Las Cruces Personal Injury Attorneys

Car Accidents

Car accidents happen–at a rate of 28.1 per 1,000 residents in Las Cruces, to be exact. Drunk driving is also a problem in Las Cruces.

Although the drunk driving rates in Las Cruces are not nearly as high as in towns like Albuquerque, Farmington, or Gallup, they still cause devastating accidents. In fact, the overall accident rate in Las Cruces is higher than in other cities in New Mexico:

Semi-Truck Accidents

As dangerous as car accidents can be, semi-truck accidents cause some of the most serious injuries in auto accidents. Semi trucks weigh around 80,000 pounds (or 40 tons) on average, so if they hit a smaller vehicle like a car, things can turn out very poorly. Learn more about semi-truck accidents and how we can help.

Product Liability Claims

When companies sell products in New Mexico, they have an obligation to ensure that they are looking out for the safety of consumers. If you were hurt by a defective product, the negligent manufacturer must be held liable for the full value of your damages. Learn more about product liability claims and how we can help.

Wrongful Death Claims

Our firm has extensive experience bringing claims under the New Mexico wrongful death statute. The law is quite complex. While nothing can truly make up for the loss of a loved one, our Las Cruces wrongful death lawyers can help you get justice under the law. Learn more about wrongful death claims and how we can help.

Workplace Injuries

If you were hurt on the job, you are entitled to just compensation for your injuries. Our New Mexico work injury lawyers can help you explore any legal options you may have. Learn more about New Mexico worker injuries and how we can help.

What Should I Do After an Accident?

The steps to take after an accident can vary depending on the circumstances. However, the following are general steps you should follow.

Step 1: Call 911

After an accident, the first step is to call 911. Police and emergency medical services will arrive on the scene to assist. If you are unable to call 911, generally other parties to the accident will call. If neither party to the accident can make the call, a bystander who witnessed the accident can call.

Step 2: Seek Medical Attention

Once medical personnel arrive on the scene, it’s important to be examined. Even if you feel fine, you should still be seen by a paramedic. You may have hidden injuries, like a concussion. And some injuries won’t manifest until later. For this reason, you should also follow up with your general practitioner in the days after the accident.

Step 3: Take Photos

At the scene of the accident, take photos if you can. For example, if you were in a truck crash, take photos of your car, the truck, and the surrounding accident scene. If you were injured in a slip and fall, take photos of the area where you fell. Was there clutter? Was there water? Was there a sign?

If you are able, you can easily take photos with a cell phone. These photos provide essential evidence of how the aftermath of the accident looked.

Step 4: Gather Evidence

To build your personal injury case, you will need to gather evidence. This evidence comes in a variety of forms:

• Contact information of other party. Get the contact details of the other parties to the accident. If you could not get this information at the scene, their information should be in the police report. You should also try to get their insurance information if possible.
• Contact information of witnesses. Be sure to collect the contact details of any witnesses to the accident. If possible, ask what they saw while the accident is still fresh in their head.
• Video surveillance. Check to see if a store’s video recording or some outdoor camera was able to record the accident.

Gathering evidence while it is still available is crucial. A personal injury attorney in Las Cruces can help you collect this evidence.

Step 5: Obtain the Police Report

Police compile a report whenever they are called to the scene of an accident or crime. You can collect the report of your accident at your local police station.

Step 6: Save All Medical Information

If you want to pursue a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation from the negligent party, you need to show proof of your damages. Thus, you will need to save any medical bills you receive. Also, be sure to save your medical diagnoses and discharge papers. These papers will be used to explain the injuries you sustained and your future outlook.

Step 7: Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Las Cruces

Hiring a personal injury attorney is essential to pursuing a successful personal injury claim. These cases can be complex. Our personal injury lawyers at Tawney, Costa & Chaparro P.C. are well-versed in New Mexico personal injury laws.

We will construct a strategy tailored to your case to ensure maximum compensation. We know you’re stressed and still healing from the accident. You have enough to worry about. Let us take care of your lawsuit.

How Can I Prove My Personal Injury Claim?

Personal injury lawsuits are usually based on the legal doctrine of negligence. To prove this claim, you must provide evidence to show that:

1. The other party owed you a duty of care;
2. The other party breached that duty;
3. The breach of duty was the cause of your injuries; and
4. You suffered damages that require compensation.

An experienced Las Cruces personal injury attorney can help you in proving these elements.

What Compensation Can I Recover?

New Mexico law allows you to recover compensation from the negligent party. This compensation is meant to make you whole again. You may be able to recover the following types of compensation.

Medical Expenses

Any medical bills incurred as a result of the accident can be recovered. This includes the following:

• Emergency room bills,
• Hospital stays,
• Surgeries,
• Doctor visits,
• Rehabilitation,
• Home nursing care,
• Therapy,
• Diagnostic tests, and
• Prescriptions.

You may also be able to recover the cost of assistive devices, such as a walker or a wheelchair.

Lost Wages

After an accident, you may have spent time in the hospital or had to rest at home. So you probably had to miss some work. You can recover the lost wages during this period.

Loss of Earning Capacity

The accident may drastically affect your ability to do your job. You may no longer be able to work the same number of hours. Or, you may have had to take a lesser-paying job because you could no longer physically perform the duties of your job. The difference between what you earn now and what you earned before may be recoverable.

Pain and Suffering

You can also recover damages for the pain and suffering you endured as a result of the accident. In addition to physical pain and suffering, this category of compensation includes loss of consortium and emotional distress.

These damages are more difficult to prove. At Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C. we will review your case and help calculate your damages.

How Much Does Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney Cost?

It depends. Every law firm sets its own rules regarding payment. Some firms will charge an initial consultation fee. At Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C., we will never charge. Our initial consultations are always free.

And while other firms may charge you an hourly rate to handle your case, we won’t. We operate on a contingency fee basis. That means we don’t get paid unless we secure compensation for you. If we don’t, you don’t owe us anything.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?

New Mexico sets a three-year deadline to bring a personal injury claim. Victims have three years from the date of the accident to bring their claim. Unless you meet certain conditions, you cannot bring your personal injury claim if you fail to file by the deadline.

We’re The Personal Injury And Accident Attorneys You Can Count On.

If you are in need of legal assistance, our Las Cruces accident and injury attorneys are standing by, ready to help. Please call us today to request a review of your case.

We will review your case and determine exactly what needs to be done to protect your legal rights and financial interests. If you want to hire the best personal injury attorneys in Las Cruces, contact Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C. today.