Alamogordo Car Accident Lawyer
When a car accident leaves you or a loved one seriously injured, our Alamogordo personal injury lawyers can help. We represent fellow New Mexicans harmed in accidents through no fault of their own recover compensation for their physical, financial, mental, and emotional damages.
At The Fine Law Firm, our Alamogordo car accident attorneys are:
- Dedicated to securing the maximum compensation available for car accident victims;
- Possessed of the resources and drive to pursue even the largest insurance companies for our clients; and
- Respected and recognized in the legal community for excellence in personal injury law.
The Fine Law Firm never charges attorney fees until we win your claim. Call for a free claim evaluation today to learn about your legal options and potential for compensation. Our attorneys make themselves available to clients after hours and on weekends.
How Can an Alamogordo Car Accident Attorney Help Me?
At The Fine Law Firm, our attorneys have a 99% success rate in settling and trying claims for our clients. We achieve this by thoroughly researching and building each claim as if it were going directly to trial. When you hire an Alamogordo car accident attorney from The Fine Law Firm, that attorney will:
- Review the accident reports;
- Consult with any needed experts;
- Interview witnesses;
- Assess and evaluate the value of your accident claim;
- Negotiate a settlement with the insurance companies; and
- If needed, take your case to court.
We look forward to speaking with you and answering your legal questions. The Fine Law Firm is a local, New Mexico establishment, serving our community for more than forty years. If you cannot come to our office, one of our car accident attorneys will travel to you.
When Should I Hire an Alamogordo Car Accident Lawyer?
Not every car accident requires hiring an attorney in Alamogordo. Many car insurance companies make it easy to resolve low-value claims, such as those involving property damage only and no injuries. You may be able to file a claim and recover fair compensation on your own in this case. If, however, the car accident involves injuries or severe damage, you may need to hire a lawyer to help you negotiate a fair settlement with an insurance company.
Serious injuries deserve legal representation from a personal injury attorney in Alamogordo. An attorney can take a stand against an insurance company’s bad faith practices, such as undervaluing your claim or wrongfully rejecting coverage. Your lawyer will understand how to aggressively negotiate with an insurance provider to pursue the financial compensation that you deserve for a life-changing injury. If an insurance company still refuses to offer a reasonable settlement, an attorney will have the power to take your car accident case to court.
In addition to improving your chances of securing a fair settlement, hiring an attorney can give you greater peace of mind during a difficult time in your life. A law firm can efficiently handle a car accident investigation, along with evidence collection and witness interviews. A lawyer will also have connections to experts who can support your case, such as crash reconstructionists and medical experts. You can focus on healing from your injuries while your lawyer handles the complex legal process.
Reasons for Car Accidents
Car accidents are one of the most common personal injury accidents in Alamogordo. The top cause of automobile accidents in New Mexico and throughout the country is driver error. Drivers are often guilty of making negligent and reckless decisions behind the wheel, such as using a cell phone or ignoring traffic laws. There are several reasons for car accidents, including:
- Drunk driving;
- Distracted driving, such as texting, talking on the phone, and eating;
- Aggressive driving;
- Road construction;
- Vehicle defects;
- Pedestrians;
- Bicyclists; and
- Poorly maintained roadways.
Not all car accidents are solely the fault of the driver. Circumstances, including some of those above, extend liability beyond a careless driver to the following:
- Vehicle manufacturers;
- Faulty vehicle repairs;
- Construction companies;
- Civil authorities responsible for road maintenance; and
- Vehicle parts manufacturers.
Identifying the cause of your car accident is necessary before you can file an insurance claim in New Mexico, as your claim will go to the insurance company of the at-fault driver, person or party under the state’s fault-based law. All motor vehicle operators in the state must carry minimum amounts of liability car insurance to pay for car accidents that they cause.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Alamogordo
The aftermath of a car accident is often confusing and frightening. However, there are simple steps to take after an accident that can preserve a victim’s right to recover for their injuries and losses.
These are as follows:
- Obtain all other drivers’ license and insurance information;
- Take photos of the whole accident scene;
- Take photos of vehicle damages and medical injuries;
- Call the police and get a copy of the accident report;
- Get medical attention even for minor injuries;
- Follow all medical recommendations and attend all medical appointments; and
- Contact an experienced car accident attorney.
Never sign any documents or make a recorded statement without speaking to a New Mexico car accident attorney. Insurance companies are in business to make money, not pay settlements. The car accident attorneys at The Fine Law Firm are aggressive when negotiating with insurance companies and will go to trial if no fair settlement offer is forthcoming.
