New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

A single-vehicle wreck in southeast Albuquerque has reportedly claimed the life of three people and injured two others. According to a spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department, Tasia Martinez, witnesses stated the 20-year-old driver of a 2005 Lincoln was apparently attempting to engage in drag racing on Louisiana Street near Acoma SE when the fatal accident occurred. The driver allegedly lost control of his vehicle, crossed a median, and crashed into a group of trees.

Following the crash, a 20-year-old man who was ejected from the car was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Emergency responders reportedly extracted the remaining passengers from the automobile and transported them to a local hospital where a 17-year-old girl and 19-year-old woman later died. In addition, a one-year-old child was apparently treated for minor injuries, and the driver of the Lincoln remains hospitalized in critical condition.

The exact cause of the fatal wreck is still under investigation by the Albuquerque Police Department. It is currently unclear how fast the driver was traveling when the fatal traffic wreck took place. Toxicology results on the motorist are also pending. According to Martinez, the driver is likely to face vehicular homicide and reckless driving charges if he survives. Martinez said police do not know how many of the vehicle's passengers were wearing a safety belt when the collision occurred.

Tragic single-vehicle and other automobile crashes regularly occur on roadways throughout the State of New Mexico. In 2011, 353 people were killed in traffic wrecks across our state. 240 of those fatalities reportedly resulted from a one-car accident. Speeding, dangerous road conditions, automobile defects, swerving to avoid a negligent driver, and weather are frequent causes of single-car collisions.

Individuals who were hurt in a single-vehicle or other car accident in New Mexico may be entitled to recover for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other damages. Certain family members of someone killed in a New Mexico automobile crash may also be entitled to receive compensation for their loved one's wrongful death. If you were injured by a reckless, negligent, or careless driver, you should discuss your right to recovery with an experienced New Mexico personal injury attorney.

Continue reading "Speed Likely Played a Factor in Negligent Single-Vehicle Accident that Killed Three and Injured Two in Albuquerque " »

Federal officials would reportedly like automakers to make it impossible for drivers to utilize in-vehicle technology to send or receive text messages, check email, or watch videos while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. A 281-page report recently published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the United States Department of Transportation issued a number of voluntary motor vehicle guidelines focused on eliminating distracted driving. The guidelines included in the report were allegedly designed to reduce the amount of time a motorist takes his or her eyes off of the roadway. The recommendations may also have an impact on future smart phone technology.

In 2011, distracted driving supposedly caused about 10 percent of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. According to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the voluntary guidelines were established in an effort to balance new technological innovations with the purported need for increased roadway safety. Although most of the recommendations included in the report seem like common sense, many drivers now reportedly send and receive text messages, view websites, and watch videos behind the wheel. The goal of the recently issued report was apparently to encourage auto manufacturers to either refrain from including consumer electronics in their vehicles or at least disable them while a car is moving.

A public statement from the Auto Alliance, an industry group that represents about 12 motor vehicle manufacturers, reportedly claims in-dash internet technology will discourage motorists from unsafely using their cellular phones. President and CEO of the Global Automakers, Michael J. Stanton, said the report should also have addressed hand-held smartphone technology as NHTSA data states only about two percent of accidents related to distracted driving involve in-dash technology. The NHTSA purportedly plans to issue two additional reports related to cellular phones and other portable devices over the next two years.

Sadly, anyone who travels on New Mexico roadways runs the risk of being hurt or killed by a distracted driver. The victim in a New Mexico traffic wreck may be able to recover damages for their physical harm, lost wages and benefits, and other damages that resulted from the collision. The close relatives of someone who was killed by a distracted motorist may also be eligible to receive compensation for the cost of their loved one's funeral. If you were hurt by a distracted driver, you should contact a quality New Mexico personal injury attorney to discuss your rights in more detail.

