Many people who call New Mexico home live within the city limits of Albuquerque. Put simply, that means there are more cars on the roads in and around the Duke City than in most other areas of the state—and unfortunately, that means there are more auto accidents here than in other areas of the state.
If you have been hurt in a traffic collision that was not your fault, you may have multiple options for seeking financial restitution that a capable personal injury attorney can help you take advantage of. If you want to get the best result possible from your unique claim, you should seek help from an Albuquerque car accident lawyer with experience fighting—and winning—cases just like yours.
New Mexico takes a fault-based approach to car accident litigation, which means people injured in a wreck are not required by law to seek recovery through an insurance claim before proceeding to a civil lawsuit over the incident. While it is often prudent to file a claim against an at-fault driver’s liability insurance policy in order to recover for things like short-term medical bills and car repair costs, these policies rarely account for all the losses a traumatic traffic collision can cause. Per state law, insurance should provide at least $25,000 of coverage for one person’s injuries, $50,000 for all injuries, and $10,000 for all property damage from a single crash.
In order to recover for economic losses not covered by insurance, as well as non-economic forms of harm, like physical pain and emotional suffering, it may be necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit against the person most directly responsible for causing the wreck in question. A seasoned Albuquerque auto accident attorney could help collect and effectively present evidence to demonstrate how a specific reckless or careless act behind the wheel was the main cause of an otherwise preventable crash.
Legal counsel can also provide vital assistance with fighting accusations that an injured person was partially at fault for causing their own accident. Failing to contest this kind of claim made by the driver being sued could lead to a court assigning an injured person a percentage of fault for their own injuries and then reducing the total compensation available by that same percentage.
A car crash lawyer in Albuquerque could help construct and file the strongest civil claim as quickly as possible after the crash in question. Otherwise, the three-year filing deadline set by New Mexico Statutes § 37-1-8 might expire before the legal process begins, leaving the injured person with no means of getting civil compensation for that particular injury.
Auto accidents are one of the most common causes of personal injuries not just in New Mexico but all over the United States. Unfortunately, the fact that incidents like this happen so often does not make it any easier to take effective legal action, especially if you try to do so entirely on your own.
Working closely with a skilled Albuquerque car accident lawyer improves your chances of getting a favorable result from your claim and obtaining every cent of the restitution you deserve. Call today to learn more.
