Have You Been Injured in a Car Crash in Albuquerque?

We are an Albuquerque car accident lawyer team serving entire New Mexico. A car accident is often as stressful as it is traumatic. In addition to the shock of the accident, victims are often left injured and in a state of confusion about what to do next.

Making the right decision during this critical time can help ensure you receive the maximum compensation for medical bills, lost wages due to missed work, and pain and suffering.

New Mexicans involved in car accidents are often reluctant to deal with the insurance company, and with good reason. Insurance policies can be difficult to understand, with claims tied up in red tape and confusing policy language. Choosing an experienced Albuquerque personal injury attorney who’s well-versed in handling car accident cases is essential to guarding against insurance industry tactics and preserving the value of your case.

At the law firm of Keller & Keller, we are local to Alburqueque, and as Injury Attorneys Since 1936, we have a proven track record of success, handling claims just like yours. Our legal team knows how to deal with insurance companies in order to get results, and with our Zero-Fee Guarantee, clients pay nothing until a recovery is made on their behalf.

How Keller & Keller Fights for the Compensation You Deserve

In order to be compensated by the at-fault party, we will prove liability and demonstrate the seriousness of your injuries by:

• Proving the other driver’s liability by gathering evidence from the scene and interviewing witnesses.
• Gathering medical evidence of the seriousness of your injuries and the projected cost of treatment.
• Negotiating with your insurers (such as health, disability, or workers’ compensation) to potentially reduce the amount you owe them.
• Negotiating a reasonable settlement with the insurance adjuster or defense attorney or going to court for a fair judgment.

What Caused Your Albuquerque Car Accident?

• Road rage. Local drivers can be dangerously impatient with out-of-town visitors who are trying to find their way. Tailgating, risky passing, cutting in, and even outright aggression can cause a serious crash.
• Speeding. Drivers who are familiar with an area are more likely to speed, making the route dangerous for drivers obeying the speed limit. Speeding drivers are less likely to be able to stop or maneuver to avoid a crash.
• DUI. Tourists and business people are often in areas with a lot of bars and restaurants, increasing the likelihood that they will be sharing the road with impaired drivers as they head back to their hotels.
• Distraction. You are within your rights to slow down and look for landmarks or road signs as you navigate unfamiliar routes. However, if another driver is looking at their phone or adjusting their radio, they could fail to notice the change in speed and hit you.
• Weather. You might slow down or pull over if you are caught up in a New Mexico dust storm, unexpected downpour, or icy roads at higher elevations. If a local driver is speeding or not paying attention, they could cause a crash.
• Semi-Trucks. Long-haul truckers pass through every state in the country, but the long, flat roads of New Mexico can put truckers to sleep, endangering other drivers on the road.

Keller New Mexico Accident Statistics

The New Mexico Traffic Crash Annual Report contains multi-year data on crash characteristics, driver behavior, and demographics of people in crashes. New Mexico's Department of Transportation reports the top three counties for total crashes are Bernalillo with 14,038 accidents, Doña Ana with 3,642 accidents, and Sante Fe with 2,428 accidents. Interestingly, 38.4% of the Bernalillo car accidents involved alcohol.

In 2020, there were 36,555 traffic crashes reported on public roadways in New Mexico that included:

• Fatality crashes: The fatality rate in New Mexico was higher than the national average, with a rate of 2.11 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) compared to a national rate of 1.15 fatalities per 100 million VMT.
• Speeding crashes: Speeding contributed to 35% of accidents
• Drunk Driving crashes: Alcohol-impaired driving accounted for 41% of all traffic fatalities in New Mexico, which is higher than the national average of 29%.
• Distracted Driving crashes: Distracted driving was involved in 36% of accidents. According to recent reports, New Mexico is the worst state for distracted driving in the country.
• Pedestrian fatalities: New Mexico had the highest rate of pedestrian fatalities in the country in 2019, with a rate of 2.78 pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 population.
• Driving your car above the legal speed limit has several consequences, such as severe injury, since speeding minimizes the effectiveness of protective equipment inside and outside your car.

Types of Injuries We Find in Albuquerque Accident Cases

No matter what kind of car you are driving, whether you are wearing a seat belt or not, and how the accident occurred, you are likely to suffer one of the following kinds of injuries when you are in a motor vehicle collision:

• Whiplash. Common even in minor collisions, whiplash can be debilitating but is often disputed by insurance companies because the injury does not show up in x-rays or MRI scans. Whiplash occurs when the head is jerked back and forth rapidly, stretching and straining the muscles and tendons in the neck. Victims experience a stiff neck, loss of range of motion, and chronic pain. Treatment may include pain relievers, ice packs, physical therapy, and massage.
• Traumatic brain injury. The brain can be bruised in a car crash by either a direct blow to the head, such as against the steering wheel or windshield or by being knocked against the inside of the skull when the neck is jerked back and forth. Concussion or traumatic brain injury can cause permanent cognitive and motor skill damage, requiring costly rehabilitation and life-long assistance with personal needs.
• Broken bones. In rear-end crashes, the driver is at great risk of breaking arms, wrists, and fingers due to their position on the steering wheel. Legs and ankles can also be broken when the front of the vehicle is crumpled in a head-on collision. Recovering from a broken pelvis can be particularly difficult. Broken bones can be fairly minor, requiring short-term casting, or can be very serious, with compound fractures requiring surgery and metal rods. Sometimes, victims must endure rehabilitation and physical therapy to regain full use of broken limbs and joints.
• Musculoskeletal injuries. Some personal injury attorneys will not accept cases involving soft tissue injuries because, like whiplash, they are hard to document and prove. However, we do not shy away from these kinds of injuries. We understand that torn, strained, or sprained muscles, tendons, and ligaments can be extremely painful and difficult to recover from.
• Emotional injuries. Known as “pain and suffering,” the psychological damage you suffer as a result of the trauma of the accident, the pain of your injuries, and the losses you have experienced require as much attention as the physical damages you have suffered. These damages can be difficult to quantify, but our attorneys will ensure you get what you deserve.