Truck Accidents

New Mexico is home to some of the busiest highways in the United States. Interstates 25 and 40 are hot spots for truck crashes in Albuquerque. Most accidents along these and other congested New Mexico throughways involve tractor-trailers and other commercial trucks. It can be scary enough when automobiles are involved in crashes. Add in a truck that weighs between 35,000 and 80,000 pounds and the consequences can be dire. According to some of the most recent crash data available through the New Mexico Department of Transportation, commercial trucks were involved in nearly 3,000 crashes, causing 56 deaths and 745 injuries. If you or someone you love was injured or killed in an accident involving a commercial truck, the law offices of Cameron & Russell can help.

What causes truck crashes in New Mexico?

Ask any truck driver and they will tell you: they cannot get from Texas to California without first driving through New Mexico. The route is heavily traveled by commercial truckers. Some carry food while others carry hazardous materials such as fracking wastewater. These long and lonely roads with rest stops that are few and far between are an accident waiting to happen. Some of the contributing factors for truck crashes in and around Albuquerque include:

Distracted Driving. When there are miles to go before you reach your destination, truckers can be tempted to do a little multi-tasking while behind the wheel. Calling and texting loved ones on their mobile phones, grabbing a quick bite to eat, and hunting for an entertaining program on the radio are among the behaviors that can lead to disaster.
Exhaustion. Federal regulations mandate how often truck drivers must take breaks during long haul trips. The more tired a driver becomes behind the wheel, the greater the risk of an accident. Truckers can fall asleep at the wheel and lose control with devastating results.
Confusing Roadways. Anyone who has ever driven in New Mexico knows that roadways are not clearly marked sometimes. Even lifelong residents sometimes struggle to navigate some of the busiest roadways here. Truckers using a GPS to help find their way easily can cause an accident if their eyes are drifting back and forth from the roadway to their GPS screens too frequently.
Erratic Weather Patterns. New Mexico is known for its erratic weather patterns that include extreme heat, flash flooding, and blinding snow squalls. Truckers who are unfamiliar with the unpredictable weather here can find themselves struggling to adapt while operating a big rig.

How do you determine fault?

Injuries sustained in crashes involving commercial trucks can be more severe due to the weight and size of the big rigs. Those carrying hazardous contents pose an extra risk to victims. If you are the victim of a truck crash, you must contact the attorneys at Cameron & Russell immediately. Commercial trucking companies have many resources at their disposal and often will use every one of them to avoid accepting fault for an accident where serious injuries or even death are involved.

A police report based on the on-scene investigation is crucial to proving fault. If excessive speed or driving while distracted or under the influence are suspected, that information will be contained in the official investigation report. Our team can access these reports to secure them for evidence in a personal injury lawsuit.

Commercial truck drivers are held to different standards than non-commercial drivers per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Among the expectations imposed on commercial drivers:

Handheld cell phones are prohibited while driving. Commercial drivers must use wireless Bluetooth earpieces.
Mandatory rest periods and consecutive driving hour limits are effective for all 50 states.
Drug and alcohol screening is required by most commercial trucking companies.

How likely is a settlement?

When possible, our attorneys work hard to reach a settlement to spare truck crash victims the anxiety of sitting through a court hearing. Most personal injury cases nationwide are settled out of court, so there is every reason to believe we will be successful in obtaining a fair settlement without the hassle of pursuing legal action in court before a judge or jury.

One of the contributing factors to a settlement is the seriousness of injuries suffered by victims. The more severe the injuries, the more likely the at-fault party is to settle out of court. If our team determines that a settlement offer from the at-fault party is not sufficient to cover all expenses, we will discuss whether to pursue additional damages through the court system.

How We Can Help

Do not choose just any personal injury lawyer if you or a loved one has been injured in a truck crash. At Cameron & Russell, our team has a proven track record of pursuing truck crash settlements. We ensure our clients receive the best possible settlement to accommodate for their pain and suffering. Contact us today to schedule your no-obligation consultation.

Call Cameron & Russell for a Free Case Evaluation

Bill Russell and Marcus Cameron are the faces behind Cameron & Russell. We go the extra mile for our clients to pursue personal injury claims and provide criminal defense. We approach every case with a fresh eye to detail and the determination to represent our clients to the fullest extent the law allows. We passionately defend clients facing criminal charges, and relentlessly seek out fair compensation for personal injury claims. No matter your situation, we promise to tirelessly represent your legal needs.