Continue reading "New Federal Guidelines Aim to Reduce Distracted Driving in New Mexico and Nationwide " »

A school bus driver was killed and at least two students were reportedly injured in a single-vehicle crash on State Road 111 near La Madera. According to New Mexico State Police Sergeant Emmanuel Gutierrez, the 69-year-old driver lost control of a Mesa Vista Consolidated School District bus carrying nine children, drove nearly 100 feet down an embankment, and crashed into a number of trees while transporting the elementary, middle, and high school students to class.

Gutierrez stated the bus driver was unfortunately deceased when emergency responders arrived at the accident scene. In addition, each child who was riding on the bus was transported to an area hospital following the fatal accident. Two students allegedly underwent surgery at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. A 16-year-old was purportedly treated for a shattered jaw and another child underwent surgery for a broken femur.

An accident reconstruction team from the New Mexico State Police is currently investigating the deadly traffic wreck. At this time, it is unclear what caused the driver of the bus to lose control. Authorities are reportedly investigating whether the 69-year-old man may have suffered a medical emergency immediately prior to the Rio Arriba County crash.

Thankfully, it appears that none of the children involved in this accident were permanently disabled or killed. Because most school buses do not have safety belts installed, children may be tragically hurt in any school bus collision. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of 19 students are killed in a school bus or other school transportation-related collision every year in the United States.

Unfortunately, children and other individuals who travel on New Mexico roadways may be injured or die as a result of the actions of a negligent driver. The victims of a New Mexico motor vehicle crash may be entitled to receive damages for their medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, pain and suffering, and any disability that resulted from the accident. The close family members of someone who was killed by a negligent driver may also be able to recover financial compensation for their loved one's funeral expenses and other damages. A skilled New Mexico personal injury lawyer can describe your options for recovery in more detail.

Continue reading "Driver Killed, at Least Two Students Hurt in School Bus Accident Near La Madera " »

Members of a family in the process of relocating from California to Texas were injured in a recent rollover crash on Interstate 40 in Bernalillo County. A couple and their three children were reportedly traveling east in a GMC Sierra pick-up truck between Albuquerque and Edgewood when a tire blew and the driver lost control around 3:30 am. According to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, the truck, which was towing an 18-foot trailer, left the interstate and rolled twice before coming to rest on the side of the roadway. The mangled trailer allegedly broke open and left the family's belongings strewn about the area.

A 6-year-old boy who was reportedly not wearing a safety belt was injured after he was thrown from the truck. Authorities stated the child was found lying next to the vehicle with a broken arm and a number of contusions. His father, who was riding in the truck's front passenger seat, apparently sustained a dislocated hip and shoulder in the traffic wreck. Meanwhile, the child's mother and two sisters purportedly suffered only minor cuts and bruises. Emergency responders reportedly transported the entire family by ambulance to the University of New Mexico Hospital for treatment.

Many one-car and other types of crashes occur on the interstates and other roadways throughout New Mexico. Sadly, 353 people died in traffic accidents throughout our state in 2011. Of those killed, 240 fatalities resulted from a single-vehicle accident. Dangerous road conditions, motor vehicle defects, swerving to avoid a negligent driver, and weather frequently cause single-car crashes.

In some situations, a defective product such as a tire or automobile may cause a driver or passenger to become injured. A defective product is one that is poorly or negligently manufactured, designed, or tested, and a person is hurt as a result. A design defect may occur if someone is injured by a product even though it was manufactured according to specifications. A manufacturing defect can occur where an individual is hurt as a result of mistakes made during the manufacturing process. If you or a loved one was hurt by an unsafe product, you may have the right to collect damages for your injuries from the manufacturer or the distributor of the defective product.

