A 25-year-old Georgia man who was riding as a passenger in an 18-wheeler was reportedly killed in a recent rollover truck accident near Grants. According to New Mexico State Police, the 61-year-old driver of a semi-truck was headed west on Interstate 40 when he drove onto the shoulder of the roadway. Police stated the man over-corrected as he attempted to return to his lane and rolled the large vehicle onto its right side. The 25-year-old man, who was apparently asleep in the truck cabin, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Following the single-vehicle wreck, the interstate was closed for about seven hours. The driver of the big rig was reportedly arrested on an unrelated warrant. He was also allegedly driving on a suspended license. Police stated a third passenger in the 18-wheeler, a 37-year-old Pennsylvania woman, was the logged into the truck’s computer system as the driver of the vehicle at the time of the wreck. It is currently unclear whether either the driver or female passenger was hurt in the accident. New Mexico State Police have not stated whether charges are expected to be filed in connection with the deadly crash.
Regrettably, semi-truck crashes are common in our state. Every year, more than 2,000 traffic accidents in New Mexico involve a big rig. Law suits brought as a result of tractor-trailer collisions are generally different than simple car wrecks because they normally involve unique pieces of evidence such as on-board computers and other technology. In addition, 18-wheeler drivers are required to maintain a number of records in order to document the amount of time they spend traveling each day. Because of this, an accident investigation can be quite complicated.
Tractor-trailer accidents can be caused by many factors, including excessive load weights, driver impairment, driver fatigue, and poor vehicle maintenance. The victim in a collision involving an 18-wheeler may be eligible to recover damages for lost wages and benefits, medical costs, any disability that resulted from the crash, suffering, and pain. Close relatives of someone who was killed in an accident with a semi-truck may also be entitled to recover for their loved one’s funeral expenses and receive other compensation. Anyone who was injured by a negligent tractor-trailer driver should contact a quality attorney as soon as possible following a wreck.
Please call the Fine Law Firm at (505) 889-3463 if you or a family member was hurt in a traffic wreck with a big rig. Our caring Albuquerque truck accident lawyers have more than 100 years of combined experience assisting the victims of unexpected accidents with 18-wheelers receive the compensation they deserve based on the severity of their harm. To schedule a free, confidential case evaluation with a committed personal injury attorney today, do not hesitate to contact the Fine Law Firm through our website.
More Blog Posts:
Reliability of Las Cruces Red Light Cameras Called Into Question, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, June 17, 2013
Man Arrested for DWI Following Albuquerque Injury Accident, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, May 29, 2013
Additional Resources:
Big rig flips killing 1, blocking I-40, by Bill Diven, krqe.com