Side-impact collisions, including T-bone crashes, can lead to severe injuries for the occupants of the vehicle that another driver strikes. While many cars have front airbags to cushion the impact and protect occupants from a front or rear-end collision, side airbags and similar protections are much less common. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to a negligent driver, you might want to get the advice of an Albuquerque side-impact collisions lawyer.
We encourage you to contact us immediately so that we can evaluate your claim. You may be worried about paying for legal fees, but we want to make it possible for everyone to have legal representation after suffering car accident injuries. At
Ben Crump Law, PLLC, we will take your case on a contingent basis, which allows you to get the claims process started without paying any money to us upfront. After you potentially receive your settlement award, then we will receive payment for our fees. Contact us today at (800) 598-7557 and take the first step toward getting compensation for your injuries after a car accident.
Car Accidents Involving Side-Impact Collisions
Car accidents are common, and chances are that you or a loved one will be involved in an accident at some point in your life. While many collisions are minor, some are serious enough to cause injuries and property damage, which can lead to insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits. In its 2018 Annual Traffic Crash Report, the New Mexico Department of Transportation reports that nearly 47,000 traffic accidents occurred throughout the state involving over 116,000 people. Almost 20,000 of those people suffered injuries in their crashes. The overall crash rate for New Mexico was at its highest rate in at least five years.
Side-impact collisions make up a significant number of motor vehicle accidents nationwide. Due to the potential for devastating and sometimes fatal injuries in side-impact collisions, getting the advice of an Albuquerque side-impact collisions lawyer may be useful.
For a free legal consultation with a side-impact collisions lawyer serving Albuquerque, call (800) 598-7557
Establishing Liability in Car Accident Claims
Most car accident injury claims, including those resulting from a side-impact collision, arise from the negligence of one or more drivers. All drivers have a legal duty to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner. The purpose of this duty is to protect other drivers, passengers, and people nearby. Committing a traffic violation, such as speeding, failing to stop at a stop sign, or failing to yield to an oncoming vehicle may result only in a traffic ticket, but it also could result in civil liability if an accident occurs in which someone suffers injuries.
Once you have established that another driver or drivers were negligent in striking your vehicle, you also must provide evidence that the collision directly caused your injuries and that you have suffered losses as a result of those injuries. In other words, you likely must provide documentation of your injuries, usually through medical records or doctor reports, as well as the costs associated with those injuries. Documentation of your losses might include medical bills and lost wages due to an inability to work.
You also may be eligible for compensation for less tangible items in this situation. For instance, you might be able to claim compensation for your physical pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life. Although these forms of compensation might be more difficult to value, they still may be available, depending on your circumstances.
Albuquerque Side-Impact Collisions Lawyer Near Me (800) 598-7557
Comparative Negligence and Side-Impact Collision Claims
When a side-impact collision occurs, one driver may be at fault or both drivers may be at fault for causing the crash. Although a claim involving only one at-fault party may be the simplest type of claim, injury victims who bear some degree of fault for the accident still can seek compensation from other at-fault parties under state law. Unlike some other states, which require that the injured parties be less than 50% at fault for the accident to recover compensation, New Mexico places no maximum level of fault on the injured party to qualify for compensation.
Under New Mexico Statutes § 41-3A-1, the legal concept of pure comparative negligence applies when an injured driver is partially at fault for causing an accident. Under this law, an injury victim could be as much as 99% at fault for causing an accident but still theoretically seek compensation for his injuries from the other party.
However, injured drivers who bear some fault for an accident only can recover a limited amount of damages, according to their degree of fault. For instance, if a driver claims $30,000 in damages, but is 50% at fault for causing the accident, the maximum amount of compensation that the driver could receive is $15,000, or 50% of the claimed damages.
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Seek Compensation for Your Injuries
As an injured party, you have the right to hold negligent drivers accountable for their wrongful actions. You also should not be solely responsible for paying the often significant costs of your injuries on your own. Taking responsibility for negligent driving involves those drivers being financially liable for the expenses related to your injuries. An Albuquerque side-impact collisions lawyer can be instrumental in your ability to seek justice for your losses and get compensation for your injuries.
Car accidents are a fact of life, but you do not have to bear the costs of your injuries on your own. When drivers act negligently, they must pay for the consequences of their actions. Call (800) 598-7557 today to get in touch with Ben Crump Law, PLLC, and learn more about your legal rights after you or a loved one suffered injuries in a side-impact collision.
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