Espanola Car Accident Lawyer

Espanola Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents happen unexpectedly and often leave victims injured, wondering how to recover. An Espanola car accident lawyer is the ideal asset to have on your side in this situation. Your legal representative can work to prove the other driver’s responsibility for the accident, navigate the legal proceedings necessary for recovering your losses, and win maximum compensation for you from the driver at fault.

Representing Car Accident Victims in Espanola, NM

Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Harwood, LLC, can represent you in the aftermath of a car accident caused by another driver in the Espanola area. Our firm has years of experience helping injured clients recover their damages in all sorts of personal injury cases, including those arising from car accidents. We know the various challenges you might face in your efforts to recover your losses and want to help you approach your recovery with confidence and peace of mind.

When you hire our firm as your representative in a car accident case, you are investing in the services of an experienced team of attorneys who have the skills and professional resources necessary to address the most challenging aspects of your case. We can help you prove fault for your accident, which is a necessary first step in the recovery process under the fault rule.

Once we have helped you prove fault, we can guide you through the next steps in your recovery, which are likely to include a claim for compensation against the responsible driver’s vehicle insurance policy and a personal injury suit if their insurance cannot fully cover your damages. Whatever your case entails, trust our firm to provide unwavering support through every stage of your proceedings until you recover as much compensation as state law allows for your damages.

How to Prove Fault for a Car Accident

Many of the car accidents reported in the Espanola area happen because of driver negligence, such as inattentive driving, moving violations, and speeding. We can help our clients obtain traffic camera footage, if available, from the accident scene, drivers’ cell phone records, and various other forms of physical and digital evidence to help them prove exactly how an accident happened.

It is also possible for another driver’s illegal misconduct to have caused your accident. Driving under the influence (DUI) and reckless driving are the most common ways for this to occur. In this situation, the at-fault driver is likely to face criminal prosecution alongside their liability for your civil damages. Trust our firm to help you navigate this complex case and maximize your recovery, ensuring that the illegal nature of the defendant’s actions is reflected in your case award.

Filing Your Auto Insurance Claim in Espanola

All drivers in the state must have motor vehicle insurance that includes liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage. When a driver causes an accident, their insurance can pay for the damages they caused. However, filing an auto insurance claim may be more challenging than you initially expected because an insurance company will almost always fight back against a claim for compensation.

Insurance companies must respond to claims for coverage within a reasonable time, but they will sometimes drag out this process as much as possible in the hope that the claimant’s desperation will compel them to accept a lowball offer. Some insurance companies engage in bad faith tactics to limit their financial liability, effectively taking advantage of injured claimants. When they see a claimant has legal counsel, they are less likely to attempt such actions.

Your car accident lawyer can help you ensure fair treatment from the insurer and a reasonable settlement offer. If an insurance claim cannot recoup all your losses, you will need to prepare a personal injury suit. This civil claim could enable you to recover more compensation than you might expect, and the right personal injury attorney can help you maximize the results of a successful claim.

How to Build a Personal Injury Case in Espanola

The main objective of a personal injury claim is for the plaintiff to be made as whole as possible again after suffering harm from another party’s actions. Success with a personal injury suit in the state will require clear proof of liability as well as proof of the extent of the plaintiff’s damages. This means they must prove that a defendant is responsible for their damages and prove the full extent of those damages.

The plaintiff in a personal injury suit has the right to seek full recompense for all direct financial losses they sustained because of the defendant. These are generally proven with documentation showing they resulted directly from the incident. If, for example, the defendant’s auto insurance policy cannot fully compensate your vehicle repair costs, you can claim all remaining property losses as economic damages in your personal injury case.

Other economic damages you are likely able to claim can include medical expenses, long-term medical treatment costs for serious injuries, lost wages, and your lost future earning capacity if your accident has left you disabled and unable to work again in the future. Your car accident lawyer can be invaluable for the help they can provide in accurately calculating the extent of your immediate and future economic damages in your personal injury suit.

The state’s personal injury laws also enable plaintiffs to seek recompense for the pain and suffering they experienced. This might sound difficult to translate into monetary terms, and New Mexico does not cap or limit pain and suffering compensation in vehicle accident claims. Additionally, there is no set formula that a plaintiff is required to use to determine appropriate pain and suffering compensation to seek with their claim.

Your car accident lawyer can help you maximize this aspect of your case award by helping you prove the extent of the damage you suffered. Your pain and suffering compensation could potentially amount to more than the total compensation you receive for your economic damages if you suffered any type of permanently disabling injury.

Whatever your car accident case entails, trust Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Harwood, LLC, to help you maximize your recovery through every available avenue of compensation. You have a limited time to build your case, so it is important that you reach out to our firm as soon as possible after a car accident in the Espanola area.

FAQs

Q: Do I Need a Lawyer to File an Auto Insurance Claim in Espanola?

A: You do not technically need to hire a lawyer to file an auto insurance claim in Espanola. It is possible to file your claim on your own, but you are likely to have a much easier time with the claim filing process if you have an attorney’s assistance. Additionally, you will be better prepared to address any unexpected complications that arise with your claim, and you can resolve any disputes the insurance company might raise against your claim.

Q: Can a Driver Go to Jail for Causing an Accident?

A: Yes, a driver could go to jail for causing an accident if they broke the law in doing so. While most of the vehicle accidents reported throughout the Espanola area happen because of driver negligence, accidents may also occur from illegal misconduct, like driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Your car accident lawyer can help you understand how an at-fault driver’s illegal behavior might influence your recovery.

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Recover for a Car Accident in Espanola?

A: The amount of compensation you could recover for a car accident in Espanola will depend on the serious nature of your damages. The at-fault driver is liable for any economic losses you suffered in the accident, and you also have the right to claim compensation for projected future losses and your pain and suffering. An car accident lawyer can estimate the total potential value of your case.

Q: Why Should I Hire an Espanola Car Accident Lawyer?

A: You should hire an car accident lawyer because recovering from your recent accident may be more challenging than you expect. You may need help proving fault, filing your insurance claim, and building a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver. These recovery efforts will be much easier for you to handle successfully if you have legal counsel you trust on your side, and you will also be more likely to maximize your total recovery with their help.

Q: What Happens if I’m Partially at Fault for an Accident?

A: If you are partially at fault for an accident, the state’s pure comparative fault rule will apply to your case, and you will face a diminished recovery to reflect your percentage of fault. For example, if the facts show that you are 30% at fault, you should expect to lose 30% of the compensation won from the defendant as a penalty. An experienced attorney can help their client minimize any fault percentage assigned to them.

The attorneys at Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Harwood, LLC, have successfully represented many car accident victims in their recovery efforts, and we are ready to apply our professional experience to your case. You have a limited time to file your auto insurance claim and must meet the deadline for a personal injury suit. Contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation with an Espanola car accident lawyer.