Continue reading "Family injured in One-Vehicle Rollover Crash on I-40 Near Albuquerque " »

A recent three-vehicle accident on Airport Road near Cerrillos Road in southwestern Santa Fe reportedly sent four people to the hospital in serious condition. According to Santa Fe Police Captain Aric Wheeler, the driver of an Acura sedan struck a pick-up traveling through the intersection during rush hour. The pick-up allegedly rolled and hit a Dodge sedan. Emergency responders reportedly extracted two teen passengers from the Acura using the Jaws of Life before transporting them to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center for treatment. Paramedics also purportedly took the driver of both the pick-up and the Dodge to the same hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police stated the driver of the Acura fled the accident scene before they arrived.

Wheeler said the cause of the injury accident is currently under investigation. At this time, it is not known whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the collision. Wheeler added that it is unclear which vehicle failed to stop at a red traffic light and police do not know why the driver of the Acura fled the scene of the crash.

Each year, unexpected car accidents are one of the most common causes of personal injury claims filed in the State of New Mexico. A crash may result when a distracted, inattentive, impaired, or simply careless motorist gets behind the wheel of a car or other vehicle. In addition, car accidents frequently result from hazardous road conditions, motor vehicle defects, and any number of other factors. Too often, drivers refuse to take responsibility for their negligence and flee the accident scene.

The victim in a hit-and-run accident may be entitled to recover compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, disability, and more. Additionally, the personal representative of someone who was killed in a tragic traffic wreck may be eligible to receive financial compensation pursuant to the New Mexico Wrongful Death Act. It is important for accident victims to understand that uninsured motorist coverage in New Mexico allows individuals who were hurt by a hit-and-run motorist to recover for their damages even if the driver who caused their injury is never apprehended. A crash victim may be entitled to file a claim against the uninsured motorist policy of a family member who resides in the same household even if the insured vehicle was not involved in the collision. A skilled car accident attorney can explain your right to recovery in greater detail.

Continue reading "Negligent Hit-and-Run Driver Flees Following Three-Car Injury Accident in Santa Fe " »

The Supreme Court of New Mexico has reversed a lower court’s holding that the New Mexico Department of Transportation (DOT) is immune as a matter of law from being sued for negligently failing to remedy a purportedly dangerous road condition. In Martinez v. N.M. Dep’t of Transp., the family of a couple who was killed in a 2004 head-on traffic accident on NM 502 near Los Alamos filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the DOT claiming the agency committed negligence when it failed to construct a barrier between oncoming traffic near mile marker 9. In the 1980s, a concrete barrier was reportedly installed on other stretches of the roadway in order to keep similar accidents from occurring but one was not installed where the fatal collision occurred.

Prior to trial, the DOT filed a motion for summary judgment claiming the agency was not responsible for the crash pursuant to the New Mexico Tort Claims Act. According to the DOT, the decision to install a two-way turn lane instead of a barrier despite that there were reportedly no intersecting roads onto which traffic could turn was a design decision that provided the agency with immunity under the Act. At trial, the victims’ family was not permitted to introduce evidence regarding a number of other accidents that occurred at the same location or the numerous citizen complaints that were filed with the DOT regarding the allegedly unsafe roadway. After a jury returned a verdict in favor of the DOT, a New Mexico Court of Appeals affirmed the verdict. The victims’ family then appealed the case to the Supreme Court of New Mexico.

New Mexico’s high court stated that although the DOT was initially granted immunity related to barrier placement on NM 502, notice regarding a dangerous condition could trigger a maintenance issue that the agency may be held responsible for. The court continued by stating the safety of New Mexico motorists would be thwarted by providing the agency with perpetual design immunity. The court also said whether the DOT had sufficient notice of the allegedly dangerous road condition to trigger the maintenance exception to design immunity was a question for a jury. Finally, the Supreme Court of New Mexico reversed and remanded the case for a new trial.

Sadly, motorists and passengers are killed on highways and other roads located throughout New Mexico each day. Although traffic wrecks may be caused by impaired, careless, or simply distracted drivers, they may also result from hazardous or poorly maintained roadways. Car accident victims may be eligible to receive compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and any disability that resulted from the wreck. Additionally, those who lost a close relative in a New Mexico traffic crash may be able to collect damages for loss of support and funeral expenses. If your beloved family member was killed in an automobile collision, you should contact a qualified wrongful death attorney.

