Truck Accident Lawyer Carlsbad

If you have been involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer or other heavy truck in Carlsbad, you know how serious these accidents can be.

Semis and 18-wheelers can weigh at least four times more than a passenger vehicle. Because of their larger size, truck accidents are more likely to cause life-altering injuries than crashes involving only smaller vehicles. Tragically, many truck crashes cause fatalities.

Because truck drivers are often required to haul large loads across long distances on tight schedules, many feel pressure to take unsafe risks. To get to their destination on time, drivers may speed or ignore limits on the number of hours behind the wheel. Some may turn to over-the-counter or illegal substances to help them stay awake. In situations like these, accidents are more likely to occur, since large trucks are much more difficult to stop and maneuver than passenger vehicles.

Bert Parnall and his team of Carlsbad truck accident attorneys are prepared to help you seek the justice you deserve if you’ve been hurt in a truck accident caused by the negligence of a truck driver, the company responsible for hiring, training, and supervising them, or any other liable party. Contact a truck accident lawyer in Carlsbad today to discuss your rights and legal options today. The consultation is free and comes with no strings attached.

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Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Carlsbad

Statistics show that the top causes of truck accidents in New Mexico are due to driver negligence. A Large Truck Crash Causation Study produced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reveals that 87% of truck accidents are caused by driver error.

Common errors include:

• Non-Performance – Falling asleep, heart attack or seizure, or other illness or impairment
• Recognition – Inattentive or distracted or distracted driver
• Decision – Misjudging or making a poor decision regarding road conditions, speed, or other vehicles on the road.
• Performance – Making an error in driving, and perhaps panicking, overcompensating, or exercising poor directional control, or making an illegal maneuver

Other factors are frequently involved in a truck accident. These can include:

• Mechanical problems
• Improperly loaded cargo or cargo that shifted
• Traffic issues
• Traveling too fast for road and weather conditions

• Roadway defects
• Driver unfamiliar with the road
• Prescription or over-the-counter drug use that may affect the driver’s functioning
• Driver fatigue

How Hazardous Are Truck Accidents?

In most truck accidents, the truck’s size and weight contribute significantly to the severity of the crash. While a typical passenger car weighs around 4,000 pounds, a fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, making accidents far more dangerous.

The National Safety Council reports that large trucks were involved in 5,700 fatal crashes across the US last year, an 18% increase over 2020 figures. In New Mexico, depending on the year, semi-trucks contribute between five and ten percent of all fatal accidents each year.

As a result, crashes between trucks and automobiles often produce disastrous injuries. Several factors contribute to the severity of truck accidents, including:

• Longer Distances: A fully laden semi-truck can require some 40% more distance to stop than a passenger vehicle with no cargo in tow.
• Rear-End Collisions and Rollover Risk: Due to their high center of gravity, large trucks are more prone to rollovers, especially during sharp turns.
• Multi-Vehicle Accidents: Due to their large size, truck crashes often involve multiple vehicles with increased injuries and fatalities.

Driver fatigue, mechanical mishaps, and loads becoming unsecured are additional dangers that make tractor-trailers so perilous. Victims often suffer such results as spinal cord damage, trauma to their brains, and long-term debilitations; this affects their very way of life.

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Common types of truck accidents

Truck accidents occur in many forms, each presenting a different danger to drivers and passengers. Common types include:

Rear-End Collisions

When a truck crashes into the back of another vehicle, often due to tailgating or brake failures. These crashes frequently cause whiplash, spinal cord damage, loss of limbs, or fatalities, given the weight of commercial trucks.

Underride Accidents

Smaller vehicles can become trapped underneath a truck’s trailer in a collision. This can cause some of the most severe injuries on the road.

Blind Spot Collisions

Large trucks have large “no zones” on their sides, the rear, and the front, making it easy for crashes to occur when drivers fail to check their blind spots before changing lanes.

Wide-Turn Accidents

When a truck starts left and then swings right, vehicles nearby can be squeezed and hit by the truck or its trailer.

Lost Load Accidents

Cargo that has been improperly secured can shift or fall off onto the road. This creates dangerous obstacles for other cars and trucks.

Each type of truck accident presents unique legal challenges. Determining liability depends on factors such as driver negligence, mechanical failures, and improper cargo loading.

Types of Truck Accident Injuries in Carlsbad, NM

Truck accidents can be catastrophic for those involved. Because of the size and weight of a loaded semi-truck, injuries in a truck accident can be very severe and sometimes fatal. Survivors can be left with injuries that may take years to heal. Disabilities or chronic pain may remain with them for the rest of their lives.

