Rio Arriba County, New Mexico (December 9, 2023) — Four people were killed in a two-vehicle crash early Saturday morning in Rio Arriba County.
According to the New Mexico State Police, two cars were traveling on US Highway 84. Around 3:30 AM, the two vehicles—a jeep and a pickup truck—crashed head-on near Medanales. Both vehicles caught on fire.
Each car was carrying two people. All were pronounced dead at the scene. Police are still working on identifying the victims.
The NMSP is still investigating and urges anyone with information to contact them.
Source: KRQE
The Lawyers at Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro, P.C. Offer Their Sincerest Sympathies to the Victims’ Families
Losing loved ones in an accident is terrible. We offer our condolences to the families of the victims of this devastating vehicle crash. We know this is a challenging time. The New Mexico State Police are still in the investigation stage.
Once they gather all the details and evidence, the cause of this tragic accident will likely become apparent. We know nothing can bring the deceased back to life. But the law allows a family to seek justice for a loved one killed because of someone else’s negligence.
Filing a Wrongful Death Claim
New Mexico law allows for surviving family members to file a lawsuit against the negligent party who caused the death of their loved one. This lawsuit is called a wrongful death claim.
What Events Give Rise to a Wrongful Death Claim?
Examples of incidents that can give rise to a wrongful death claim include the following:
- Car accidents,
- Truck accidents,
- Pedestrian accidents,
- Slip and fall accidents, and
- Medical malpractice.
A New Mexico car crash like this unfortunate one a few days ago is an example of an event to base a wrongful death claim on.
What Compensation Is Available in a Wrongful Death Claim?
No amount of money can replace a lost loved one. But with a successful wrongful death claim, you may be able to recover financially. Recoverable expenses include the following:
- Funeral and burial expenses,
- Loss of companionship,
- Loss of consortium, and
- Loss of financial support.
A seasoned wrongful death attorney can help calculate the appropriate amount of damages.
How Long Do You Have to Bring a Wrongful Death Claim?
New Mexico law allows three years to bring a wrongful death claim. After this period, you will generally no longer be able to recover compensation.
The clock starts to run on the date of death, not the incident that caused the death. For example, suppose someone was injured in a car accident and succumbed to their injuries three weeks later.
The three-year time limit to bring a wrongful death claim would not start on the accident date. It would start three weeks after the accident on the date of death.
For Help Pursuing a Wrongful Death Claim, Contact Tawney, Acosta, & Chaparro, P.C.
If you lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, we know you are going through a difficult time. But we can help you get justice and recover financially from this terrible ordeal.
Schedule a free case evaluation with one of the experienced wrongful death attorneys at Tawney, Acosta, & Chaparro, P.C.
Daisy Chaparro
Daisy Chaparro was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. A graduate from El Dorado High School in 2008 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Philosophy from St. Mary’s University in 2012. Daisy then obtained her Juris Doctorate (magna cum laude) from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2015.
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