While there are no guarantees to compensation, after an auto accident you’ll want to contact an Albuquerque auto accident lawyer to review your case. If your accident was a result of recklessness, you may have a legal case. Here are some examples of reckless or negligent behavior that can cause car accidents:

Speeding

While most people never admit to it, virtually everyone has sped at some point in time while driving. A “harmless” five miles over the speed limit may not seem like a big deal, but this reckless behavior can have serious consequences if it causes an auto accident. If you were injured in an accident that was determined to be the result of speeding and reckless driving, contact an Albuquerque or Santa Fe personal injury attorney. They can review your case and may be able to seek compensation for any injuries sustained due to this reckless driving.

Cell Phones

Cell phone distractions are becoming commonplace in American society. It seems everyone is always talking or texting while driving. Any use of a cell phone without a hands free device is illegal in Albuquerque and Santa Fe and is negligent behavior. While fender benders during rush hour happen, if they are the result of someone being distracted by their cell phone, this reckless behavior may be cause to seek legal representation. If you were injured in a car accident by someone using their cell phone in Albuquerque or Santa Fe, personal injury lawyers can represent you in the event of possible legal action against the reckless driver. 

Driving Under the Influence

Unfortunately, driving under the influence is an epidemic in New Mexico. Despite tough DUI laws, these accidents happen frequently and with tragic results. Albuquerque and Santa Fe personal injury attorneys can represent you if you’ve been injured as a result of a DUI car accident. DUI is one of the most extreme examples of recklessness and negligence and if you’ve been injured in one of these accidents, a personal injury attorney can review your case and may be able to seek legal compensation on your behalf for medical bills and pain and suffering.

No single auto accident is like any other. With some accidents, there is no legal recourse because some auto accidents are just that. But if further investigation reveals the accident was a result of someone else’s recklessness and negligence, an Albuquerque auto accident lawyer can represent your interest and try to win compensation for your injuries, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

After being involved in an accident, your adrenaline will be racing and your nerves will be frayed. The following tips are some common sense tips, but also wise advice to keep in mind following an accident: 

1. Safety First

   : Stop your vehicle. If at all possible, move your vehicle out of traffic lanes and to the side of the road. When your vehicle is secure, check for injuries among yourself and passengers. If you or any passengers are injured, do not move. Dial 911 immediately and wait for an ambulance. If you are uninjured and it is safe to do so, check on the other driver(s) and again dial 911 if there are any injuries.  

2. Exchange Information

   : You’ll want to call the police for a police report, but before they arrive, you’ll also want to exchange information with the other driver. Albuquerque and Santa Fe car accident attorneys may recommend you exchange the following information: full name, address, phone number, insurance information (including company, policy number, and expiration date), driver’s license number, license plate number, and the make, model, and year of the other person’s vehicle.  

3. Take Notes

   : If later you must contact an Albuquerque personal injury attorney as a result of your accident, you’ll want pictures, notes, and contact information for witnesses. This can help an attorney determine what kind of case you may have by being able to look at some of the initial evidence.  

4. Inform Your Insurance Company:

   Your insurance company will look at your accident claim and communicate with the other driver’s insurance company. Insurance companies will generally offer you a sum of money for repairs and medical expenses. Before you settle, contact an Albuquerque or Santa Fe personal injury lawyer to review the facts of your case and ensure you’re getting a fair settlement to help you get your life back on track.   

 The actions you take after an auto accident are crucial. You want to ensure your safety and get immediate medical attention for any injuries. After the accident, it can take time to get your life back on track and you may need the assistance of a Santa Fe or Albuquerque personal injury lawyer to help you seek any possible compensation you may be entitled to.

While rollovers are the least common type of auto accident, they are responsible for about thirty percent of all traffic fatalities. That means, when rollovers happen they are most likely to be deadly.

Rollovers can happen for many reasons, including driver inattention or error, manufacturer defects, emergency maneuvering and hitting loose soil or gravel unexpectedly. With a high center of gravity and narrow wheel track, some believe the vulnerability of SUVs to rollover is inherent in their design.

