Semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles have the potential to cause major havoc when they are involved in a New Mexico truck accident. Not only are accidents involving semi-trucks often more serious than those involving other vehicles, but also they are more likely to occur, due to the size and weight of these large trucks. For example, given their large size, semi-trucks take a much longer distance to come to a safe and complete stop, resulting in a higher likelihood of rear-end accidents.
When a New Mexico truck accident occurs, several motorists may be involved, especially if the initial collision resulted in a subsequent chain-reaction accident. Determining liability in a New Mexico chain-reaction accident can be difficult, given the number of motorists involved and the task of determining which motorist was responsible for causing the initial accident. Additionally, fault may reside with several of the other motorists involved if they were not taking adequate precautions prior to the accident. For example, a motorist may be partially responsible for an accident if they are found to have been following too closely.
Establishing Fault in New Mexico Chain-Reaction Accidents
When it comes to determining who is financially liable in a New Mexico chain-reaction accident case, the task is usually left to a jury. New Mexico employs the “pure comparative negligence” model when determining which accident victims are entitled to recover compensation for their injuries and whether their award amount should be reduced due to their own fault in contributing to their injuries.
Under a pure comparative negligence analysis, the jury will assign a percentage of fault to all involved parties. The jury will then determine the dollar value of the damages the accident victim sustained, and they will reduce that figure by the accident victim’s own percentage of fault. For example, if a motorist was 40% at fault in an accident with one other motorist, and that accident victim sustained $500,000 in damages, the total recovery amount would be $300,000.
Chain Reaction Accident Sends Two to the Hospital
Earlier this month, a chain-reaction accident between a semi-truck and three cars resulted in several injuries, with two being admitted to the hospital for burns sustained in the accident. According to a local news report covering the accident, the collision occurred in the early afternoon hours, when the semi-truck rear-ended a sedan that had slowed down in traffic. The sedan was then pushed into several other vehicles before catching fire. Police are conducting an investigation into the cause of the chain-reaction accident and have not yet issued any citations to any of the motorists involved.
Have You Been Injured in a New Mexico Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a New Mexico truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The skilled New Mexico personal injury attorneys at the Fine Law Firm have decades of combined experience helping victims seek the compensation they need and deserve. We take pride in the level of representation we provide to our clients, and it shows in the results we have been able to obtain. Call 505-889-FINE to schedule a free consultation with a dedicated New Mexico personal injury attorney today.
More Blog Posts:
Court Finds Driver’s Act of Waving Plaintiff Forward to Make Left Turn Was Not the Cause of Subsequent Accident, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, August 25, 2017.
New Mexico Dirt Road Accidents, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, August 9, 2017.