Experiencing a truck accident is terrifying, incredibly dangerous, and overwhelming, especially on New Mexico’s busiest highways: I-40 crossing Albuquerque, I-25 in Santa Fe, I-10 through Las Cruces, and U.S. 285 stretching to Roswell.
Collisions with massive commercial tractor-trailers often result in serious physical injuries, financial hardship, and emotional trauma for survivors, not to mention a potential legal battle if the truck driver’s negligence caused the accident.
A New Mexico truck accident lawyer with Bailey & Galyen can help you seek justice and compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. With decades of experience handling complex truck accident claims, we know what it takes to hold drivers, trucking companies, and even vehicle manufacturers accountable.
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New Mexico Truck Accident Guide
- The Special Dangers of Commercial Truck Accidents
- Liability in New Mexico Truck Accidents
- Investigating the Cause of a Truck Accident
- Recovering Damages After a Truck Accident in New Mexico
- Legal Deadlines: How Long Do You Have to File a Claim?
- Common Injuries in New Mexico Truck Accidents
- Can I Afford a New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer?
- Why Choose Bailey & Galyen in Your Truck Accident Case?
The Special Dangers of Commercial Truck Accidents
Cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks are no match for a commercial truck that weighs 30 times more than the average car. When passenger vehicles collide with a semi-truck, the crash generates massive, violent forces that are transferred to the vehicle occupants.
A commercial truck’s high ground clearance also poses the risk of severe injuries or fatalities in side- or rear-end collisions that can wedge passenger vehicles underneath. Other hazards unique to large trucks include significant blind spots, limited maneuverability, and longer braking distances.
Liability in New Mexico Truck Accidents
Truck accidents often involve multiple parties that may share liability. Parties that can be fully or partially at fault for a trucking accident include:
Truck Drivers
As professional drivers, truck drivers must hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) that allows them to operate an 18-wheeler or other big rig. But that doesn’t mean they always drive safely. Some negligent truck driver behaviors that can have deadly consequences include:
- Drowsy driving / fatigue due to long hours on the road
- Distracted driving, including using phones or other handheld devices or adjusting onboard electronics
- Speeding or aggressive driving, which increases the severity of accidents
- Impaired driving, whether due to substance use or prescription medication
- Failure to follow traffic laws and regulations specific to commercial vehicles
Trucking Companies
Trucking companies are required to ensure that their drivers, vehicles, and operations meet strict federal and state safety standards. Negligence by a trucking company may involve:
- Failing to conduct thorough background checks and screenings on drivers
- Ignoring regular maintenance schedules or necessary repairs
- Pressuring drivers to meet tight delivery schedules, leading to violations of hours-of-service regulations
- Not providing proper training or safety oversight for drivers and staff
- Overloading trucks beyond legal weight limits, which degrades handling and braking
Manufacturers
If a truck accident is caused by a vehicle or part defect, manufacturers may be liable. Common issues include:
- Defective parts, such as faulty brakes, steering systems, or engines
- Design flaws in truck models from brands like Freightliner, Peterbilt, and Volvo
- Tire blowouts or failures from manufacturers such as Bridgestone, Goodyear, and Michelin
- Faulty cargo restraints or other safety mechanisms that fail under stress
Determining liability in a truck crash often requires exhaustive investigation. Our team of New Mexico truck accident lawyers examines every detail, including hours of service (HOS) driving logs, maintenance records, potential recalls, design flaws, and more to identify every responsible party and hold them accountable.
Investigating the Cause of a Truck Accident
Our team of New Mexico truck accident attorneys partners with skilled accident reconstruction experts and other professionals to determine the exact causes of every truck accident case we handle. Critical evidence often includes:
Electronic logging devices (ELDs): These devices track a truck driver’s hours on the road and can reveal whether a driver has violated federal regulations limiting driving hours.- Black box data: Similar to aircraft black boxes, these devices record data on speed, braking, and acceleration, providing a clearer picture of driver behavior.
- Maintenance records: These records show whether a trucking company regularly inspected and maintained its fleet as required by law.
- Eyewitness accounts and surveillance: Statements from those who saw the accident and any available traffic camera footage can become a crucial part of an investigation.
Recovering Damages After a Truck Accident in New Mexico
Truck accidents can disrupt an individual’s life in many ways. While every truck accident case is different, you may be able to seek compensation for damages that cover:
- Medical expenses: Medical bills for hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and long-term care can be significant and add up quickly.
- Lost wages or income: Recovering from severe injuries often requires time off work, resulting in lost income.
- Loss of future earning potential: You can recover lost future income damages if your injuries prevent you from returning to your job, depriving you not only of pay but benefits, bonuses, and other perks.
- Pain and suffering: The physical and emotional pain that accompanies severe injuries deserves recognition and compensation.
- Property damage: The impact of a truck on a personal vehicle often results in total loss, leaving you with unexpected costs to repair or replace your vehicle.
- Wrongful Death: If your life has been devastated by the loss of a loved one, you may be eligible for a range of damages, providing compensation for loss of financial support, hospital bills, loss of consortium, pain and suffering, funeral and burial expenses, and more.
Legal Deadlines: How Long Do You Have to File a Claim?
Time is a critical factor when filing a claim after a truck accident. New Mexico law sets a statute of limitations for personal injury claims, generally allowing three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline could mean losing your chance to secure the compensation you need, making it vital to act swiftly.
The law also includes exceptions that may affect the timeline of your case. If you’re unsure about how the law affects you, our New Mexico truck accident lawyers can review your case, answer your questions, and help you understand your rights under New Mexico law.
Common Injuries in New Mexico Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are normally the worst traffic accident cases our personal injury lawyers handle. Survivors are often left with lifelong and debilitating injuries that affect every aspect of their lives, including their entire family. Some truck accident injuries our clients have suffered include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and other head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Whiplash
- Severe lacerations and burns
- Amputations
- Soft tissue injuries
- Paralysis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Can I Afford a New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer?
Yes, you can. At Bailey & Galyen, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront or out of pocket. Our clients owe nothing for our services unless we win their case, making high-quality legal representation accessible to everyone, regardless of financial standing. Our approach ensures that you can pursue justice and fair compensation without financial barriers.
Why Choose Bailey & Galyen in Your Truck Accident Case?
With a proven record of helping accident victims across Texas and New Mexico, Bailey & Galyen brings dedication, compassion, and results to every case. Our New Mexico personal injury lawyer operates with an unwavering commitment to client care, offering 24/7 access to our team and a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
We understand the toll that truck accidents take on victims and entire families, and we work tirelessly to ease their burdens. And, while we can’t restore your life to the way it was before the accident, we can help secure maximum compensation for your damages and losses so that you can spend your time and energy on healing and rebuilding your life.
Call us today at (844) 402-2992 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a Bailey & Galyen truck accident lawyer, or contact us online.