Albuquerque SUV rollover lawyers can help you determine the root cause of your, or a loved one’s, accident and help you hold the accountable party responsible for their negligence. If it turns out that a manufacturer is ultimately responsible for your rollover accident, a good personal injury attorney in Albuquerque, Chicago or anywhere else in the country should have the skill and resources to take on large corporations and fight for justice on your behalf.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious rollover accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney near you as soon as possible. An experienced SUV rollover should be able to help you recover the money you need for medical and living expenses incurred as a result of your injury.

Commons symptoms of traumatic brain injury include things like:

• Headaches
• Neck pain
• Poor memory
• Slow thinking
• Difficulty finding words
• Difficulty concentrating
• Easily confused
• Fatigue
• Nausea 

It is important to see a medical doctor as soon as possible after a head injury so that traumatic brain injury can be discovered and treated early on. Seeking medical attention also ensures clear documentation so that you can link your injury to a specific accident should you need to seek legal damages in the future. 

Traumatic brain injury can change a person’s life forever—affecting an individual’s personality and the way he or she relates to other people. If you or a loved one has sustained a traumatic brain injury as the result of another person’s negligence, contact a personal injury attorney. Brain injury attorneys can be effective advocates for injured victims and help you fight for the maximum compensation to which you may be entitled under the law.

• Medical bills
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Prescription drug costs
• Time missed from work
• Affect on ability to earn an income
• Pain and suffering

Only an experienced attorney can tell you exactly what damages you are eligible to seek compensation for after thoroughly evaluating your case. A thorough evaluation includes an investigation of the accident scene, collection of evidence, tracking down witnesses and securing expert testimony as to the dangerous conditions present at the accident scene.

Keep in mind that just because you fall on someone else’s property does not mean that you can automatically seek to recover damages for your injury; you must be able to prove that a property owner was aware of a hazardous surface condition, had time to address the problem and did not take the appropriate action to correct the problem or properly warn people of the hazardous area. This is not always easy to prove; hiring an experienced attorney can greatly increase your chances of receiving the money you need to recover from a slip and fall accident.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a slip or trip and fall accident, it’s important to take proactive measures to ensure your chances of a successful case. Below are some actions you may want to take after being involved in a slip and fall accident:

Seek Medical Attention

It is a good idea to see a medical doctor soon after a slip and fall accident so that you can be made aware of the extent of your injuries and get the care you need. A doctor can not only diagnose and treat your injury, but make you aware of how your injury may affect your life.

Take Pictures

It is important to take pictures of the accident scene as soon as possible after the accident. Pictures should be taken from a variety of angles and distances to properly document the accident scene. Failure to take pictures promptly after the accident can make it difficult to prove that hazardous conditions ever existed as property owners can clean up or fix the problem before you get a chance to document the problem.

Get Witness Contact Information

If anyone witnessed your slip and fall accident, it is important to write down their name, address and phone number so that you can contact them in the future if such testimony is necessary for proving a property owner’s fault.

Report the Accident

If your accident occurred at a retail store or place of business, be sure to alert the manager of your accident before you leave the store. It is important to have documentation of your accident immediately after it happens.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a slip or trip and fall accident, be sure to contact an experienced slip and fall attorney for the advice and legal representation you need to pursue a successful case against a negligent property owner.

If you are involved in a car accident where you sustain personal injury or significant damages to your vehicle, you will want to seriously consider hiring a car accident lawyer. An auto accident lawyer can help you recover losses by negotiating with insurance claims adjustors and/or taking your case to court. While you may choose to negotiate with an insurance claims adjustor yourself, remember that claims adjustors are trained to settle your claim for as little money as possible. Also, once you accept money from an insurance company, your claim is settled and there is little an attorney can do at that point to recover more money if your injuries are more extensive than you originally thought.

