Santa Fe Truck Accident Lawyer

Santa Fe Truck Accident Attorney

Semi-trucks are a necessary part of our country’s economy, but they also pose dangers to pedestrians and other motorists, as they are much larger than the typical automobile and can cause catastrophic injuries in an accident. If you were the victim of a collision with a semi-truck, you need to hire a Santa Fe trucking accident attorney to represent you in court.

At Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Harwood, LLC, we can represent you after an injury has left you with mounting hospital bills and no recourse to pay them as you wait to return to work. We can tirelessly advocate for you and pursue a settlement that will ease the financial hardships on you and your family.

Can Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Harwood, LLC, After I Sustain an Injury in a Trucking Accident?

At Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Harwood, LLC, we aim to provide clients with individualized care and aggressive representation. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling personal injury cases after any type of automobile accident, including those involving semi-trucks. We’re prepared to assist you with your trucking accident case.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Trucking Accidents in Santa Fe?

Since semi-trucks and dump trucks are so large, they often require many more variables to operate properly. Not only does the driver need to be in top condition, but the vehicle itself needs to be as well. Failure to maintain even a minor part of the vehicle can lead to a dangerous wreck and send people to the hospital.

Some of the most common reasons why trucking accidents occur in Santa Fe, New Mexico are:

• Fatigued drivers: Truck drivers often work seemingly endless schedules and have to haul freight for days at a time. If they don’t have enough time to rest, their driving may be impaired, and they can more easily cause a traffic accident.
• Driving under the influence: DUI is a rampant problem in the US, and it affects truck drivers as well as non-commercial vehicle operators. When a driver is under the influence of drugs, they won’t have the necessary reaction time to avoid accidents and keep pedestrians safe.
• Speeding: Truck drivers often have very tight deadlines for making deliveries, with little time to waste. When they near their deadline, a truck driver might speed to make it to their destination in time. However, this puts themselves and other drivers at risk of injury, as the trucks become much more difficult to steer at higher velocities.
• Vehicle malfunctions: The issue may occur before a truck driver even begins driving. If the vehicle has poor maintenance or the load is not properly tied down, it can lead to an accident even if the driver does everything correctly.
• Road problems: In some cases, it may be the road you’re driving on that causes the accident. If a truck driver has to swerve to avoid a pothole or a problem with the road causes them to lose control, it can cause a multi-vehicle accident. In these instances, you will likely have to file a claim against the government entity maintaining the road.

Typical Injuries After a New Mexico Trucking Accident

Trucking accidents cause many of the typical injuries expected of a motor vehicle accident but on a larger scale. The injuries are likely to be more severe than those of a normal car accident, and many more vehicles can be involved in the accident since trucks are so large.

Some of the most common injuries from trucking accidents include:

• Broken bones: During an accident, your body will move forcefully, and your limbs could strike any of the numerous solid surfaces in your car. You could break an arm, collarbone, ankle, or leg after a crash. While these injuries are not commonly fatal, they will impact your quality of life and can keep you out of work while you recover.
• Traumatic brain injuries: Even if your airbag deploys, your head could still strike a part of the car and give you a concussion or other traumatic brain injury. Recovery from these injuries is not always easy, and you’ll likely be spending some time in the hospital after the incident for tests and examinations. Severe TBIs could have lifelong effects.
• Spinal injuries: Even a moderate amount of force on your spine can cause injuries to your nervous system and impact your ability to move and go about your life. Recovery from a spinal injury takes significant time and medical care. Oftentimes, spinal injuries could result in permanent disabilities like paralysis.
• Whiplash or other neck injuries: Your neck is especially vulnerable during a crash. If your neck whips back and forth, it can cause whiplash and discomfort to your neck.
• Lacerations: Broken glass is typically a result of a car crash, and when that glass flies through the air, it can cause damage to your skin. A minor cut or scrape isn’t particularly worrying, but major lacerations will require stitches and significant time to fully heal. In the worst cases, they can cause noticeable scarring or disfigurement to your body.

How Do I Know if I Have a Personal Injury Case, and How Do I Prove It?

In a Santa Fe personal injury case, you’ll need to establish fault on the part of another party. They do not have to be solely responsible for the accident, but they must have some culpability through their negligence in injuring you. Proving this negligence isn’t always easy, but gathering evidence after the accident will be useful later on.

After a crash, if your injuries aren’t too severe, you should check on anyone involved and call for emergency medical help if they need it. After you call an ambulance, you should contact the police and wait for them to arrive.

While waiting, you should be proactive. Take photos of the scene if your phone survives the crash. Get a picture of the general area, the road conditions, your vehicle, the truck, and any other automobile involved. You should also take a picture of your injuries for evidence.

You should also exchange information with the other drivers to find a way to contact them in the future. Once the police arrive, explain the facts of the situation. Don’t embellish anything or say anything that might affect your ability to seek compensation down the line. In some cases, even apologizing can be misconstrued as admitting fault by insurance companies or the other party.

Once you finish the initial steps, you should go to a hospital for a full examination and then speak with an attorney to see how they can assist you with pursuing a personal injury claim.

How Much Compensation Should I Expect From a Trucking Accident?

After an accident, you can file a claim against the responsible party to compel them to pay your medical bills. This can include any immediate or emergency medical attention you need after the incident and any long-term care you might need to recover from persistent ailments.

Medical bills often make up the majority of a settlement, but they aren’t the only damages you can seek from an at-fault driver. You can have the other party pay a portion of the wages you’re not earning if you can’t work due to the accident. This compensation will help you supplement your income and ease some of the financial burden. If your injuries cause permanent disability, you can also pursue compensation for lost earning capacity.

You can also seek compensation for pain and suffering. You’ll need to prove you suffered mental or emotional anguish as a result of the accident. While these costs don’t have a direct monetary value, a lawyer can calculate their worth.

Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer When I File a Personal Injury Claim?

While there is no legal requirement to have an attorney when filing a claim, you’ll want to retain the services of a lawyer. While representing yourself may seem like an acceptable strategy and a way to save money, you put yourself at risk of losing the case or significantly decreasing your compensation.

Your attorney can handle each step of the case, ensuring your paperwork is correct and won’t cause any problems with a judge or insurance company. While you’re recovering from an injury, you won’t want to fill out a large amount of paperwork or try to learn case precedents. You should focus on resting while your attorney prepares your case and negotiates on your behalf.

Contact the Santa Fe Trucking Accident Lawyers at Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Harwood, LLC

Trucking accidents can cause severe injuries or, in tragic cases, fatalities. If you or someone you know was the victim of a trucking accident, you’ll want to speak with an attorney as soon as you can to begin the process of filing a claim and seeking life-changing compensation.

At Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez + Harwood, LLC, we strive to assist clients with their Santa Fe trucking accident claims, allowing them to rest and recover instead of worrying about a trial. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help.