Las Cruces, NM Truck Accident Lawyer

Identifying Who Was Responsible for the Accident

When our lawyers are representing you, we’ll investigate who caused your injuries and losses. There are a few possible parties that may be at fault and they don’t necessarily have to be in the accident itself. Our lawyers will into the following parties:

• Truck Company. The truck company may have failed to maintain their vehicles and check for safety. They could have put an unsafe truck on the road, put too much cargo in the truck, or had negligent hiring practices and didn’t hire drivers who could operate a commercial truck. If they have a history of accidents, our lawyers will find out.
• Truck Driver. The driver could have exhibited negligence. If they were using their cell phone, trying to eat and drive, or were otherwise distracted, they could hit another vehicle. In some cases, the truck driver is too fatigued to safely operate the big rig. While truckers are supposed to take regular breaks to rest, they may not always stop when they need to. Additional factors can include unfamiliarity with the roads or inexperience with operating an 18 wheeler.
• Manufacturing Company. If an accident occurred because the truck had a defective part, then the manufacturing company could be held accountable for the accident.

To find the party who was responsible for your accident, your Las Cruces, NM truck accident lawyer will examine police reports, photographs of the scene, any data from the truck, and other additional case evidence to determine who was at fault.

What Kinds of Truck Accidents Occur in Las Cruces? 

Because large trucks have two parts, the truck and the attached trailer, they can get into different types of accidents than regular-sized vehicles. These accidents can affect any of the vehicles on the road and potentially cause a multi-vehicle crash. Some common kinds of crashes are:

• Rollover Accidents. If a driver takes a turn too quickly or something causes the trailer’s wheels to lift off the ground, the truck can go off balance and rollover. Once this starts, there’s little the truck driver can do to regain control of the semi.
• Jackknife Accidents. Speeding and overloading a trailer can lead to jackknife accidents. This occurs when the trailer swings out from behind the truck and makes an L shape. The trailer can block lanes to oncoming traffic. If other vehicles are too close, they could collide with the trailer.
• Override Accidents. A truck can trap another car underneath it, which is called an override accident. Once the car is stuck, the driver will likely not be able to maneuver their vehicle. These accidents often cause fatalities.

Even if you don’t recognize the type of accident you were involved in, you’ll still want a Las Cruces, NM truck accident lawyer on your side. When a truck collides with another vehicle, the accident scene can be full of debris and putting together what happened can be difficult. Our lawyers are trained in investigating accident scenes and understanding what happened and why.

Why Are 18 Wheeler Injuries Often Severe?

Large trucks can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. In collisions, the smaller vehicles and their occupants often sustain most of the damage. Because these accidents are so dangerous, catastrophic injuries can occur. This cause lasting damage that will affect the person’s ability to return to the work force. Catastrophic injuries include: