Santa Fe Car Accident Lawyer

Santa Fe Car Accident Attorney: Holding Negligent Drivers Accountable

Car accidents happen every day in the Santa Fe area for various reasons, and navigating the legal aftermath of such an incident can be incredibly difficult. A Santa Fe car accident lawyer can help you make clearer sense of your legal options in this situation and assist you in recovering compensation for your damages. Youngers Law, PA, has years of experience handling these cases, and we are ready to assist you with your car accident claim.

Negligent, inattentive and drunk drivers present dangers on the roads of New Mexico. If a car or truck driver has injured you, contact the personal injury law firm of Youngers Law. With offices in Santa Fe and a strong presence in Las Cruces, Youngers Law serves clients throughout New Mexico.

Do not accept an offer to settle without first calling the firm at 505-820-0108 or completing the contact form. You may be entitled to more compensation that more closely reflects the costs and emotional damage of the serious injuries you suffered in a truck or car crash. The firm provides free consultations for injured accident victims.

Talk to A Car Accident Attorney Who Can Represent You and Your Family

Joleen Youngers and her staff empathize with the pain that clients feel after a truck or car crash. She also recognizes that the pain goes beyond physical injury. A family is affected emotionally by the sudden event that changed their lives, particularly if the accident resulted in wrongful death or life-changing injuries. You deserve compensation for your pain and suffering, and so does your family.

Why You Should Work with An Attorney After A Car Accident

While attorney Youngers handles your case, you can attend doctor appointments and focus on your treatment and recovery. She will do all that she can to minimize your worry about your medical bills or creditor calls following the car, truck, motorcycle or bicycle crash. She will handle the heavy lifting for you while you get better. Insurance companies will contact her, not you. She will be your advocate in all aspects of your car accident case. Let her take the weight off your shoulders so that you can concentrate on healing.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Santa Fe

The most commonly reported cause of car accidents in Santa Fe and throughout the state is driver negligence, but this is a broad term that can apply to various behaviors. Negligence defines a failure to act with reasonable care in a given situation, or a failure to meet a specific duty of care. For example, every driver has a duty of care to pay attention while driving, and distracted driving would be a breach of this duty of care.

Some of the most commonly cited forms of driver negligence in the Santa Fe area include:

• Distracted driving, such as cell phone use behind the wheel.
• Speeding, which not only increases the chance of an accident but also the severity of resulting injuries.
• Moving violations, such as failure to stop for stop signs or red lights, failure to merge correctly, or failure to yield the right-of-way.
• Mechanical negligence of a vehicle. Drivers are expected to keep their vehicles in good working order and address any mechanical issues promptly when they arise.

Your Santa Fe car accident lawyer can help you gather the evidence you will need to prove liability for your accident. While most accidents result from negligence, they may also occur because of intentional and illegal misconduct, the most common example of which is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In cases like these, at-fault drivers face criminal charges along with their civil liability for the damages they cause.

Gathering the evidence you will need to firmly establish fault for your accident will be challenging on your own. You may be severely injured or caring for an injured family member, and you have a limited time to secure some of the evidence you may need. Working with a seasoned attorney helps to ensure you can collect crucial evidence as quickly as possible after your accident.

Traffic camera recordings, vehicle computer data, cell phone records, and witness testimony are often crucial for proving fault in vehicle accident cases. Your attorney can help you secure this evidence and build the foundation of your case while you recover from your accident with peace of mind. She can also secure the police report from the accident, which is likely to be one of the most important pieces of evidence for your case.

Understand the Basic Steps of a New Mexico Car Accident Claim

The first step in any car accident claim is making certain that you receive the medical care you need to treat your injuries. Then, you should contact an attorney as quickly as possible so that she can protect your interests and lend their legal knowledge to the next stages of your recovery. These include:

• Gathering evidence: Some evidence, like the accident report, may be easy to obtain. However, things like security camera footage and witness statements can better be obtained by an attorney who understands the power of a subpoena.
• Determining liability: Your attorney can review the accident report to determine everyone who might be at fault for the accident. It may surprise you to find that a driver shares liability for the crash with a mechanic or even a parts manufacturer. Identifying all the parties responsible for your injuries and holding them accountable helps maximize your compensation.
• Calculating damages: It is impossible to determine the true value of your claim without legal guidance. An attorney understands how to evaluate your losses and make sure that you do not undervalue their worth.
• Negotiating settlements: Insurance companies constantly try to diminish accident claims so they can protect their bottom line. An attorney can stand between you and the insurance company to prevent you from being pressured into accepting a lowball offer.
• Trial: If the insurance company refuses to be fair, your attorney will take your case to court and fight for what you rightfully deserve. She will organize the evidence in your case to present a compelling argument for the judge and jury. Involving an attorney early means that the entire case can be crafted to prepare for this possibility from the very start.

Once you receive compensation from your car accident claim, the team at Youngers Law, PA, will help you navigate any issues related to repaying your insurance company for your medical care and taxes on your proceeds.

Recovering Compensation for Your Car Accident in Santa Fe

Every driver in the state is required to have auto insurance, and this insurance must meet minimum coverage requirements for bodily injury liability and property damage liability. When a driver causes an accident, their insurance policy will pay for the damages they caused. However, there is no guarantee that insurance will be enough to fully cover all of your damages or that dealing with an insurance company will be easy.

Insurance companies generally look for all the ways they can find to deny claims or justify the smallest settlement offers possible. They typically hope that an injured claimant will be desperate to accept whatever compensation they can, and some insurance companies even engage in bad faith tactics in their efforts to minimize claim payouts. However, an insurance company is less likely to try this if they see that a claimant is represented by legal counsel.

When insurance will not cover your damages or an at-fault driver does not have insurance, a personal injury claim becomes your optimal avenue of recovery from your accident. Success with your personal injury suit will require clear proof of liability, meaning you must accurately identify the party responsible for causing the accident and prove how they caused it. You must also show the full extent of the damages they inflicted.

Many personal injury cases are resolved outside of court through private settlement. If a defendant acknowledges their liability, they are likely to want to resolve the case as quickly as possible. However, it may be possible to secure a larger case award through litigation. Your Santa Fe car accident lawyer will help you determine the optimal method for resolving your case and securing as much compensation as possible for your damages.

Work with an Attorney Who Keeps You Informed at Every Stage

During the course of your car or truck accident case, those at Youngers Law will stay in constant contact with you regarding any new developments. You will be copied on all documents so you will know where things stand. With the advice of Ms. Youngers, you may settle your claim. You may litigate it to get a fair recovery. In the end, she wants the best resolution for you and your family.

While most car accident cases will unfold along similar procedural rules, there are numerous unpredictable complications that could arise in any given case. We take time to learn as much as we can about our client and their situation to ensure we address the unique challenges they face as they seek accountability and compensation for their losses.

FAQs

Contact The Firm for a Vehicle Collision Lawyer in Santa Fe, in Doña Ana County and Across New Mexico

No matter what type of car accident you’ve been in – whether it involved an uninsured driver, an underinsured motorist, a hit-and-run or a drunk driver, attorney Youngers and her team can help. For more information or to schedule a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer, please contact the car accident attorney at 505-820-0108.The firm provides free consultations to people injured in car accidents.