Earlier this month in Eunice, New Mexico, a tragic accident occurred on State Road 248. According to New Mexico news reports, a 25-year-old woman was killed after colliding with a semi-truck. Evidently, the woman was in the process of turning left towards northbound State Road 18 when the accident occurred. When she was making her turn, she ended up pulling in front of a truck that was proceeding in the southbound lane on State Road 248.
The New Mexico Motor Transportation and State Police were called around 10:15 a.m. for emergency assistance. Unfortunately, the young woman was declared dead at the scene of the accident. The semi-truck driver was carrying two passengers in his truck; however none of them sustained any injuries as a result of the accident. The New Mexico State Police and Motor Transportation are currently investigating the cause and circumstances surrounding the accident, but no updates have been released yet.
New Mexico Accident Statistics
The University of New Mexico releases statistics regarding accidents in the state, and the most recent release indicates some startling facts. First, passenger vehicles (cars) were involved in about 50% of all accidents in the state, followed by pickup trucks and then vans and 4-wheel-drive vehicles. Heavy trucks, including semi-trucks, were involved in about 2% of all accidents in the state and were involved in over 8% of fatal accidents. Behind trucks, the next vehicles involved in the majority of accidents are motorcycles, which account for 1.7% of all accidents in the state and 10.9% of fatal accidents.
In New Mexico, a complicating factor in vehicle accidents is that almost 5% of all drivers in crashes did not have any proof of insurance. The majority of crashes involve two vehicles; about 95% of fatal crashes involved one or two vehicles.
Additionally, the majority of crashes happened when a vehicle was going straight. However, twice as many crashes occurred when a driver was making a left turn, such as in the case above, rather than a right turn.
Assessing Fault and Liability in New Mexico Truck Accidents
As the above section illustrates, accidents in New Mexico happen frequently and often have devastating consequences. It is important that if one plans to bring a claim the the importance of determining the fault of the parties involved is completely understood.
New Mexico is considered a comparative negligence state. This means that the injured party may be held partially liable for their own injuries. If the injured person is found to be responsible for any part of their injuries, their recovery will be reduced by their fault. Fortunately, unlike some other states, New Mexico law still allows for recovery even if the plaintiff was partially responsible.
Have You Been Injured in an Accident in New Mexico?
Car and truck accidents occur with some regularity in the state. As such, it is important that individuals understand their rights and remedies if they are involved in an accident. If you have been injured, you may consider bringing a personal injury suit against the other party. You may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries, including payment for medical bills and possibly compensation for your pain and suffering, depending on the circumstances. Please contact the Fine Law Firm at 505-889-FINE to schedule your free initial consultation today.
More Blog Posts:
Truck Slams into Bus in Albuquerque, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, January 20, 2015.
Court of Appeals in California Reverses Lower Court Decision on Trucking Accident, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, February 25, 2015.