Albuquerque Truck Crash Lawyers

Truck crashes are the most dangerous and devastating of all motor vehicle crashes. Fully loaded semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and their massive size and speed create a deadly force of impact during crashes. A staggering 97 percent of all tractor-trailer crashes result in the fatalities of passenger vehicle occupants. Those few three percent who survive suffer catastrophic and life-altering injuries.

At Buchanan Law Firm, LLC, we handle all types of truck crash cases. Our team of experienced truck crash lawyers is well-versed in the financial and emotional devastation these crashes can cause. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a tractor-trailer crash, you can trust in our experience and dedication to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.

What Types of Truck Crash Cases Does Buchanan Law Firm, LLC Handle?

Numerous crashes occur on the major trucking routes transversing Albuquerque. Our experienced truck crash lawyers at Buchanan Law Firm, LLC are skillfully adept at handling a wide range of truck crashes, including but not limited to: 

• Head-on collisions
• Jackknife crashes
• Rear-end crashes
• Rollover crashes
• Side-impact or T-bone crashes
• Underride crashes

What Are Common Causes of Truck Crashes in Albuquerque?

Truck crashes occur for many reasons, though it is often difficult to determine the exact cause due to the extent of damage and injuries tractor-trailers cause. The most common causes of truck crashes include:

• Distracted driving
• Drunk or drugged driving
• Drowsy driving
• Driving during unsafe weather or road conditions
• Equipment or safety system failure
• Improper driving
• Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo
• Inexperienced drivers
• Poor maintenance
• Reckless driving
• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Unsafe company practices and policies

In efforts to reduce the risks and number of overall crashes, the trucking industry is required to follow strict federal regulations regarding size, weight, cargo, intrastate travel, passengers, and speed, which include:

• Driving and resting hours
• Drug testing
• Licensing requirements
• Mandated inspections and maintenance
• Medication use
• Medical evaluation and fitness assessments
• Required, permitted, and prohibited devices
• Size and weight restrictions

To obtain a commercial driver’s license, truck drivers are required to complete extensive training in the following:

• Defensive driving in extreme weather conditions
• Emergency driving techniques
• Federal driving regulations
• Identification of potential hazards and avoidance
• Navigating mountainous roads
• Proper gear shifting
• Proper inspection methods
• Safe backing techniques
• Safe night driving

What Types of Injuries Are Common in Truck Crashes?

The sheer size, weight, and height of commercial trucks create a force upon impact so massive that injuries are usually severe and life-threatening and largely fatal, especially when passenger vehicles are pinned underneath the trailer. Common truck crash injuries include:

• Broken bones: Broken bones can be extensive in truck crashes and often cause further injury by puncturing internal organs.
• Disfigurement: The magnitude of injuries suffered during a truck crash leaves most survivors with permanent scarring and disfigurement.
• Death: Few people survive a crash with a semi-truck, whether instantly or soon after, due to the extent and complications of the injuries.
• Nerve damage: Nervous system damage is common in truck crashes, affecting the nerves that provide the body’s five senses, movement, and bodily functions, such as breathing.
• Psychological trauma: The severity of truck crashes frequently causes survivors to experience lingering psychological effects of the trauma, such as PTSD.
• Severed or crushed limbs: The sheer size and force of impact of commercial trucks against passenger vehicles often causes crushing and severing injuries.
• Severe burns: Large semi-trucks hold hundreds of gallons of explosive diesel fuel, which, if ruptured, can ignite a fire.
• Spinal cord damage: Vehicle collisions are the leading cause of neck and spinal cord injuries and occur in nearly every victim in a commercial crash due to the force of impact, frequently resulting in paralysis.
• Traumatic brain injuries: Brain injuries from truck crashes are common, severe, and usually permanent.

Who Is Responsible for a Truck Crash?

Crashes involving semi-trucks can be difficult and complex because there are often multiple responsible parties when determining liability, such as the following:

• Driver: The truck driver may be liable if their negligent actions, such as failing to stop or speeding, led to the crash.
• Trucking company: The driver’s employer is usually responsible if the company owns the truck.
• Owner: If the truck is owned by a third party other than the driver or employer, the owner may be responsible if the truck was not properly maintained, which led to the crash.
• Manufacturer: The truck manufacturer may be responsible if the crash is due to a faulty part or defective system and the company fails to warn truck operators or continues to manufacture the defective product.

What Compensation Can I Seek if I Am Injured in a Truck Crash?

Crashes involving commercial trucks typically result in significant compensation due to the destruction and severity of injuries. In New Mexico, compensation is based on a combination of economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages refer to the documented expenses suffered due to the crash and injuries, such as:

• Medical expenses and ongoing care
• Lost wages and future earning capacity
• Permanent or temporary disability
• Medical devices, equipment, and in-home care
• Rehabilitation and therapy
• Wrongful death and funeral expenses

Non-economic damages are intangible costs of pain and suffering endured due to the crash, injuries, or loss, such as:

• Amputation
• Cognitive impairment
• Disability
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium and life enjoyment
• Scarring and disfiguring

You should speak to a truck crash lawyer as soon as possible. These cases are complex and often lengthy, so the sooner you involve an attorney, the better because there are time limits.

The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in New Mexico is three years from the date of the crash or death. Buchanan Law Firm, LLC has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients injured in Albuquerque truck crashes.

Why Choose Buchanan Law Firm, LLC

Recovering from injuries or suffering the sudden loss of a loved one in a truck crash is often emotionally devastating. Hiring an Albuquerque truck crash lawyer at Buchanan Law Firm, LLC can allow you time to focus on recovery and provide the much-needed support to help ease the financial and emotional burden of injuries and loss. When you hire us, our skilled team will:

• Investigate the crash scene.
• Review crash reports.
• File necessary documents.
• Discuss your care with your medical team regarding your current and future healthcare needs.
• Hire industry experts.
• Negotiate with insurance companies for maximum compensation.
• Represent you in court should your case proceed to trial.

Our Albuquerque Truck Crash Lawyers at Buchanan Law Firm, LLC Fight for Clients Injured in Tractor-Trailer Collisions

Crashes involving tractor-trailers are often devastating, life-changing, and fatal. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a tractor-trailer crash, our Albuquerque truck crash lawyers at Buchanan Law Firm, LLC can help you seek the justice and compensation you deserve. Call today at 505-900-3559 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we serve clients in Santa Fe and the surrounding areas.