Understanding New Mexico Trucking Crashes: Evaluating Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is one of New Mexico’s busiest highway and intestates. In fact, it is one of the United States’ busiest interstates as well. It is the third longest interstate in the United States which runs through some of the largest cities in the country, including Memphis, TN, Raleigh, NC, Oklahoma City, OK, and our own Albuquerque, New Mexico.
In New Mexico, I-40 is approximately 374 miles long and has the highest speed limit of 75 MPH. Of all of New Mexico’s interstates, however, I-40 is the most deadly. It is nationally ranked as the 54th most dangerous stretch of interstate in the country (only the portion through New Mexico). In a study of the accident numbers from 2004-2008, there were 247 fatal accidents resulting in 293 fatalities. This equates to .66 fatalities per mile, which was the measure used in the study. A more recent study found Interstate 40 to be the sixth most dangerous stretch with 344 crashes resulting in 395 fatalities. That is more than one fatalities a day on I-40.
Reasons Why Interstate Crashes Are So Dangerous: Large Commercial Trucks, Speed, and Weight
Interstate crashes are so dangerous because they are vital to the logistics and trucking business. Many large trucking companies such as Estes, UPS, FedEx, Schneider National, McLane, J.B. Hunt, and many others use these routes to ship cargo across the county. I-40 goes directly across the country from North Carolina through California. Thus the largest reason why I-40 is so dangerous is there are so many large commercial vehicles on the road. Even a small and low-speed bumper tap from a large commercial truck could result in a catastrophic injury to a victim.
But on I-40, it is very rare for there to be a low-speed collision. This stretch of I-40 in New Mexico is the fastest stretch of I-40 in the country at 75 MPH. This is why collisions are so deadly on I-40 because the speed at which the vehicles are traveling is so high. When large commercial trucks are involved, the speed combined with the weight creates a lot of momentum which must be dispersed into whatever it hits. If that is a passenger vehicle, the victims will be seriously injured or killed in the trucking crash.
Therefore, the greatest factors causing I-40 crashes and making them fatal are the significant number of large commercial trucks, the high speed at which they travel, and the weight of those large trucks.
Common Injuries in I-40 Trucking Crashes
One of the most common injury—and certainly the most severe—in a New Mexico I-40 trucking crash is wrongful death. It is a sad but true that many people are killed every year in New Mexico on I-40. This is the ultimate personal injury which will effect an entire family. Your attorneys can provide the legal help for wrongful death that you may be searching for.
Other common injuries caused by I-40 trucking crashes in New Mexico include the following:
- Amputation;
- Paralysis;
- Spinal cord injuries;
- Traumatic brain injuries;
- Nerve injuries;
- Broken bones;
- Orbital blowout fractures;
- Need for shoulder replacement or hip replacement;
- Significant lacerations;
- Burns caused by fire or by chemicals being transported;
- Loss of eyesight;
- Organ damage; and
- Many other types of injuries.
I-40 Trucking Crashes in New Mexico are Deadly: The Above Statistics Prove You Need to Call a New Mexico Trucking Crash Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, call the experienced Albuquerque semi truck accident attorneys today. You can also contact us on our website to schedule a free consultation.