Continue reading "New Mexico Supreme Court Orders New Trial in Wrongful Death Case " »

New Mexico State University basketball player Emery D. Coleman II was recently charged with third-degree felony homicide using a motor vehicle in connection with the January 2012 traffic death of 85-year-old Clarence G. Boulanger in Alamogordo. According to the Alamogordo Department of Public Safety (ADPS), Coleman was texting behind the wheel at the time of the fatal crash. The 19-year-old was released on an unsecured $5,000 bond until his preliminary hearing is held at the end of January.

According to ADPS Captain Israel Trujillo, Coleman was charged more than one year after the crash in large part due to the amount of time it took to get an accident reconstruction team from the New Mexico State Police in Santa Fe to investigate the collision. Additional time was also reportedly required for the reconstruction team to complete and file an accident report. A Spokesperson for the New Mexico State Police, Lieutenant Robert E. McDonald stated it is not uncommon for investigations to take several weeks. In the Coleman case, an accident reconstruction team was allegedly unavailable for more than six months.

ADPS Detective Dusty L. Collins said the reconstruction team determined that Coleman was headed south on White Sands Boulevard in a Dodge pick-up truck when he struck the driver’s side of Boulanger’s Chevrolet sedan as the elderly man crossed the roadway at a traffic light. Coleman allegedly told investigators that he was not speeding and his attempt to stop at the traffic light was unsuccessful.

Traffic wrecks are one of the leading causes of personal injury claims filed in the State of New Mexico every year. An accident can result whenever a distracted, impaired, inattentive, or reckless motorist travels on the roadways in our state. Automobile collisions may also result from hazardous road conditions, medical emergencies, motor vehicle defects, and a wide variety of other factors. The victim in a New Mexico car accident may be eligible to receive compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, disability, and more. In addition, the personal representative of someone who died in a traffic wreck may be entitled to recover damages pursuant to the New Mexico Wrongful Death Act. Contact a skilled attorney to discuss your rights in greater detail.

Continue reading "New Mexico State University Basketball Player Charged in Connection With Fatal Alamogordo Traffic Accident " »

According to the nation’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 35 percent of Americans are currently considered obese. A study recently published in the Emergency Medicine Journal claims that obese drivers are more likely to be killed in a traffic collision than individuals with a normal body mass index (BMI). As part of the study, researchers from the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center of the University of California at Berkeley reportedly analyzed data collected by the U.S. Fatality Analysis Reporting System between 1996 and 2008. They then compared more than 3,400 pairs of drivers who were a similar weight, age, and involved in a comparable accident type. Approximately 46 percent of the driver pairs analyzed had a normal BMI, while about 33 percent were considered overweight. In addition, 18 percent of motorists examined had a BMI of 30 or above which is considered obese according to the definition established by the World Health Organization.

Dr. Thomas M. Rice, Epidemiologist and lead study author, said the study results suggest obese drivers are at an increased risk of dying in a traffic collision. Additionally, Rice stated the risk of death allegedly increases based upon the severity of obesity. For example, motorists with a BMI of 30 to 34.9 were purportedly 21 percent more likely to die in a collision than drivers with a normal BMI. Individuals with a BMI of 35 to 39.9 were reportedly 51 percent more likely to be killed and those with a BMI of 40 or above were allegedly 80 percent more likely to die in a wreck. The study found that underweight men were also more likely to be killed in a traffic accident.

Study authors purportedly believe the reason for the increased rate of traffic fatalities has to do with how a seat belt fits and restrains an obese driver. Rice stated that previous research has demonstrated a safety belt does not engage the pelvis properly in individuals who are extremely overweight. This reportedly results in the lower body moving farther forward in a crash than recommended. Additionally, some obese drivers allegedly fail to wear a seat belt because it is uncomfortable. In response, study authors suggest that vehicle design modifications and the use of larger crash test dummies may be necessary in order to increase safety for all motorists traveling in New Mexico and throughout the country.

