Lawyers

Accidents involving tractor-trailers lead to thousands of deaths per year across the country. Many more people suffer severe, life-altering injuries as a result of semi-truck crashes. New Mexico residents who have been hurt in truck crashes can have major medical bills expenses to deal with, so it is important to speak with a truck accident lawyer about your case.

The personal injury law firm of Berenson & Associates, PC, has worked with Albuquerque residents who have been hurt in truck accidents for more than 25 years. Our compassionate, caring attorneys understand just how serious these cases are for the people who need help. We treat every case and every client with the respect and understanding that they deserve.

When You Need Help, Rely On Our Firm

While big trucks are all over our streets and highways, Albuquerque’s location means we have more than our share of large-vehicle traffic. Interstates 25 and 40 are major trucking routes that converge in our city, bringing in vehicles from every direction on a daily basis.

When their drivers are involved in accidents, trucking companies and their insurance companies can be very aggressive to try to defend the interests of their businesses, meaning they are often willing to fight personal injury claims every step of the way. This makes it especially important that people who have been hurt in a truck accident have experienced personal injury attorneys on their side to protect their rights and fight for the compensation they deserve.

New Mexico Department of Transportation

Tips For Avoiding Truck Accidents

While you can’t control what other drivers do, you can take steps to reduce your chance of being in an accident with a large truck such as:

Leave more room between you and the truck than you would for a car or other passenger vehicle. This will give you time to react if the truck suddenly slows, stops or swerves.
Be aware of the truck’s blind spot. Semis and other large trucks have a larger blind spot than a car. How can you tell if you’re in the driver’s blind spot? If you can’t see their face in the side view mirror, then they likely cannot see your vehicle.
Be cautious when a truck is turning. When trucks make wide turns, especially to the right, they can lose visibility to other vehicles near them. Stay back and don’t pull up alongside them where they may not see you.

Common Truck Accident FAQs

If you have been injured by a commercial truck, you probably have many questions. Please see some of the most commonly asked questions below.

How Much Does A Truck Accident Lawyer Cost?

Truck accident cases, like all personal injury cases, are taken on what are called “contingency fees.” This means that if we take your case, we will handle all of the expenses up front. We only get paid if we get compensation for you. So you don’t have to worry about affording a lawyer because we take our fees from the settlement or jury award.

Do I Need A Lawyer After A Truck Accident?

You should have a lawyer in any vehicle accident case, but especially in cases involving large trucks. These cases are unique because there are federal laws involved if it is an interstate truck. In addition, commercial vehicles may have many liable parties, which complicates the process of proving liability. It’s also important to note that the injuries in a truck accident are typically severe or fatal. The accident victims will need considerable financial compensation to cover their medical bills and other losses. You can’t fight this battle alone; let us help.

What Are The Top Causes Of Truck Accidents?

There are many reasons that truck accidents occur, but some of the most common are:

Reckless or distracted driving
Driver fatigue from inadequate rest periods
Jackknife and rollover accidents from slick roads or driver error
Speeding
Driving while intoxicated
Inability to slow down or stop when traffic slows

Regardless of the reason that your accident happened, you should talk with an attorney about your case.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

Injuries to drivers and passengers in trucking accidents are often catastrophic. In the most severe accidents, the injuries result in wrongful death. Some of the most frequent injuries people suffer include:

Crushed bones and amputations
Burns
Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
Traumatic brain injuries
Internal organ damage

These types of injuries are permanent and will require long-term medical care. The injured person likely will not be able to fully go back to their life before the accident. Some will need around-the-clock care. Compensation will include covering the past, current and future losses from the accident such as medical expenses, any lost income and benefits, and pain and suffering. If you lost a family member in a truck accident, your family may also receive damages for funeral and burial expenses and your emotional pain and suffering due to the loss of a loved one.

New Mexico Insurance Coverage Amounts

According to the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, drivers of passenger vehicles must have a minimum of liability auto insurance coverage:

$25,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person
$50,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons
$10,000 for property damage in any one accident

Commercial drivers must have certain coverage amounts, as well. New Mexico has regulations for cargo vehicles as follows:

$750,000 for household goods and general freight
$750,000 for towing expenses
$5 million for transporting hazardous materials
$1 million for transporting oil

We can explain how insurance limits may affect the outcome of your case.

New Mexico State Traffic Fatalities

According to the New Mexico Department of Transportation, in 2022, there were 466 fatal vehicle accidents in our state. This is a little lower than 2021 when there were 481 deaths, but still high in general.

The Mid-Region Council of Governments in New Mexico calls our state’s roadway safety “dire.” New Mexico has had more pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 people in five out of the most recent six years. Smart Growth America also notes that the Albuquerque metro area is the second most dangerous metro area in the country for vehicle accidents.

New Mexico Truck Accident Stats

Out of the 466 fatal vehicle accidents in 2022, large trucks and buses accounted for 19 of these deaths. That does not take into account the crashes that caused catastrophic injuries.

Data from the New Mexico Department of Transportation from 2014-2018 shows that large trucks are a serious factor in accidents involving injuries. Annually, the data shows that the number of people injured by large trucks driven by a driver intoxicated by alcohol is in the high 80s. The data for people injured in large truck accidents involving a driver using drugs is in the low 20s.

As for where these accidents tend to happen, the data shows Albuquerque having 28% of the people involved in large truck crashes. Next is Las Cruces at 6%. The state’s rural areas came in at 29%, while Bernalillo County is at 30% and Doña Ana County is at 9%.

Hire A Top-Notch Albuquerque Truck Accidents Lawyer

Contact our Albuquerque lawyers now for a complimentary consultation about your case and to learn what we do for people involved in tractor-trailer accidents. Call us today at 505-227-8315 or email us your contact information.

Want to learn more? You can view our truck accidents-related blog posts here.