As a case recently filed in a Texas federal court demonstrates, a dangerous semi-truck accident can occur anywhere. In the lawsuit, a Louisiana woman claims she was seriously hurt when a negligent truck driver rear-ended her vehicle at a red traffic light. According to Jennifer Lee Banes, her sport utility vehicle was stopped behind another automobile at the intersection of South Eastman Road and Neiman Marcus Parkway in Longview when a Mack truck slammed into her vehicle from behind. The force of the impact apparently caused her SUV to collide with the car in front of her.
Banes allegedly suffered numerous injuries in the 18-wheeler accident. Her lawsuit accuses the tractor-trailer driver of negligence, failure to maintain control of his vehicle, speeding, failure to maintain a proper lookout, and failure to avoid the collision. She has asked the court to award her financial compensation for her pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, physical disfigurement, and other alleged damages she sustained in the wreck.
Despite alleging physical impairment and disfigurement, the plaintiff in this case only filed suit against the semi-truck driver. In New Mexico, a trucking company may also be held liable if a negligent trucker hurts another motorist while working within the scope and course of his or her employment. In general, trucking companies operating in New Mexico carry at least $1 million in insurance coverage. In some tragic crashes, this may not be enough to fully compensate all accident victims or their next of kin. This means that a severely injured person may be able to recover damages by way of the company’s assets as well as an accident insurance policy.
If you were hurt by a negligent truck driver anywhere in the State of New Mexico, you only have three years during which to file your case. It is to your advantage, however, to file a truck accident lawsuit as quickly as possible. If you wait, you may not be able to ensure that the other party preserves all relevant records and logs. A quality New Mexico truck accident lawyer can explain your rights in more detail.
Contact the Fine Law Firm if you were hurt or a close family member was killed in a wreck that was caused by a negligent big rig driver anywhere in New Mexico. Our capable Albuquerque truck accident attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience helping tractor-trailer crash victims across the State of New Mexico recover the financial compensation they deserve based upon the severity of their injuries. To schedule a free, confidential case evaluation with an experienced advocate, please give the Fine Law Firm a call at (505) 889-3463 or contact us through our website.
More Blog Posts:
NTSB Says Truck Safety Concerns in New Mexico and Across U.S Merit Audit of FMCSA Compliance Process, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, November 9, 2013
Proposed Law Would Require Trucking Companies in New Mexico and Throughout the U.S. to Carry More Liability Insurance, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, October 21, 2013
Additional Resources:
Louisiana woman files lawsuit following tractor-trailer wreck in Longview, by Michelle Keahey, Southeast Texas Record