According to data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 81 percent of motorists across the nation utilized a safety restraint in 2006. In the State of New Mexico, nearly 90 percent of drivers wore a seat belt during the same time period. In addition, about 50 percent of drivers and passengers killed in a New Mexico traffic accident in 2006 failed to wear a safety belt. Although all drivers in our state are required to wear a seat belt, New Mexico is a comparative fault accident state. This means someone who was injured in a crash may be entitled to recover damages even if they failed to use a safety restraint. You should contact a skilled lawyer after any injury accident to discuss your options for recovery.

Continue reading "Study Claims Obesity is Linked to Increased Traffic Deaths in New Mexico and Nationwide " »

A Santa Fe elementary school teacher was recently killed in what began as a one-car accident on Interstate 25 near La Cienega. 54-year-old Dorothy Mullins was reportedly returning home from transporting school supplies, toys, and other items to Juárez, Mexico as part of a holiday collection campaign when she lost control of her vehicle. According to New Mexico State Police Lieutenant Robert McDonald, Mullins was headed north on the freeway when she slid off of the roadway and hit a barrier wall. Following the initial impact, her automobile allegedly rolled back onto the interstate before coming to rest in the middle of the two northbound lanes. McDonald stated the driver of a Chevrolet pick-up truck was unable to stop and struck Mullins’ disabled vehicle. Sadly, Mullins was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Although the accident is currently under investigation by police, McDonald said alcohol was not a suspected factor in the fatal collision. The crash was reportedly one of many in the area that resulted from inclement weather.

Unfortunately, single-vehicle and other crashes occur regularly on the interstates and other roadways in our state. In 2011, 353 people died in traffic accidents throughout the State of New Mexico. Of those, 240 people were killed in a single-car crash. This means about two-thirds of drivers and passengers killed in New Mexico car accidents died as a result of a single-vehicle collision. Dangerous road conditions, vehicle defects, swerving to avoid a negligent driver, and weather frequently cause such accidents.

In certain cases, the family members of someone who was killed in a single-car or other crash may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit against a car manufacturer, a town or city, another driver, and others who may have caused the tragic loss. Although no amount of money can make up for the pain associated with losing your loved one, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your relative’s lost earning capacity, any pain and suffering that occurred prior to his or her death, medical bills, funeral expenses, and more. If you lost a close relative in a single-vehicle or other New Mexico car accident, you should contact a hardworking personal injury lawyer.

Continue reading "Santa Fe Teacher Killed in Accident on I-25 Near La Cienega " »

In September, a tragic accident on Interstate 40 near Gallup left two roadway construction workers dead and another injured. According to New Mexico State Police, five Valley Fence Company employees were installing a post and cable barrier in the median of the roadway when a westbound recreational vehicle (RV) driven by 67-year-old Lee McCray of Owensville, Indiana unexpectedly swerved into the median and struck three of the men. Sadly, 20-year-old Johan Marioni was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. 56-year-old Hermelindo Autunez was reportedly pinned between the RV and a work truck parked in the median. He died at a local area hospital about five hours later. A fence company foreman, 36-year-old Pedro Moreno, was treated for broken ribs after he was allegedly struck by a side mirror attached to the RV.

According to State Police, it does not appear that alcohol played a role in the crash. Although the exact cause of the fatal incident was not clear, police stated McCray appeared to have suffered a medical emergency immediately prior to striking the three men. Despite that McCray did not suffer any injuries as a result of the collision, he was purportedly transported to a Gallup hospital for a series of tests. The accident is currently under investigation by the nation’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Ironically, the fence that was being installed by the workers killed was part of a New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) safety project designed to prevent vehicles from entering the median of the freeway. A NMDOT spokesperson, Melissa Dosher, stated agency employees were in the process of placing warning signs along the roadway and closing the lane the RV was traveling in at the time of the wreck.