Common truck accident injuries include:

Who Could Be Liable for a Truck Crash?

In a truck accident, any number of parties could be held liable for the collision. Multiple individuals and companies who may be involved include:

Compensation for Losses in a Truck Accident

If you have been involved in an accident with a truck in Carlsbad, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries or property damage.

In New Mexico, you may be owed compensation for:

• Past and future medical expenses, including ambulance fees, doctor visits, hospital bills, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medication, or durable medical equipment, such as crutches.
• Past and future lost income, including income lost due to missed work or diminished earning power.
• Disfigurement, loss of limb, permanent disability.
• Wrongful death.
• Damage to your vehicle or other personal property caused by the accident.
• Pain and suffering, such as physical, mental, or emotional distress caused by your injuries.
• Loss of consortium, which compensates a spouse or family member for the loss of benefits or companionship of the injured person.

After Truck Accidents, What Can Be Done?

Taking the right steps after a truck accident is crucial to protecting your health and securing fair compensation. It can be overwhelming in the aftermath of a wreck, but what you do is paramount to preserving your legal rights and health.

1. Secure Safety: If possible, move to a safe location and check for injuries. Immediately call 911 to report the crash.
2. Seek Medical Attention: Even if injuries appear minor, get a medical evaluation, as internal injuries may not show up initially.
3. Gather Evidence: Document the accident by taking photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, skid marks, and injuries. Collect contact information for the truck driver, their employer, and any witnesses.
4. Get a Police Report: Law enforcement will document the crash, making it imperative to establish liability. Request a copy of the official accident report when law enforcement insists on one report for all of the involved vehicles.
5. Do Not Admit Fault: Don’t make statements about blame, as liability may be more complex than it at first seems.
6. Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer: Truck companies and their insurers will try to limit their liability. An attorney can help you navigate the legal process and negotiate fair compensation. Many victims make the mistake of speaking to insurance adjusters without legal representation, which means they usually settle for less money. By taking immediate action, you can make sure that your rights remain protected.

When to Call a Truck Accident Lawyer in Carlsbad?

Are you dealing with severe or catastrophic injuries after a truck accident? Is the insurance company denying liability or pressuring you to settle your case for less than you deserve?

You may feel overwhelmed in the process of seeking compensation for your losses. You don’t need more stress. You need to focus on healing. We understand what you are going through, and we can help. Our experienced truck accident attorneys can handle the legal matters and stand up for you during this difficult time.

Unfortunately, many people injured in a truck accident may not receive a full and fair settlement for their damages. It’s all too common for individuals to make mistakes soon after the crash in filing their claim or early in the settlement process. Or they may miss filing deadlines.

In New Mexico, the deadline for filing truck accident compensation claims is three years after the accident. If you miss this strict deadline, your case will be dismissed unless a very narrow exception applies

How Can Parnall Law Help Me?

To avoid making these common mistakes, call the Carlsbad truck accident attorneys at Parnall Law before you talk to anyone. Truck accident claims can be very complex, and trucking companies and their insurers will fight vigorously to avoid liability.

Our Carlsbad truck accident lawyers can help you pursue compensation for the injuries you’ve suffered and the losses you’ve incurred.

We stand ready to conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the true cause of the crash. We will document the accident, carefully examine all the information to determine the liable parties and file your claim and all legal paperwork promptly.

Once we identify the responsible parties and build a solid case for compensation, we can begin negotiating with their insurers to seek a full and fair settlement for your losses. If a settlement is not possible, we are prepared to take your case to trial and aggressively advocate for you.

Reach Out to Our Truck Accident Lawyer in Carlsbad

Parnall Law has helped thousands of people injured in truck accidents obtain just and fair compensation. If you have been hurt in a truck crash in Carlsbad or anywhere in New Mexico, call Bert! Schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with our truck accident lawyer in Carlsbad today.

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I had never had to file a lawsuit in my life. I was afraid to even start the process. Una Campbell and staff like Maura were always so nice and always explained to me what was next. They checked up on me even if there was no movement in the case at the time. Even during a family emergency Una made sure she figured out how to show up to a meeting. I appreciated that but I would have understood. This made me see the hard work and the dedication she always put into all her cases. Thank you so much for everything. I wish you the Merriest of Christmases and many Happy New years!

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