Back in 2015, a car full of nursing students was on their way to their last day of clinical training when they were rear-ended by a semi-truck going nearly 70 miles per hour. At the time of the accident, the students were completely stopped on the highway due to a major traffic jam caused by an unrelated accident up ahead. A police investigation following the tragic accident showed that the driver of the semi-truck did not apply the brakes in the moments leading up to the accident.
In all, five of the six passengers in the car were killed, leaving only one survivor. The families of the deceased accident victims all filed wrongful death lawsuits against the truck driver as well as his employer. These lawsuits were settled out of court before they reached trial. However, the lone survivor could not reach an acceptable resolution with the trucking company in pre-trial settlement negotiations, and the case proceeded to trial.
According to a news report covering last month’s trial, the jury found in favor of the accident victim and awarded her $15 million in damages. Aside from hearing about the circumstances of the accident, the jury also heard from the victim herself, who explained that she suffered a traumatic brain injury in the accident and still suffers from ongoing anxiety.
Truck Accidents in New Mexico
With its central location and thousands of miles of highways, New Mexico sees thousands upon thousands of semi-trucks on its roads each year. Most often, these truck drivers take their job seriously and understand how easily an accident can happen. However, due to the nature of the trucking industry, truck drivers are often compensated per mile, rather than per hour. This leads to a structure that incentivizes staying out on the road as long as possible, even with insufficient rest. While state and federal regulations require truck drivers to maintain a certain amount of rest per day and between trips, these regulations are too often ignored.
When a truck driver disregards a regulation or is negligent in any other way, and other motorists suffer as a result, that truck driver may be held financially liable through a New Mexico personal injury lawsuit. Consulting with a skilled injury attorney who is well-versed in truck accident cases is a recommended first step in the recovery process.
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. Whether it be in pre-trial settlement negotiations or throughout a jury trial, the skilled injury attorneys at the Fine Law Firm can help you with your case. With decades of collective experience helping victims in New Mexico seek the compensation they need and deserve, we are confident we can also help you. Call 505-889-FINE to set up your free consultation today.
More Blog Posts:
Court Allows Defendant to Set Aside Default Judgment in Truck Accident Case, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, February 2, 2017.
Court Upholds $40 Million Verdict Against Chrysler after Gas Tank Explodes, Killing Young Child, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, January 25, 2017.