Car accidents are one of the leading causes of personal injury claims filed in New Mexico every year. A crash can easily result whenever a distracted, inattentive, impaired, or reckless motorist travels on the roadways throughout our state. In addition, automobile collisions may result from hazardous road conditions, motor vehicle defects, medical emergencies, and any number of other factors. The victim of an accident with a vehicle may be entitled to receive compensation for pain and suffering, medical costs, lost wages and benefits, and more. The personal representative of someone who was killed in such an accident may be entitled to recover additional compensation pursuant to the New Mexico Wrongful Death Act. A skilled wrongful death attorney can explain your rights in greater detail.

Continue reading "Two Roadway Construction Workers Killed, One Hurt When Struck by RV Near Gallup " »

A 13-year-old boy was killed and a 13-year-old girl was hospitalized following a recent head-on collision in Santa Fe County. According to Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office Captain Adam Mendoza, 43-year-old Dennis Bernal of Santa Fe was headed north on New Mexico 4 when he unexpectedly lost control of the Toyota pick-up truck he was driving as he navigated a curve in the roadway. He reportedly crossed the center line and struck the front of a southbound Honda sedan that was carrying three people. Mendoza stated it appears that the two motorists attempted to avoid a collision immediately before the Toyota struck the front driver’s side of the Honda.

Following the crash, Bernal was treated for minor injuries at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe. Emergency responders transported the driver of the Honda, 41-year-old Jennifer Ventura-Trujillo of Los Alamos, to Los Alamos Medical Center with minor injuries. A 13-year-old girl who was riding in the front passenger seat was taken to the same hospital by emergency helicopter where she reportedly remains in stable condition. Tragically, a 13-year-old Los Alamos boy who was riding in the back seat of the Honda died at the scene of the accident. Mendoza stated it was unclear whether he was wearing a safety belt at the time of the collision.

The exact cause of the fatal crash is still under investigation. According to Mendoza, accident witnesses said Bernal was driving erratically prior to the collision. Although there was reportedly no indication that alcohol played a role in the incident, Mendoza stated Bernal submitted to chemical blood tests. The results are currently pending.

Head-on collisions normally occur when a motorist drives on the wrong side of the roadway. Common factors in head-on crashes include illegal passing, speeding, inattention, impairment, inclement weather, and road defects. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 82 percent of head-on crashes nationwide result in the death of a driver or passenger. If you were hurt in a head-on collision that was caused by another driver, you may be eligible to recover damages for your medical expenses, disability, pain, suffering, and lost benefits and wages. If you lost a loved one in a New Mexico motor vehicle crash, you may also be entitled to file a wrongful death claim. A qualified car accident lawyer can explain your rights in more detail.

Continue reading "One Child Hurt, Another Killed in Santa Fe County Head-On Crash Near Los Alamos " »

One woman was killed and five others were hurt in a recent crash on Interstate 25 near Santo Domingo Pueblo. According to Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Keith Elder, the accident occurred when a southbound automobile struck the back of a U-Haul trailer that was being pulled by a pick-up truck. The impact reportedly caused the truck to roll. As a result of the collision, three passengers, including 51-year-old Susan Kratt, were ejected. Kratt reportedly died as a result of the injuries she sustained in the accident.

Following the crash, emergency responders transported the 23-year-old driver of the car, Miles Martinez, to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe via emergency helicopter. Rescue crews purportedly took the driver of the truck, 50-year-old Karl Kratt, and two other passengers, 52-year-old Antoinette Burns and 13-year-old Alissa Touart, to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque by ambulance. Another passenger in the truck, 48-year-old Roy Burns, was also airlifted to the same hospital.

