All About Trucking Accidents in New Mexico
Right now, you have the opportunity to learn more about truck accidents, what causes them, who is responsible, and what you can do if you've been injured. You can call us at (888) 493-1629 for immediate help, or you can continue reading to learn all about trucking accidents in New Mexico.
Scroll down or click on any link below!
What's Increasing the Number of Truck Accidents in New Mexico?
To put it bluntly, there are more accidents now than 20 years ago because shipping companies designed the industry to overwork their drivers. Low pay and harsh conditions encourage drivers to break federal laws while putting themselves and others at risk. Most drivers are paid by the mile. For new drivers (the vast majority of drivers enter the industry with little-to-no knowledge), pay-by-mile sounds fair, but it leaves drivers unpaid for vital non-driving work. Daily inspection, waiting for loading and unloading, sitting in traffic—all of this eats away at a driver's living.
Trucking companies do it this way to keep costs low and predictable, helping their profit margins to grow as drivers push themselves to drive longer in order to make ends meet. Carriers turn a blind eye toward defying federal safety regulations in order to make more money. Unfortunately, that results in more pain than in better pay.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, up to 13% of trucking accidents are directly attributable to fatigue. However, officials believe these estimates are too low, as fatigue likely contributes to countless crashes. Evidence suggests moderate tiredness can impair driving ability as much as drinking alcohol.
Even when well-rested, truckers put themselves and others at risk when they push past the hours-of-service rules. At least 25% of trucking collisions occurred when the driver was driving for 17 hours or more without breaks. The result is tragic but inevitable: statistically, more than 3,000 people will die in trucking accidents in the next 12 months. Trucking companies have created an industry that churns through drivers while putting the public at risk.
Back to Top
Types of NM Truck Accident Cases We Handle
At Arnold & Itkin, we have a national reputation as leading trial attorneys. We have handled some of the biggest cases against the largest companies, standing up for good people who experienced the worst losses and injuries. When it comes to truck accident cases, our commitment to our clients has led to substantial, life-changing recoveries. In Albuquerque, across New Mexico, and nationwide, our trucking attorneys are here to help.
We've handled truck accident cases involving:
- 18-wheeler accidents
- Tractor-trailer collisions
- Box truck crashes
- Flatbed truck accidents
- Garbage truck accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Underride accidents
- Tanker truck crashes
- Tow truck collisions
- Gas truck accidents
- Delivery truck accidents
- Construction vehicle accidents
Back to Top
Cause & Liability in an Albuquerque Big Rig Accident
“Why did this happen?”
Truck accident survivors inevitably ask themselves this question. Victims' families ask the same thing. Determining what caused a big rig or 18-wheeler accident is one of the most important tasks for our Albuquerque truck accident attorneys. We need to understand what factors led to the collision so we can determine who is responsible. We can then file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party or parties for everything you've lost.
Truck accidents may be caused by:
- Fatigued drivers and hours-of-service violations
- Speeding or driving too fast for current road/weather conditions
- Improperly loaded trucks or cargo that is not secure
- Negligent inspections and poor maintenance of truck parts and equipment
- Defective truck or automobile parts
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Dangerous and defective roadways, traffic signs, or signals
- Unsafe lane changes, reckless merges, and failures to check blind spots
If any intentional act or instance of carelessness or negligence was the cause of your 18-wheeler accident, you may have a viable case. Proving liability will make you eligible to receive financial compensation for your losses and expenses, which may include emotional trauma, lost earnings, medical care, and much more. This can go a long way in helping you create a stable future for your family.
Back to Top
Types of Truck Accident Injuries
A truck accident can cause devastating harm, most often to the occupants of smaller vehicles. Pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicycle riders are at the greatest risk of injury in an accident with a large truck. The injuries any person experiences in a New Mexico 18-wheeler accident will depend on the circumstances surrounding the crash itself: the speed, force, and location of impact, the size of each vehicle, the type of cargo the truck is carrying, seat belt use, the crashworthiness of each vehicle, and more.
