Hobbs Truck Accident Lawyer
If you have been involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer or other heavy truck in Hobbs, you know how serious these collisions can be.
Semis and 18-wheelers can weigh at least four times more than passenger vehicles. Because of their larger size, trucks are more likely to cause life-altering injuries in traffic collisions. Tragically, many truck crashes result in fatalities.
Because truck drivers, especially in the Permian Basin, are often required to haul large loads across long distances on tight schedules, many feel pressure to take unsafe risks. To get to their destinations on time, drivers may speed or ignore limits on the number of hours spent behind the wheel. Some may turn to over-the-counter stimulants or illegal substances to help them stay awake.
In situations like these, accidents are more likely to occur since tractor trailers are much more difficult to stop and maneuver than passenger vehicles.
Bert Parnall and his team of Hobbs truck accident attorneys are prepared to help you seek the justice you deserve if you’ve been hurt in a truck accident. Contact us to discuss your rights and legal options today. The consultation is free and comes with no strings attached.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Hobbs?
Located in the northwest Permian Basin, Hobbs, NM is one of the top oil-producing areas in the nation. Because Hobbs is a local hotspot for oil production, our community sees its fair share of large trucks. This constant stream of commercial traffic can only increase accidents, especially since studies prepared by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration suggest that truck driver error is a factor in 87 percent of truck wrecks.
Common types of truck driver error that contribute to Hobbs truck accidents include:
- Performance errors – Active errors related to driving performance, such as oversteering, exercising poor directional control, or making illegal maneuvers
- Non-performance errors – Inaction or omissions related to driving performance, such as falling asleep at the wheel or failing to monitor blind spots
- Recognition errors – Errors related to the recognition of traffic hazards, road obstacles, or other road users, such as those caused by distraction or inattention
- Decision errors – Errors related to poor judgments or decisions, such as driving too fast for road conditions or failing to time a maneuver properly
Other common contributing factors in local truck accidents include:
- Other road users
- Company pressure
- Roadway defects
- Mechanical defects
- Unbalanced cargo
- Unsecured cargo
- Overloaded cargo
What Are the Most Common Truck Accident Injuries?
Truck accidents are frequently catastrophic for those involved, especially occupants of smaller vehicles. Survivors are often left with severe, life-changing injuries, such as:
- Back and shoulder injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Abdominal injuries and internal bleeding
- Arm, elbow, wrist, and hand injuries
- Leg, knee, ankle, and foot injuries
- Dislocated or broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Amputation or dismemberment
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Partial or total paralysis
- Soft tissue strains, sprains, and tears
- Facial injuries and dental trauma
- Emotional and psychological injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
What Should I Do Immediately After an Accident Involving a Truck?
In the aftermath of a truck accident, it’s natural to feel shocked, disoriented, and overwhelmed. If you sustained injuries in the collision, your health should be your priority. Seek emergency medical care if you or anyone else at the scene has suffered a serious injury.
If you do not need emergency treatment, you should still seek medical care promptly to have your condition diagnosed, treated, and included in your medical records. You should also take the following steps to establish a foundation for your injury claim:
- Gather evidence from the scene, such as photos and witness statements
- Follow your doctor’s care plan and attend all follow-up appointments
- Keep track of medical bills and other documentation of your financial losses
- Watch what you say to others or post online while your claim is pending
- Contact a knowledgeable truck accident attorney in Hobbs, NM
Who Can Be Held Liable for an Accident Involving a Tractor-Trailer?
Determining liability for a car accident isn’t always easy, but in most cases, one of the drivers involved is mostly or entirely at fault. However, multiple parties are involved in the operations of a commercial truck, and any of them could share liability for a truck accident. Potentially liable parties include:
- The truck driver
- The truck owner
- The trucking company
- A cargo loading company
- The cargo owner
- An oil company
- Truck parts manufacturers
- Truck mechanics
What Compensation Is Available After a Truck Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a New Mexico truck accident due to another party’s actions, you could be entitled to compensation for the following types of crash-related losses:
- The costs of current and future medical care for your crash-related injuries
- Incidental costs, such as mileage expenses from doctor’s appointments
- Lost income from time you missed at work due to your injuries
- Projected losses in your future earning capacity, if your injuries are permanent
- The subjective costs of the pain, suffering, and lost quality of life you endure
Should I Settle with the Trucking Company?
Many truck accident victims are surprised and relieved when truck insurance companies make seemingly large settlement offers soon after the crash. Unfortunately, if you get an offer that appears very generous with minimal fuss, chances are your case is worth a lot more.
Truck accident victims typically expect to be reimbursed for the medical bills and lost wages they have already incurred but lose sight of the following “big picture” questions:
- Did you lose insurance benefits, bonuses, or other non-wage compensation due to your time away from work?
- Will you ever be able to work at full capacity in your usual field again?
- How much do you expect to pay for the medical care you will need in the future?
- Will you need specialist medical care, physical rehabilitation, or other therapies?
- Will you need specialized equipment such as wheelchairs or prosthetics?
Determining the full extent of the compensation you are owed and demanding a fair settlement can be daunting. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it all yourself. A knowledgeable truck accident lawyer in Hobbs can negotiate for you and help you pursue a fair settlement so you won’t have to pay a dime out of pocket.
When to Call a Truck Accident Lawyer in Hobbs
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 losses. It’s all too common for individuals to make mistakes when filing their insurance claim or early in the settlement process. Or, they may miss filing deadlines.
In New Mexico, the deadline for filing a lawsuit to seek compensation after a truck accident is three years from the date of the accident. If you miss this strict deadline, your case will be dismissed unless a narrow exception applies.
How Can a Hobbs Truck Accident Lawyer Help with My Case?
A skilled truck accident lawyer can help you avoid common mistakes in the settlement process and demand the compensation you deserve for your losses. Truck accident cases are among the most complex injury cases, and trucking insurance companies often fight aggressively to deny liability and avoid paying their fair share to the people they’ve hurt.
At Parnall Law, our Hobbs truck accident attorneys are prepared to conduct a thorough investigation and determine who is liable for your injuries. We will document our findings and carefully preserve the evidence needed to support your case. Then, once we build a strong case on your behalf, we can begin negotiating a full and fair settlement for your losses.
If you have been hurt in a truck accident, call Bert. Our firm’s trusted truck crash lawyers can answer your questions and evaluate your case for free in an initial strategy session.