The exact cause of the fatal collision is currently under investigation. Although it is reportedly unclear what caused Martinez to lose control of his vehicle, Elder stated police do not believe alcohol played a role in the incident. Police are also reportedly uncertain how many truck occupants were wearing safety belts when the crash occurred.

Every year, car accidents are one of the leading causes of personal injury and death in New Mexico. Unfortunately, an unexpected automobile crash with a careless, negligent, or inattentive driver can occur at any time. Too often, car accident victims are left with catastrophic or disabling injuries. Anyone who was hurt due to another driver’s negligence on a New Mexico roadway may be eligible to collect compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, any resulting disability, pain and suffering, and other damages. If your loved one was killed in a car crash, you may also be eligible to recover for his or her wrongful death. A skilled New Mexico car accident attorney can explain your rights and help you file your case.

Continue reading "One Killed, Five Injured When Car Rear-Ends Moving Trailer on I-25 Near Santo Domingo Pueblo " »

Northbound Interstate 25 near the Jefferson Boulevard off-ramp in Albuquerque reportedly saw a massive jump in vehicle crashes following the start of a $1.8 million roadway improvement project. In the month of August, a total of 23 New Mexico accidents occurred there. In contrast, only one crash per month was reported on the same stretch of roadway from January through May. Some have speculated the extension of a fourth lane that previously required drivers to merge near the Comanche Road exit has caused the increase. Now, drivers must merge near the Jefferson exit instead.

According to Phil Gallegos, a spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Transportation, construction crews added to the shoulder of the roadway, painted additional road striping, and installed an overhead sign to warn drivers of the change. Still, Gallegos stated he believes congestion previously seen at the Comanche merge was simply transferred up the road to the new merge. An additional 500 feet of interstate was also reportedly added in response to the increased number of accidents.

Albuquerque Police Department Traffic Lieutenant Chad Dolan stated the increase in accidents is likely due to reduced speed limits during construction and driver rubber-necking. Dolan stated drivers too often cause additional wrecks when they focus on crashes that already occurred and fail to watch the roadway ahead. He also said the stretch of roadway is normally quite busy due to the number of businesses located nearby.

Gallegos stated he believes part of the problem is drivers who reach excessive speeds and then slam on their brakes or try to force merge into remaining traffic lanes. He said a bond measure that will go before voters next month would extend the fourth lane of northbound Interstate 25 to Paseo. Either way, traffic accidents on the stretch of roadway following completion of the construction project have decreased. In September, only four multi-vehicle crashes were reported.

According to the Albuquerque Police Department, the stretch of Interstate 25 near Jefferson Boulevard is not among the top five intersections in the city for crashes. Police said two of the most dangerous locations include where Paseo del Norte intersects with Jefferson Boulevard and where it intersects with Coors. Additionally, where Montgomery intersects with both Wyoming and San Mateo made the top five list as did the intersection of Montano and Coors.

Too often, people traveling on New Mexico roadways are hurt or killed by careless, inattentive, or negligent drivers. The victims of a car crash in New Mexico may be eligible to receive compensation for their pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, and any disability that resulted from the incident. The close relatives of someone who is killed by a negligent driver may also be able to recover compensation for funeral expenses as well as other damages. Contact a skilled New Mexico personal injury attorney to discuss your options for recovery.

Continue reading "Stretch of Interstate 25 in Albuquerque Sees Dramatic Spike in Vehicle Crashes " »

According to a study conducted by the University of New Mexico’s Institute for Social Research, safety was increased at a number of Albuquerque intersections after traffic engineers lengthened the amount of time signals shone yellow. Mayor Richard Berry reportedly commissioned the $25,000 study in an effort to determine whether the recent increase in yellow light times at specific Albuquerque intersections actually improved crash rates. As part of the study, individuals at the Institute for Social Research examined collision rates and signal timing at a total of 60 Albuquerque intersections. Researchers found that in the 11 months following the yellow light timing change, motor vehicle accidents decreased by approximately eight percent at the 18 intersections where caution light times were extended. Meanwhile, the number of accidents at the other intersections examined reportedly remained constant. According to Mayor Berry, the study confirmed that the often imperceptibly longer yellow lights increased motorist safety.

