Commercial truck accidents in Albuquerque are complex – period. Because of the sheer size of these vehicles, including 18-wheelers, the damage can be massive, even for minor accidents. Right after a truck accident, your concern should be about seeking medical assistance. Injuries often such accidents can be quite serious. Typically, people often suffer brain, neck, spinal cord, and back injuries in truck accidents, which may take months in recovery. New Mexico is a fault state. This means that the party responsible for your injuries, losses, and damages, should eventually pay compensation (through their insurance company up to the limit). For you own good, you may want to hire one of the known truck accident lawyers in Albuquerque.
Investigating the accident
Truck accidents are different than regular car crashes and auto accidents. There are often multiple parties involved, and more layers of insurance involved. Just because you were hit by a commercial truck doesn’t mean you can directly blame the trucker. Truck drivers work for trucking companies, and if the latter didn’t spend enough on vehicle maintenance, the blame could be theirs. You need an attorney, because they can investigate the accident and determine liability. As needed, attorneys often rely accident reconstruction to establish both liability and fault.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
Note that insurance companies are not on your side. Even if you manage to find about liability and file a claim, the insurance company will try to evade responsibility and liability. Claims adjusters are interested in minimizing the financial burden of the company they work for, and they would do anything to get a statement, which can go against you. A skilled attorney knows what it takes to deal with trucking companies and their insurers. They can negotiate on your behalf, work on a strategy that’s best suited for the case, and if needed, they can even represent you at trial.
Comparative Negligence in New Mexico
New Mexico follows the pure comparative negligence rule. In a trucking accident, if you are found to have minor share in fault, your eventual settlement will be reduced, by your fault percentage. Insurance companies and trucking businesses often try to use these facts, to minimize what they pay for claims. Get an attorney, because you don’t want your fault to impact your rightful claim.
Most truck accident attorneys in Albuquerque work on a contingency fee, so you don’t have to pay the lawyer, until and unless they win.
