Grants, NM Truck Accident Lawyers

Make Us Your First Choice for Legal Counsel

If you've been injured in a truck accident, you already know how devastating the consequences can be. The physical, emotional, and financial toll can add up, making everything feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face this challenging time alone. At Buckingham & Vega Law Firm in Grants, New Mexico, we are here to help truck accident survivors and their families secure the compensation and justice they deserve. With years of experience navigating the complexities of these types of cases, we are here to help you try to rebuild your life.

Call (505) 388-0066 right now. We can get you started with a FREE case review.

Why You Should Seek Legal Help After a Truck Accident

Truck accident cases are far more complex than most car accidents. When a truck accident occurs, multiple parties, including truck drivers, trucking companies, and their insurers, can all get involved in the cases that follow. Truck accident cases also require a thorough understanding of state and federal trucking laws, as well as plenty of real-world experience with investigating the cause of such crashes to determine liability.

Without experienced legal representation, dealing with powerful trucking companies and their aggressive legal teams can feel like an uphill battle. Having a legal team like ours on your side, though, lets you place trusted legal professionals between you and the opposition. We can protect your rights, handle the heavy lifting of your case, and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.

Types of Truck Accidents

A few of the most common types of truck accidents that we see in our clients’ cases include:

• Jackknife accidents: Occur when the truck’s trailer folds at a sharp angle with the cab, resembling a pocketknife. Jackknife accidents often result from sudden braking or loss of traction, creating a risk for multi-vehicle collisions.
• Rollover accidents: Large trucks can flip over, especially on sharp turns or at high speeds. Rollover accidents are incredibly dangerous for nearby vehicles, as the truck can crush smaller cars or block entire roadways.
• Underride collisions: When smaller vehicles slide under the side or rear of a truck. Underride accidents result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities at higher rates than most other types of truck accidents.
• Rear-end collisions: Due to their size and weight, trucks require significantly more time to stop. When a truck is unable to stop in time, it can rear-end other vehicles, often causing severe damage and injuries.
• Wide-turn accidents: Large trucks frequently make wide turns, especially left turns. A wide turn can trap other vehicles in the truck’s path.
• Narrow-turn accidents: Large trucks can also make narrow right-hand turns. Drivers in adjacent lanes can get sideswiped if a truck driver makes a right turn without checking for other vehicles. 

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Most truck accidents are preventable, stemming from human error or negligence. When handling your case, our Grants truck accident lawyers can analyze all potential causes and gather evidence that shows what type of mistake caused the crash.

Common causes of truck accidents in New Mexico include:

• Driver fatigue: Truck drivers often work long hours, pushing themselves to meet tight delivery schedules. Fatigue can impair reaction times and decision-making, leading to accidents.
• Distracted driving: Distractions such as texting, eating, or using in-cab technology take a truck driver’s focus off the road, increasing the chances of an accident.
• Improper maintenance: Trucks require regular maintenance to remain safe for the road. Neglecting repairs or skipping inspections can result in mechanical failures, such as brake malfunctions or tire blowouts.
• Overloaded or improperly loaded cargo: Trucks carrying loads that are too heavy or unevenly distributed are at higher risk of tipping over or losing cargo, both of which can cause accidents.

Common Areas for Truck Accidents in Grants, NM

Grants is situated along I-40 and has a few perimeter roads that are heavily used by commercial trucks. When a truck accident happens in the city, it usually occurs along these routes due to high traffic volume and challenging driving conditions.

Areas in Grants where truck accidents frequently occur include:

• Interstate 40 (I-40): One of the busiest highways in the region, I-40 sees significant trucking activity. The high speeds and heavy traffic make this highway a common site for serious truck accidents.
• State Road 53: The busy interchange where the 53 connects to the I-40 can create confusion and dangers for smaller vehicles near larger trucks.
• Highway 117: Linked to freight transport, Highway 117 poses risks due to uneven terrain, narrow lanes, and truck congestion. It is just outside the city and connects to U.S. Route 66.

Trucking Company Liability for Accidents

Trucking companies are often held partly or fully liable for accidents caused by their drivers. They have a legal obligation to hire, train, and supervise their employees responsibly, as well as maintain their fleets in safe operating conditions. When they fail these duties, they can be held accountable for any harm and losses.

Examples of trucking company negligence include:

• Negligent hiring: Employing drivers who lack proper certifications, have poor driving records, or have a history of reckless behavior.
• Failure to train drivers: Not providing essential training in safety protocols or preventative measures.
• Allowing regulation violations: For example, pressuring drivers to work over the federally mandated hours-of-service limits, increasing the likelihood of fatigued driving.
• Skipping maintenance: Ignoring routine truck inspections, leaving mechanical issues unaddressed.

A trucking company might also be liable for the accidents caused by its drivers through the legal rule of respondeat superior, which states that an employer can be automatically liable for harm caused by its employees who are acting within the scope of their employment. This rule might not apply, though, if you were hit by a truck driver who was hired as an independent contractor, not an employee. Our legal team can look into the circumstances of the truck driver’s employment status to better determine liability.

New Mexico Statute of Limitations for Truck Accidents

If you’ve been involved in a truck accident in New Mexico, you must act quickly to protect your rights. The state imposes a three-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims, including truck accidents. This rule means you have three years from the date of the accident to file your case in court.

Missing this deadline may result in losing your ability to seek compensation. However, certain exceptions may extend—or shorten—the time limit. For example, claims involving government-owned trucks may follow different rules and shorten the statute of limitations considerably.

Contact Our Grants Truck Accident Lawyers Today

A truck accident can upend your life, but with the right legal support, you can fight to recover. At Buckingham & Vega Law Firm, we dedicate ourselves to helping truck accident survivors and the families of those lost in truck accidents fight for their rights and recover the compensation they need. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Grants, don’t wait to get the help you need. Reach out today.

Call (505) 388-0066 to get started—we’re here when you need us most.