Keep in mind that insurance claims adjustors record conversations and try to establish liability and limit damages. A car accident lawyer is experienced in negotiating with insurance companies; therefore, it is best to consult a car accident lawyer early to avoid financially painful mistakes. Also, people who utilize a car accident lawyer typically receive higher settlements than people who negotiate their own claims—even after paying legal expenses.

Paying an attorney is a concern that many car accident victims worry about. Most attorneys will take car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means that you do not have to pay the attorney upfront as the attorney will receive a percentage of the money they recover for you—usually 1/3 of the amount awarded to you. This provides accident lawyers with tremendous motivation to be an effective advocate for you in the settlement of your insurance claim or car accident case. It is important to be aware that contingency fees do not cover costs of litigation and you will be responsible to pay your car accident attorney for things including, but not limited to copies, expert witness expenses, filing costs, and court reporter fees for depositions.

It is important to contact a car accident lawyer soon after your auto accident so they can speak to your insurance company on your behalf, protect your rights, and inform you of the options you have to receive the money entitled to you for your damages and/or injuries. Also, you may need money to pay medical bills and cover lost wages—the sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner you can financially recover from your car accident. Contacting a car accident attorney promptly after an accident will also help you avoid missing out on just compensation due to statutes of limitations, or deadlines (which vary from state to state), that prevent you from making a claim. It is, therefore, in your best interest to contact a car accident attorney sooner than later so they can help you obtain the recovery you are entitled to.

Even if you carry auto accident insurance, recovering the damages from a car accident can be difficult if the person who caused your injury and/or damages does not carry liability insurance, or is underinsured and, therefore, cannot cover the full cost of damages you sustained. In most cases, a driver is uninsured for economic reasons. That is, they do not carry auto accident insurance because they do not have the financial resources to do so. This being most often the case, if you seek to pursue legal action against the uninsured motorist for your damages and/or injuries, even if your case is successful, you may still be responsible for covering your accident related expenses if the uninsured motorist does not have the financial means to compensate you.

If the motorist who caused the accident you were involved in does not carry auto accident insurance, it is not impossible for you to recover damages. Many insurance carriers offer uninsured motorist coverage. In some states, this coverage is mandatory. This coverage allows you to collect damages from your insurance company in the event that you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. It is important to contact an experienced accident attorney soon after a car accident as he or she may know about some coverage that you are unaware of.

Sometimes, you may be able to pursue legal action against your own insurance company for damages caused by an uninsured motorist. Contacting an accident attorney with experience handling uninsured motorist car accident claims may help you receive fair compensation if you are involved in a car accident with an uninsured motorist. An experienced car accident lawyer will know how to read your insurance policy and determine the right course of action to help you receive the recovery you are entitled to.

Being involved in a car accident is something you are never quite ready for; however, it is something that you can prepare for. First, check your insurance policy to see if you are covered for uninsured motorist accidents. If you are not, ask your insurance carrier for information about purchasing this coverage. Be sure to receive the terms of the insurance agreement in writing.

Another way to be prepared for a car accident with an uninsured driver is to know what steps you should take after a car accident (see What to Expect when You are in a Car Accident). Be sure to document as much information about the person you had the accident with as possible so that you can contact them later. Also, if they have an expired insurance policy, be sure to write down the insurance carrier’s information so you can contact them to be certain that the person’s insurance is indeed cancelled.

Finally, be sure to choose a car accident attorney with expertise handling your type of claim (see How to Choose a Car Accident Lawyer). An experienced car accident attorney may be able to help you recover damages if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver.

When you are involved in an accident and want to pursue an accident claim, time is of the essence. Just like many other areas in our lives, there are deadlines you must meet to file an accident claim. The maximum amount of time you have to file a claim is known as a statute of limitations. Statutes of limitation vary for different lawsuits and in different states. An accident lawyer will be able to advise you and help you file your claim in a timely manner.

Failing to file a claim within the time period allotted for your lawsuit may terminate your right to recover damages if someone else is liable for your accident or injuries. Therefore, if you are pursuing an accident claim, it is important to seek the advice of an experienced accident lawyer soon after your accident so you can file your claim before the statute of limitations runs out.