Previously, the 18 intersections affected had red-light cameras installed. After voters struck the red-light camera program down, city officials chose to extend the duration of yellow lights at the intersections. Although crashes at the intersections have decreased, one researcher, Paul Guerin, warned it may be tough to determine the actual effect the longer caution lights had on safety because the red light cameras that were previously installed could have skewed the results. He stated the intersections may have had fewer collisions because drivers were unaware the red-light cameras were no longer in operation. As part of the study, researchers also examined two intersections at which the city chose to increase the duration of red lights. According to the Institute for Social Research, the effect extended red lights had on intersection safety was unclear.

Albuquerque officials are reportedly considering whether to increase the length of caution lights at a number of other allegedly dangerous intersections within the city. City officials stated they were unlikely to increase the timing of yellow lights much, however. Some fear drivers may use longer caution lights to unsafely squeeze through intersections in an effort to avoid being stopped by a red light.

Sadly, many individuals are catastrophically injured or killed in New Mexico automobile accidents every year. Car crashes can be caused by a number of factors including a drunk, impaired, inattentive, or reckless driver. Collisions may also result from hazardous road conditions and automobile defects. Those who are harmed by a driver in New Mexico may be eligible to receive financial compensation for medical costs, lost wages, lost benefits, pain and suffering, and any disability that resulted from the accident. The close family members of those killed in a motor vehicle crash may also be able to recover for funeral expenses and other damages. An experienced personal injury lawyer can explain your options for recovery.

Continue reading "Study Finds Longer Yellow Traffic Lights Increased Intersection Safety in Albuquerque " »

More than one month after a fatal accident killed a Farmington 18-year-old, his passenger was transferred to Carrie Tingley Hospital in Albuquerque to begin the lengthy rehabilitation process. On August 3rd, Andrew Pope was reportedly driving northbound on Butler Avenue when he allegedly attempted to turn onto Piñon Hills Boulevard in front of an oncoming vehicle. Tragically, the Aztec High School football star died at the scene of the crash. Following the collision, emergency responders transported Pope’s only passenger, 18-year-old Sheena Lemons, to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque via helicopter. Lemons reportedly suffered several broken bones and a traumatic head injury that left her in a coma for weeks. She also lost the ability to move the right side of her body.

According to Lemons’ mother, Jackie Rightmire, the teenager recently began speaking again and has regained some mobility since the crash. Despite that physicians do not yet know what the long-term effects of the crash will be, Lemons is reportedly making progress each day. Although the recent Farmington High School graduate is anxious to return home and get on with her life, it is still unclear how long she will remain in rehabilitation. At this time, her plans to attend San Juan College are currently on hold.

The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, but Farmington Police Sgt. Dave Monfils stated there have been 10 accidents at the deadly intersection since May 2011. According to Monfils, most of the accidents were caused by inattentive drivers who simply failed to yield. Joe Delmagori, a Farmington Metropolitan Planning Organization planner, said visibility at the intersection is adequate and officials currently have no plans to make any changes to the intersection.

It is an unfortunate fact that people are regularly killed in preventable automobile collisions on New Mexico roadways. You run the risk of being hurt by an inattentive, impaired, or careless driver nearly every time you leave your home. Sometimes, motor vehicle crashes are only minor, but too often they are catastrophic or fatal. If you were hurt by a negligent driver, you may be eligible to receive damages for medical expenses, physical therapy, disability, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other harm. The family members of those killed in an automobile accident may also be able to recover funeral expenses. If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a car collision that was caused by someone else, you should contact a capable New Mexico personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Continue reading "Farmington Teen Involved in Fatal Crash Begins Rehabilitation " »