1-40 was closed for several hours in both directions after a fatal accident involving a semi-truck. The semi-truck crossed the median and collided with another truck, killing all three people inside the vehicle. Authorities ruled out alcohol, but at the time this article was published, the cause of the crash was not determined. The driver had extensive injuries along with his passengers and both were treated at the University of New Mexico Hospital.
General auto accidents can cause a range of injuries from minor scrapes to life-long paralysis or death. Due to the dominating size of semi-trucks, accidents involving semi-trucks and standard consumer vehicles can be devastating in the scope of injuries sustained by all involved. Stringent federal regulations are in place for the driver, the vehicle, and the trucking companies who own and send out vehicles. Vehicles who transport hazardous materials have additional special guidelines on how the materials should be handled and stored. These guidelines are all found on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website. The FMCSA emphasizes that “safety is good business” and lists sobering statistics of the 5,212 fatalities and 91,993 injuries from large truck crashes in 2005. The site also provides factors hat lend to the crashes that are preventable including speeding, use of controlled substances, driver fatigue, failure to use safety belts, and high turnover of drivers within the company.
All drivers in New Mexico, regardless of the type or size of vehicle, are obligated to fellow drivers to follow the law and drive safely. Drivers and trucking companies are liable for damages to those that are injured or to the family members who are killed when they fail to follow the FMCSA regulations described above or any other New Mexico law regarding transportation on the roadways. When accidents happen the trucking company’s insurance carrier often investigates quickly to determine what happened, and work to minimize cost and liability for the trucking company. An experienced auto accident attorney is essential following a semi-truck accident to provide a thorough investigation for the injured or deceased’s family. Often, trucks are based in other states outside of New Mexico, and a skilled attorney will know what to consider when filing the personal injury action by looking at the location the accident, the residence of the injured, and the place of operation or formation of the trucking company.
The New Mexico trucking accident attorneys at Parnall Law Firm aggressively fight for their clients to receive the compensation they deserve. We understand the heartache and financial burdens that follow a catastrophic accident from the physical recovery to the mounting hospital bills. As seasoned personal injury lawyers, we are familiar with the guiding regulations that should have been followed and the insurance policies that cover semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles. If you have been injured or are the family member of someone who was killed in an accident involving a semi-truck, contact our office today for a free confidential consultation at (505) 332-2378.