Statutes of limitations usually begin immediately after the incident occurs; however, in some instances, the statute of limitations does not begin until the plaintiff knows or should have known about the negligence or fault of another party. In instances where a person has a delay in discovering the harm or negligence, statutes of limitations can be tolled, or extended.

Statutes of limitations are also tolled for minors. If a minor experiences an incident that causes them injury or harm, the minor will have a chance to pursue legal action when they turn 18.

If you experienced an accident that caused you personal injury or significant damages, always seek the legal advice of an accident lawyer immediately so you do not risk losing your right to fair compensation due to the passing of time.

Defects in design occur when the product is moving from conceptualization to actualization. Here, defects are inherent in the basic design of a product. Design flaws may make a product unsafe to use even if it serves its intended purpose. If a defect in design causes injury, the manufacturer and supplier may be liable for those injuries.

Defects in manufacturing occur when the product is not put together correctly. Often, defects in manufacturing affect only a portion of the total products produced. Even if the majority of the products are manufactured correctly and allow for safe usage, the manufacturer may be responsible for the injuries caused by the few defective products.

Defects in marketing occur when a product is released to the public with improper instructions and/or fails to warn customers of the innate dangers of the product. Manufacturers and suppliers are responsible for informing their customers of how the product should be used safely and any dangers the customer might encounter when using the product.

When a products liability claim is filed against a manufacturer or supplier it is usually based on strict liability and not negligence. That means a defendant is held responsible or liable for their defective product no matter how much care or caution was exercised by the manufacturer. In other words, if the product is found to have been defective, the manufacturer or supplier is automatically liable for the injuries caused by that product.

For example, if you are involved in a motorcycle accident and the face shield on your helmet flies off at the time of impact causing you to lose your vision, you may be able to file a claim against the manufacturer or supplier of that helmet. When a product does not perform how it should have, your attorney can advise you whether or not you have a strong case for products liability. In this case, you will want to be sure to not only consult an experienced accident attorney, but an accident attorney with experience in products liability as you will be seeking the recovery of damages for loss of wages and ability to earn wages, pain and suffering, and medical expenses. An attorney with experience handling products liability cases will know how to best proceed with your claim and help you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

Not only may you be able to receive compensation for you injuries, but a court may order the manufacturer or supplier to pay additional money as punishment for the defective product. When this happens, you are being awarded punitive damages. That is, damages awarded are to deter the manufacturer or supplier of the defective product from continuing to provide the public with defective products. An experienced products liability lawyer will know how to argue for such compensation.

When both parties share responsibility for an accident, an accident lawyer may be able to use comparative negligence liability to reduce the amount of money a defendant is responsible for. Comparative negligence reduces the amount of damages a plaintiff can recover due to their own negligence in contributing to the accident that caused their damages.

For example, if a person runs a red light, hits your car while you are driving through the intersection with the right of way, and you receive extensive injuries due to not wearing your seatbelt, you are partially at fault for your injuries since you were not wearing a safety restraint. In this instance, if your case went to court, a jury would decide how much responsibility you bear for your injuries. Responsibility is measured by percentage and a jury may tell you that you are 30 percent responsible for your damages and the person who ran the red light is 70 percent responsible. In this case, the defendant would only be responsible for paying 70 percent of your damages due to the accident and you would be responsible for the remaining 30 percent on your own.

Standards for determining comparative negligence liability vary from state to state. In some states, the plaintiff may not receive any recovery for damages if they are found to be more than 50 percent at fault for the accident. In other states, the plaintiff may recover a percentage of their damages no matter what percentage of the responsibility they share. And in still other states, contributory negligence reigns. That means you can recover no damages if you are responsible to any degree. An experienced accident lawyer can help you understand what to do if you are partially responsible for your damages.

When comparative negligence is a possibility in your car accident claim, it is imperative that you seek the assistance of an experienced accident lawyer. An accident lawyer with expertise handling cases with comparative negligence will be familiar with state laws that may help you recover the most money you are entitled to for recovery of your damages.