In New Mexico, truck accidents are four times more likely to result in a fatality than regular car accidents.
That’s why it’s important that victims of car crashes aren’t left on their own to recover without any help. Whether you’ve been injured, totaled your car, or lost a loved one in a truck accident, you have the right to hold the responsible party liable for the damages you’ve suffered.
From our experienced personal injury attorneys at Stewart + Harmonson, here’s everything you need to know about who can be held liable for a truck accident in New Mexico.
Establishing liability for a truck accident
Because of state and federal regulations, truck drivers are generally held to a high standard of safety and responsibility. If you can prove that a driver failed to meet these standards, you can hold them liable in civil court.
Here are some examples of reckless or negligent behavior that you could use as evidence that the truck driver is liable for your damages:
- Fatigued driving
- Violating hours of service regulations
- Driving under the influence
- Unsafe lane change or passing by another vehicle
- Failure to properly maintain the vehicle leading to mechanical problems
On the other hand, truck drivers are often under enormous pressure from their bosses to meet deadlines, work long hours, and drive as efficiently as possible.
Any of the above problems could easily be attributed to the negligence of the trucking company, or corners they cut to avoid regulations.
Who can be held liable for a truck accident in New Mexico?
Truck drivers and the companies that employ them are generally the parties that can be held liable for truck accidents.
But depending on the circumstances, there might be other parties that you could argue are liable for your damages, too:
- The cargo shipper, if the trucking company was contracting with a separate company
- Other vendors involved in the transportation of the goods
- The manufacturer of the truck
- The manufacturer of specific parts within the truck
- Government agencies, if features of the road or the environment were responsible for the accident
Regardless of the company or agency that you include in your claim for damages, they’re likely going to have high-powered attorneys on their side. They will likely argue that their client wasn’t responsible for the crash, or that you don’t deserve as much in damages as you’re claiming.
That’s why it’s crucial to have an experienced New Mexico truck accident attorney on your side to make sure that justice is done.
Contact a New Mexico truck accident attorney
Our team of dedicated personal injury attorneys at Stewart + Harmonson have represented many people who have been the victims of commercial truck accidents.
We draw from our resources and experience to investigate your claim and provide you with vigorous representation so that you don’t have to recover from your accident alone. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to talk about your case.
