Road accidents involving commercial trucks, 18-wheelers, and semi-trucks are not rare on the roads of New Mexico. Immediately after an accident, people often feel too overwhelmed and shocked to take decisions. Truck accidents are characteristically complex, because there could be more than one party at fault. Also, there could be multiple layers of insurance involved. Hiring one of Albuquerque semi-truck accident lawyers can help your case in a big way. Here are some facts worth knowing.
Know your rights
What caused the accident? Was the truck driver at fault? What if the vehicle had a manufacturing defect? What if the trucking company didn’t spend enough on maintenance and upkeep of the truck? These are questions that a truck accident lawyer can answer for you. Your attorney has a big role in investigating the case and defining the legal strategy. They can guide on your rights, besides a figure that you can realistically expect in settlement.
Comparative Negligence in New Mexico
New Mexico follows the pure comparative negligence rule. If you had a role in causing the accident involving a commercial truck, your settlement will be reduced by the percentage of your fault. Insurance companies will try to use this against you, and if you end up giving a statement to the insurance claims adjuster, your eventual settlement will be lower. You need an attorney, to ensure that you don’t have to deal with the insurance company directly.
Contingency fee
Almost all truck accident lawyers in Albuquerque work on a contingency fee. This means that they don’t get paid, until they win a financial settlement for the client. The arrangement is a big advantage for victims, who are already dealing with financial distress. In other words, you can afford to have legal representation, without paying an upfront fee.
Finding the right attorney
There are many law firms in Albuquerque that deal in car & truck accident cases. You need to check for an attorney, who has worked on cases similar to yours. Your attorney’s knowledge is critical for the case, and while most truck accident cases are settled outside of court, you should hire a lawyer with courtroom experience. The first meeting with an attorney doesn’t have to cost anything, and you can discuss all aspects of the case in depth.
Ensure that you have direct access to your lawyer, and to know the law firm better, ask for references and check online reviews.