A family was on their way home driving back to Salt Lake City, Utah when they were able to avoid a horrendous car accident between two large semi-trucks. According to a news report, there was a huge pile-up of trucks near I-84 near Baker City. Apparently, about 20 vehicles, mainly semi-trucks, were involved in the massive accident. Officials have indicated that one of the main causes of the accidents was black ice. About 50 vehicles were affected by the crash. Two of the large trucks were apparently carrying hazardous materials.
Unfortunately, about 12 people were seen at a local hospital for a varying array of injuries. Many other individuals were diverted to other local hospitals for additional treatment. As of right now, one person is still in critical condition, but thankfully no one was fatally injured. The road was closed for an extended period of time because of the size of the pileup and the amount of vehicles involved.
Multi-Truck Accidents in New Mexico
Truck accidents are often more severe than regular-sized vehicular accidents. The magnitude of the truck, its load, and the likelihood that many cars are involved are just some of the reasons these types of accidents can be particularly damaging.
In the above case, there were more than 20 trucks involved in the accident, and as a result, establishing liability for damages will likely be difficult. It is important to note that in these types of accidents, plaintiffs can bring lawsuits against more than one of the trucks and can even establish liability against the truck drivers’ employers.
Negligence Claims in New Mexico
In New Mexico, to bring a negligence claim an individual must be able to establish that the wrongdoer owed him or her a standard duty of care, that the other driver breached that duty, and that the breach was the actual and proximate cause of the accident victim’s injuries and damages. In an accident, such as the one discussed above, the first prong of the analysis should be straightforward because truck drivers owe a duty to all motorists as well as pedestrians.
The next element is whether they breached that duty of care. It is unclear whether just the black ice was the cause of the accident or if there were other contributing factors. For example, some other factors that could have exacerbated the accident were if the truck driver was driving over the speed limit, or if he was distracted, or even fatigued. These behaviors, even with the black ice element, can lead to a negligence claim if a plaintiff can show that his or her injuries and damages resulted because of that behavior.
Have You Been Involved in a New Mexico Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a truck in New Mexico, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. This compensation may include damages for your past medical bills, recurring medical expenses, pain and suffering, and possibly even punitive damages. It is important in multi-vehicle accidents that you contact an attorney to discuss your rights and remedies. These types of truck accidents can be especially complex because there may be several lawyers, plaintiffs, and defendants involved. Contact the Fine Law Firm today at 505-889-FINE to schedule a free initial consultation with a dedicated New Mexico personal injury attorney.
More Blog Posts:
Semi Truck Driver Charged with Felony after Rear Ending School Bus, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, November 9, 2014.
Truck Slams into Bus in Albuquerque, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, January 20, 2015.