Some potential trucking accident injuries include:
- Whiplash
- Crush injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Brain injuries
- Severe burns
- Amputation/loss of limb
Back to Top
Fatal Trucking Accidents in New Mexico
Some truck accidents cause irreparable damage. They claim lives, leaving families without parents, spouses, children, and other loved ones. When this happens, families that have been torn apart can seek answers and accountability through wrongful death lawsuits. As New Mexico truck accident attorneys, we at Arnold & Itkin help families across the state and nation who have experienced devastating losses because of the negligent and careless conduct of trucking companies, manufacturers, and other at-fault parties.
A successful wrongful death case for a fatal trucking accident may include compensation for:
- Medical expenses prior to death
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of support
- Pain and suffering prior to death
- Funeral/burial costs
- Lost earnings
These damages cannot make up for the loss of someone you love, but they can make it easier to build a stable future for yourself and your family. A successful case can also bring peace of mind in seeing justice served.
Back to Top
Proven New Mexico UPS Truck Accident Lawyers
UPS is one of the leaders of the freight delivery industry. It possesses a commanding market share at 27 percent and employs more than 119,000 vehicles in its delivery fleet. However, according to FMCSA's latest data, its safety record has seen a substantial increase in crashes, injuries, and deaths since 2012.
- 2,003 crashes
- 689 injuries
- 49 deaths
Back to Top
Hurt in a New Mexico FedEx Truck Accident? Call Arnold & Itkin.
FedEx is another major player in the general freight delivery industry. It trails slightly behind UPS with a market share of 23% and a fleet of 90,000+ vehicles. However, its market share is bolstered by an army of lobbyists in Washington. From 2013 to 2014, FedEx employed 51 lobbyists—37 of whom had once been federal staffers. Since 2012, FedEx has seen an alarming increase in the number of collisions it's involved in. The number of injuries has more than doubled, and the number of crashes and fatalities in the same period have nearly tripled.
- 1,762 crashes
- 575 injuries
- 41 fatalities
See for yourself. Find out how often trucking companies get into accidents on the FMCSA website.
Back to Top
Facts & Info: New Mexico Truck Accidents
New Mexico Truck Accident Statistics (2014)
- There were 71 fatalities from truck crashes.
- Lea County had the most fatal truck accidents.
New Mexico State Information
- Population: 2,085,109
- Capital: Santa Fe
- Most Populous City: Albuquerque
Top 10 Cities
- Albuquerque
- Las Cruces
- Santa Fe
- Rio Rancho
- Roswell
- Farmington
- South Valley
- Alamogordo
- Clovis
- Hobbs
Top 5 Counties
- Bernalillo County
- Doña Ana County
- Santa Fe County
- Sandoval County
- San Juan County
Back to Top
Call Our New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyers at (888) 493-1629
Trucking companies and insurers don't help the victims of truck accidents. They won't offer to replace your income while you recover, to buy groceries for you, or to pay for your medical care. Insurers may promise to help, but they'll put you through months of delays and pressure you to settle for less before you see any money.
Our New Mexico 18-wheeler accident attorneys have done all that for our clients and more. We've helped them pay off their medical bills, keep their homes, and provide for their families while they decide what to do next. Our verdicts and settlements do more than help people get what they lost—we help them afford stability, afford peace, and afford the time to plan and dream about the future again. Get started by calling us for a free review of your case. We get nothing until you win—and we cover the costs of your case from start to finish.
Why You Can Trust Our Albuquerque Truck Accident Firm
- We have won billions of dollars on behalf of our clients.
- We use contingency fees, meaning you do not pay unless we win.
- We have won cases for clients from all 50 states.
- We have won cases that set both state and national records.
- We offer completely free and confidential consultations.
Call our New Mexico truck accident attorneys at (888) 493-1629 or contact us online for a free consultation.
