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When to Hire a Car Crash Lawyer in Albuquerque and When You Might Not
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When to Hire a Car Crash Lawyer in Albuquerque and When You Might Not
After a car crash involving injuries, property damage, and related expenses, most people think about contacting a lawyer. While some situations clearly require legal representation, others may be manageable on your own. The severity of injuries, extent of property damage, and insurance company response all play significant roles in this decision.
When Should I Hire a Lawyer for Serious Injuries?
If your crash resulted in significant injuries requiring hospitalization, surgery, or ongoing medical treatment, hiring a lawyer becomes important. Medical bills escalate quickly, and calculating future treatment costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering requires specific knowledge. Insurance companies often minimize payouts for serious injuries, making legal representation valuable for protecting your interests and obtaining fair compensation.
What if the Insurance Company Denies My Claim?
When an insurance provider denies your claim or offers an unreasonably low settlement, legal counsel helps level the playing field. Insurers often use tactics to reduce payouts or shift blame. A lawyer can review your policy, gather evidence, and challenge unfair denials. If the insurer refuses to negotiate in good faith or you cannot agree on a fair settlement, you may have the option of taking the case to court.
Do I Need a Lawyer if Liability Is Disputed?
Disputed liability situations almost always benefit from legal representation. When the other driver denies fault or multiple parties share responsibility, proving your case requires evidence collection, witness statements, and in certain situations, reconstruction analysis. Without legal help, you also risk accepting partial blame that reduces your compensation. Lawyers know how to build strong cases demonstrating the other party’s responsibility and can explain legal rules like “comparative negligence.”
Should I Hire Legal Counsel for Minor Fender Benders?
Minor collisions with no injuries and minimal vehicle damage often do not require a lawyer. If medical bills stay under a few hundred dollars, property damage is straightforward, and the other driver’s insurance responds promptly, you can likely handle the claim yourself. Document everything thoroughly, get repair estimates, and keep all receipts. However, if complications arise or injuries appear later, reconsider getting legal help.
What Role Does the Statute of Limitations Play?
New Mexico’s “statute of limitations” gives you three years from the collision date to file a personal injury lawsuit. While this seems like ample time, waiting too long can weaken your case as evidence disappears and memories fade. If your situation is approaching this deadline without resolution, hiring a lawyer quickly becomes necessary. Legal professionals can file lawsuits promptly and protect your right to compensation.
When Should I Get Legal Help for Lost Wages?
If your injuries caused you to miss work beyond a few days, calculating lost income and future earning capacity requires careful documentation. This includes current salary, benefits, promotion opportunities, and long-term career impact. Lawyers can work with economic specialists to demonstrate the full financial impact of your injuries, which insurers often downplay when claimants handle cases independently.
Is Legal Representation Necessary for Permanent Disabilities?
Permanent disabilities or disfigurement from a collision absolutely warrant legal representation. These life-altering injuries affect your earning capacity, quality of life, and future medical needs for years or decades – insurance companies may not fully account for long-term consequences. Lawyers can calculate appropriate compensation that covers lifetime impacts rather than just immediate expenses.
Get the Legal Support You Need From an Albuquerque Car Crash Lawyer at Buchanan Law Firm, LLC
If you have been in a crash, now is the right time to contact an Albuquerque car crash lawyer at Buchanan Law Firm, LLC. For a free consultation, call today at 505-900-3559 or contact us online. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we proudly serve clients in the surrounding areas.
My Promise to You
We Prepare Each Case for Trial
We prep every case as if it will be going to trial. There is no better way to make sure you get the compensation that you deserve than to be ready to fight for you and exhaust all legal remedies. Some firms shy away from trial, we embrace it.
This is a Team Effort
We recognize that every legal matter is different. We’ll listen carefully to learn the details of your situation, as well as your goals. We’ll keep you involved and informed at all times, making certain you know where you stand, what your options are, and your likelihood of success.
We Will Be Straight With You
Whether it is about the value of your case, or how good or bad the evidence is, we will tell it to you straight. We want to help you make the best decisions about your case by giving you the information you need.
Notable Case Results
We have recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients.
$11.6 Million
Hospital Negligence
Hospital negligence resulted in catastrophic injury. This was a case involving a patient who entered the hospital for routine observation but left the hospital with catastrophic and permanent injuries due to neglect and improper treatment. This case involved extensive expert testimony on all aspects of the client’s care, both by hospital administration, hospital employees, and contractors who were involved in her treatment.
$8 Million
Semi Truck Wrongful Death
Semi-truck negligence caused wrongful death. This case involved a semi-truck driver who was intoxicated on illegal substances and killed our client. The key to this case was both aggressive discovery work, and understanding the trucking laws that regulate truck drivers and motor carriers, so we could prove how reckless it was to put the driver on the road that day.
$3.5 Million
Semi Truck Catastrophic Injury
Semi-truck negligence caused catastrophic injury. This case involved a semi-truck driver who lost control of his vehicle in a high-traffic area, causing devastating injuries to our client. We were able to reconstruct every step of the events leading up to the crash that day to piece together why this happened, using sophisticated experts in reconstruction engineering.
$3.0 Million
Semi Truck & Corporate Negligence
Semi-truck and corporate negligence caused traumatic brain injury. Our client suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the defendant’s negligence in parking a commercial vehicle. The key to this case was understanding trucking regulations and local ordinances at play to show how the situation should have been handled safely.
$1 Million
Semi Truck Wrongful Death
Semi-truck causing wrongful death. This sad case involved the tragic death of our clients when a semi-driver was high on illegal substances. The key to this case was working closely with law enforcement and our reconstruction expert to identify all of the assets we could recover for these clients so that they could be as fully compensated as possible.
Let's Get Started
We're ready to fight for you. We're ready to be your ally and we are ready to begin right now. Don't waste another day, contact our law office today.
We understand that serious injuries do not happen only during normal business hours which is why we are always available to help if you have been injured. Our team is available around the clock to take your call and provide the support that you need.
