Did you sustain injuries in an accident due to someone’s intentional or negligent act? Our Albuquerque personal injury attorneys can help you pursue legal recourse. If you or a loved one have been involved in a motor vehicle accident in Albuquerque, or anywhere in New Mexico, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your sufferings.
Our Albuquerque car accident lawyers are dedicated to fighting for the rights of personal injury victims, providing expert legal services to help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Call our Albuquerque law office today for a free case review at (505) 883-5000.
Why Choose Caruso Law Offices?
At Caruso Law Offices, we exclusively represent clients who’ve suffered injuries in motor vehicle accidents like pedestrian, car, truck, and motorcycle accidents in Albuquerque. We have a team dedicated to the sole purpose of navigating personal injury claims under New Mexico injury law to obtain the best possible outcome for our clients as our purpose.
How Our Albuquerque Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help
We provide our clients with many advantages in their claims including the following:
- Invaluable Skills: We are skilled investigators, aggressive negotiators, and well-practiced court litigators in all areas of motor vehicle accidents. Our firm also has valuable resources such as on-call expert witnesses to effectively prove your case. We are the right personal injury lawyers in Albuquerque to fight for your compensation.
- Extensive Experience: We have over 20 years of experience in Albuquerque personal injury law, gaining deep insights and creative solutions to the most challenging cases over the decades of our practice. Some attorneys in our firm previously worked for insurance companies so their experience on the other side benefits our clients.
- Proven Results: Our track record of success for clients injured in motor-vehicle accidents includes many multi-million dollar resolutions for our clients, including recent notable wins for $7.8 million, $4.5 million, and a $12 million settlement.
We will also happily take on clients with only a single medical bill and a lost paycheck with equal fervor. We believe in every injury victim’s right to compensation after an accident caused by someone else’s actions.
What Our Clients Have to Say
“The lawyers were knowledgeable, empathetic, and proactive…”
– Catherine G.
Read More Client Testimonials Here
Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Albuquerque, NM
The skilled injury legal team at Caruso Law Offices offers legal services in multiple motor vehicle-related accidents. The expertise of our Albuquerque personal injury attorney includes the following:
- Bicycle accidents: being involved in a bicycle accident in Albuquerque, NM can lead to severe physical injuries and significant emotional trauma.
- Car accidents: car accidents often result in serious injuries, property damage, and substantial financial loss, making it essential to seek legal help.
- Motorcycle accidents: motorcycle accidents can cause life-altering injuries due to the lack of protection for riders. Pursuing a Albuquerque motorcycle accident claim can provide the necessary financial support for recovery and hold negligent parties accountable.
- Pedestrian accidents: pedestrian accidents typically involve severe injuries due to the vulnerability of pedestrians.
- Truck accidents: these accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries and extensive property damage, necessitating legal action. A lawyer can navigate the complexities of truck regulations and ensure victims receive adequate compensation through.
- Wrongful death: in cases of wrongful death, the loss of a loved one can cause immense emotional and financial strain. Pursuing a claim with the assistance of a wrongful death lawyer in Albuquerque can provide justice and financial relief for the bereaved family.
Common Injuries in Albuquerque Accidents
Motor-vehicle accidents such as big rig truck accidents in Albuquerque cause injuries ranging from mild to severe. Some injuries are life-altering, such as those that result in disability, disfigurement, loss of limb, or death.
Common injuries for accident victims in Albuquerque personal injury claims include the following:
- Back injuries
- Brain injuries
- Burns
- Facial injuries
- Fractures
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Knee injuries
- Neck injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Traumatic limb loss
Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents
Some accidents occur due to road hazards or inclement weather, but the most common cause of motor vehicle accidents that result in serious injuries is driver error. Common causes of serious car, truck, and pedestrian accidents in Albuquerque include:
- Distracted driving
- Driving through red lights or stop signs
- Drunk driving
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Faulty car parts
- Making left-hand turns
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Unsafe lane changes
- Unsafe merging
In less common traffic-accident-related personal injury claims, the manufacturer of a defective auto part or a negligent road maintenance organization is the at-fault party in a claim.
What to Do After an Injury In Albuquerque
It’s difficult to keep calm and take the right steps after an accident, especially if you or a loved one suffered serious harm. If you can keep a clear head and use your cell phone, you can take steps to protect your physical and financial future. If you are too injured to move safely, ask an uninjured person at the scene to take photos for you using your phone or theirs.
Do the following after any motor-vehicle accident:
- Call 911: first, call 911 to report the accident and request emergency services.
- Take photos: then, use the cell phone camera to take photos of the accident scene, including the surroundings, the damaged vehicles, and anything relevant to the cause of the accident. Take photos of any visible injuries as well.
- Get contact information: add the contact information of the involved drivers and of any eyewitnesses that stopped or saw the accident.
- Write or record what you remember: record a brief statement about what you recall of the moments before the accident while they are fresh in your mind.