New Mexico Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents
Never delay in seeking legal assistance or filing a claim after getting into a car accident in Alamogordo. New Mexico has a law known as the statute of limitations that places a strict deadline on your right to file a claim after a car accident. With only a few rare exceptions, if you miss this time limit, you will forfeit the right to hold another driver accountable for your crash. Your exact time limit may depend on the circumstances of your case. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to file on time.
The general statute of limitations on a car accident case in New Mexico is three years from the date of the crash. If you fail to file within three years of your accident, you will most likely lose the opportunity to pursue compensation. It is also important to act quickly to ensure the preservation of key evidence, such as accurate eyewitness accounts. While three years may seem like a long time, the deadline can approach quickly – especially if you are busy dealing with a long-term injury or medical treatments.
An exception known as the discovery rule could give you three years from the date of injury discovery rather than the date of the car accident to bring a claim. A property-damage only car accident claim has an extended statute of limitations of four years in New Mexico. If you wish to file a claim against a government entity, such as for a crash caused by a government agent, you will have just two years from the date of injury to do so. Finally, a car accident claim involving an injured minor has a statute of limitations of three years from the victim’s 18th birthday.
What Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?
It is standard practice for a car insurance company to use various tactics to try to convince an accident victim to settle for less than his or her claim is worth. Insurance carriers are businesses that operate for profit; minimizing client payouts is how they maintain their bottom lines and pay their investors. It is critical to understand this and know your rights before you venture into a car insurance claim in Alamogordo. The best way to protect yourself is by determining how much your car accident claim is worth with assistance from an attorney.
The types of financial compensation that may be available to you after a car accident include:
- Medical bills: the full extent of your necessary medical care after a car accident, including ambulance fees, a hospital stay, critical care, surgeries, appointments with specialists, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medical devices and prescription medications.
- Disability costs: an amount allotted for your diminished physical or mental capabilities, future care, home or vehicle modifications, accommodations, lost capacity to earn, lost quality of life, and other damages caused by a long-term or permanent disability.
- Lost wages: the amount of money that you lost from having to miss time at work after your car accident, such as for doctor’s appointments or your physical recovery. This can include hourly wages, tips, commissions, bonuses and employment benefits.
- Property damage: a reasonable amount to repair any damage caused to your motor vehicle in the crash, or the full pre-crash value of your vehicle if it is deemed a total loss (“totaled”). It can also pay for other property losses, such as personal property that was in your car.
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- Pain and suffering: a noneconomic damage award for your intangible losses, such as physical pain, chronic pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, post-traumatic stress disorder, diminished enjoyment of life and inconvenience.
- Punitive damages: a special amount that may be awarded to punish or penalize a defendant for egregious acts of wrongdoing, such as gross negligence, recklessness, intent to harm or a wanton disregard for the safety of others.
Calculating the value of your car accident claim requires analyzing the facts that are specific to your case, such as the severity of your injuries, how long it will take you to recover, the cost of your medical care, the extent of your property damage, your age and overall health, and your income before and after the crash.
The argument of comparative negligence may affect the value of your car accident claim. This rule in New Mexico states that a crash victim’s financial recovery will be reduced by an amount equivalent to his or her degree of fault for the accident. A car accident lawyer in Alamogordo can assess your case, determine its value, and help you pursue fair financial compensation for your past and future losses.
How Long Will It Take for My Car Accident Claim to Settle?
The answer to this question changes from case to case. The amount of time that a car accident claim takes to reach a successful settlement or achieve a judgment award depends on the specific circumstances. The average timeline for a car accident settlement is around three to six months. However, some settlements take one year or longer from start to finish. This is especially true of challenging cases, such as those involving catastrophic injuries or liability disputes.
It is in your best interest not to rush the settlement process. You may be impatient to recover compensation for your losses and move forward from the crash, but once you accept a settlement from an insurance company, you cannot reopen your case – even if you discover that you will need significantly more medical care than you originally thought. You must wait until you reach your point of maximum medical improvement. This is the point at which you are no longer expected to recover from your injuries. How long it takes to reach this point depends on the individual and injury.
Waiting to accept a settlement can ensure that you know the full and accurate value of your claim. This can allow you or your attorney to successfully negotiate a fair settlement with an insurer. If a settlement cannot be reached, your car accident case may have to go to trial in New Mexico. A car accident trial can take one year to a few years, depending on how busy the courthouse is in your county. Hiring an attorney can make the recovery process as fast and efficient as possible while still preserving your rights as a crash victim.
Call Our Alamogordo Car Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Alamogordo or the surrounding areas, call The Fine Law Firm today. Insurance companies know we mean business. We can help you pursue the case outcome that you need to move forward with proven legal strategies that are tailored to your situation. You pay nothing upfront, and you do not pay any fees or costs unless we win your claim. We serve clients based in Gallup, Farmington, Santa Fe, Carlsbad, Hobbs and more.