A lot of traffic travels into and out of our southeastern New Mexico city of Carlsbad daily. Some individuals visit Eddy County to work in the oil and gas industry. In contrast, others come here to enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the Pecos River Flume, Carlsbad Water Park, the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park, or perhaps the shooting range, Bob Forrest Youth Sports Complex, or the museum. There’s no shortage of activities, restaurants, work, and stores available in Carlsbad, NM. No wonder one of the incorporated areas of greater Eddy County is called Happy Valley.
Carlsbad is also the home to the crossroads of many important New Mexico highways. Some highways that cut off in or cross through the city center include U.S. Highways 285 and 62 and New Mexico State Roads 605 and 524, among others. These roads don’t only attract passenger car operators but also local, short-haul, and long-haul truckers carrying goods to and fro.
The abundance of things to do and expansive roadways in the area often lead to many auto accidents. The most recent 2019 data published by the New Mexico Department of Transportation lists Carlsbad as seventh among the state’s cities with the highest traffic accident rates. There were 1,056 total crashes in the city in 2019, and statistics show those numbers are steadily climbing each year.
What Different Types of Carlsbad Car Accidents Are There?
There are various car accidents that occur in Carlsbad NM, including:
- Blind spot accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Side-impact crashes (also known as T-bone accidents)
- Multi-car pileups (also known as chain reaction crashes)
- Rear-end accidents
- Rollover crashes
- Sideswipe accidents
While each car accident type has different appearances, some commonalities exist among them (as they would for truck crashes, motorcycle collisions, or any other type of auto-involved wreck). These motor vehicle accidents:
- Are often caused by a negligent motorist
- Frequently leave passenger car occupants with severe injuries
- Cause injured motorists to incur significant medical bills and lost wages
What Are Common Causes of Carlsbad Auto Collisions?
Personal injury incidents like Carlsbad car accidents are most often attributable to factors such as:
Reckless Driving
While Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) guidelines apply to commercial carriers (like tractor-trailer operators), their definition of reckless driving proves valuable for understanding what vehicle operation approaches fit into this category. They include:
- Running a stop sign or red light
- Purposefully not yielding to other motorists’ or pedestrians’ rights of way
- Operating a vehicle over 25 MPH over the speed limit
- Crossing double lines into oncoming traffic within a two-lane highway
- Street or drag racing other automobiles
- Passing a stopped school bus
- Texting while driving
- Driving while intoxicated (DWI) from either alcohol, illicit, or prescription drugs
- Attempting to evade a law enforcement officer
While statistics show that a conviction for reckless driving can result in as much as an 87.5% increase in car insurance and a potential suspension or revocation of a driver’s license, that doesn’t deter many motorists from engaging in reckless driving behaviors.
Other factors that may result in car accidents in Carlsbad are vehicle maintenance issues or car manufacturing defects.
Types of Injuries Carlsbad Car Accidents Can Result In
Injuries caused by passenger car crashes can range from minor to severe. Examples of injuries that most commonly stem from motor vehicle accidents include:
- Cuts (also known as lacerations)
- Bruises
- Neck injuries, including whiplash
- Broken bones
- Extremity or limb injuries requiring amputations
- Compression injuries
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries like concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal organ damage and residual bleeding
- Second or third-degree burns
- Back and spinal cord injuries, resulting in paralysis
While some of the injuries above heal in time without any aggressive medical treatment, surgical intervention is necessary to address them. While it’s possible for a patient to recover from most of the conditions described above, some are undoubtedly life-altering.
What To Do Following a Carlsbad Car Crash
There are a few basic steps you should take following an automobile accident. These include:
Reporting the Collision to the Police
It’s always a best practice to report your Carlsbad auto accident to police right from the scene of the crash, even if there’s no apparent damage to either vehicle and no one feels hurt. This provides an opportunity to document what happened and facilitate the exchange of information between you and the other motorist.
Taking Pictures and Witness Contacts
It doesn’t hurt to take pictures of any injuries you may have suffered or the crash scene while you await the police’s arrival. Taking down any witnesses’ contact information is also a good idea.
Seeking Medical Care
Your next step should be seeking medical attention right away. You should allow the police to summon paramedics if you don’t feel as if you can safely transport yourself to the hospital. Otherwise, you should drive to your nearest doctor’s office immediately following your release from the crash scene by police.
The rush of adrenaline that motorists often experience may have overcome you, not allowing you to initially feel the full force of your injuries. Also, you may have suffered injuries that worsen in time. By the time you feel any symptoms, irreversible damage may have been done.
Calling a Car Accident Attorney
You can expect a sudden influx of calls from insurance company adjusters from the minute you report a car crash. Keeping straight who’s calling, whether it’s your insurer or the other motorist’s, can be challenging. Making certain statements could adversely impact your case.
Insurers must only communicate with your attorney if you have hired legal representation. A Carlsbad car accident attorney can help you navigate the auto insurance maze, giving you time to focus on improving your health.
How New Mexico Auto Insurance Works
New Mexico is an at-fault auto insurance state, which means you can hold a negligent motorist who struck you, leaving you with injuries, liable for their actions.
Some motorists also carry uninsured or underinsured motorist and other types of auto insurance coverage that they can tap into to pay for accident-related injuries, auto repairs or replacements, and other costs stemming from a Carlsbad, NM car crash.
Why Should You Consult With a Car Accident Attorney After a Carlsbad, NM Crash?
Liability isn’t always clear following a car accident. You may need to have an engineer perform a crash reconstruction or require a medical expert’s insight to prove liability following a crash. An experienced car accident attorney like ours at Buckingham Barrera Law Firm will know if you need to bring in someone to prove liability in your case and, if so, have a list of the best professionals for the role.
At our firm, there’s no risk associated with meeting with a Carlsbad car accident lawyer. Email or call us to schedule a free consultation with our auto accident attorneys at Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm today. We’ll advise you of your rights under New Mexico law, including your ability to recover compensation for your injuries.