- Be cautious with your words: never say anything that can later be construed as admitting fault, even a simple “I’m sorry” may be used against you later
- Request a full medical evaluation: go directly to a hospital from the accident scene and request a full medical evaluation as well as emergency treatment for obvious injuries. Ask your doctor for a detailed medical report and then follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations carefully. Keep copies of all medical invoices and receipts for related expenses.
- Contact an attorney: contact an Albuquerque injury lawyer and speak to them about your case.
Potential Compensation In Personal Injury Cases
If you get injured in any motor vehicle accident and sustain brain or spinal cord injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages and losses you have experienced. Here are some of the types of compensation you may be eligible to receive with the help of an Albuquerque injury attorney from our law firm:
- Assistive devices and home modifications: this can include include wheelchair ramps or bathroom adaptations, and assistive devices like crutches or wheelchairs. Compensation can help cover the costs of these accommodations.
- Lost wages: you may receive damages for lost wages while you were unable to work as well as potential compensation for diminished earning potential if your injuries impact your future earning capacity.
- Loss of consortium: in cases where the accident has had a significant impact on your relationships, such as the loss of companionship, guidance, or affection from a spouse or family member, you may receive loss of consortium compensation.
- Medical expenses: personal injury victims often face substantial medical bills, including emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care. Compensation can cover these expenses, both past and future.
- Pain and suffering: compensation for pain and suffering aims to provide financial relief for the physical discomfort, mental anguish, emotional pain, and reduced quality of life you have experienced due to the accident.
- Property damage: this can cover the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle and any personal property damaged in the accident, such as electronic devices or personal belongings.
- Therapy and rehabilitation: if you require rehabilitation, physical therapy, or occupational therapy to recover from your injuries, the cost of these treatments can be included in your compensation.
It’s important to note that the compensation you may receive will depend on the unique factors in your case, including the severity of your injuries and the impact on your life. Speak with our knowledgeable personal injury lawyer in Albuquerque about the unique factors of your situation for personalized legal advice.
Personal Injury Claim Liability
Reckless or careless behavior can cause severe injuries, giving you grounds to file a case against the negligent party. However, it is important to prove liability to receive the compensation you deserve. The following four factors must be proved to hold those who caused your injuries accountable:
- Firstly, you must prove that the negligent party had the duty of care to take precautions to avoid risking harm to others
- You must prove that the negligent party breached that duty of care
- You must prove a direct relation between the accident that led to your injuries and the breached duty of care
- You must prove the accident resulted in injuries and other damages
Proving liability in these cases is challenging, which is why consulting an experienced Albuquerque personal injury lawyer is important.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in New Mexico?
There is generally a time limit for how long you have to file a claim known as the statute of limitations. In personal injury cases in New Mexico, under N.M. Stat. § 37-1-8, you must file a claim within three years from the accident date to recover compensation.
Do I Have to Go to Court for a Personal Injury Case?
Most personal injury claims such as those from motor-vehicle accidents are resolved through direct, evidence-backed negotiations with the insurance company of the at-fault party. Over 95% of these claims end in a settlement so the victim never has to go to court.
Only in cases of an insurer that fails to offer an acceptable settlement amount or wrongfully denies a claim do we take the matter to court by filing a lawsuit within the state’s three-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits.
Common Tactics Insurance Companies Use to Deny or Undervalue Personal Injury Claims in New Mexico
New Mexico’s comparative negligence insurance laws incentivize insurance companies to assign an undue burden of fault to injury victims to protect their profits. A personal injury attorney in Albuquerque helps safeguard your rights and best interests against these and other insurance company tactics.
Be wary of the following methods insurance companies use against personal injury victims in Albuquerque:
- Calling soon after an accident with a low settlement offer that requires you to sign away your right to a lawsuit
- Claiming that your doctor’s recommended treatment isn’t necessary for your injuries
- Calling on a recorded line and using your words out of context against you
- Asking for medical authorization to review your injury records and then scouring your medical history for a pre-existing condition or medical condition to blame for your pain or other symptoms
- Following your social media accounts to “catch” you looking fit and well
It’s always best to hire an Albuquerque personal injury lawyer soon after your accident and then direct all communication with the insurance company to your lawyer at Caruso Law Offices.
Contact Our Albuquerque Injury Lawyer
Personal injury cases can be complex, so talking to an experienced lawyer is important. If you have sustained injuries in a motor vehicle accident in Albuquerque or anywhere in New Mexico, the skilled personal injury attorneys at Caruso Law Offices are ready to help.
Our team focuses on a client-centric approach and provides personalized legal action plan to every client based on their unique case. With over 32 years of experience, we have expertise in handling personal injury cases and receiving favorable outcomes for our clients.
Contact us today and learn how we can help you seek justice and fair compensation. Our experienced Albuquerque personal injury attorney is ready to help.