New Mexico Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer
The New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (DVM) defines a commercial motor vehicle as a vehicle used in commerce to transport property or passengers when the vehicle:
- is operated interstate and weighs 10,001 pounds or more;
- is operated only in intrastate commerce and weighs 26,001 pounds or more;
- is designed to transport eight or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation;
- is designed to transport more than 15 passengers (including the driver) not for compensation; or
- is used to transport hazardous materials requiring placarding.
Commercial vehicles are subject to much stricter federal regulations than traditional passenger vehicles, and accidents that are caused by commercial drivers or vehicles have the potential to cause devastating injuries that may be fatal.
Types of Commercial Vehicles in New Mexico
The most common kind of commercial vehicles seen on roads in New Mexico are usually commercial trucks. Many other kinds of vehicles, however, are considered commercial vehicles because their basic purpose satisfies that state’s definition of that term.
Some of the other types of commercial vehicles in New Mexico include, but are not limited to:
- Agricultural trucks
- Catering trucks
- Cement mixers
- Commercial buses
- Construction or excavation vehicles
- Courier vehicles
- Delivery vans
- Flatbed trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Hospitality vans or shuttle vehicles
- Limousines
- Pump trucks
- Refrigerated trucks
- Tow trucks
- Tank trucks
What You Should Do After a Commercial Vehicle Accident in New Mexico
The first thing any person will want to do after being involved in a crash caused by a commercial vehicle is seek medical attention. In many cases, victims are transported to local hospitals to treat injuries but even people who believe that they were unharmed should still have medical professionals perform cautionary examinations, as insurance companies are notorious for using any delay in treatment as an excuse to question the validity of an injury claim and reduce possible compensation. Additionally, not all injuries display immediate symptoms.
Victims should also try to personally or have other people take pictures of accident scenes. Most modern cell phones have cameras, and people should take as many photographs as possible of an accident scene from as many angles as possible. There is no such thing as taking “too many” pictures.
A person’s next step after a commercial vehicle crash should be to contact an experienced New Mexico commercial vehicle accident lawyer. You should seek legal representation before speaking to anybody else about your accident.
The companies that own commercial vehicles frequently have representatives on the scenes of crashes very quickly after accidents. In some cases, these agents will attempt to get victims to sign paperwork or make recorded statements that are designed to limit their ability to pursue legal claims against the companies.
Do not say anything about your accident to anybody without first contacting Need an Injury Lawyer New Mexico.
Find an Attorney for Commercial Vehicle Accidents in New Mexico
If you sustained catastrophic injuries or your loved one was killed in any kind of crash involving a commercial vehicle in New Mexico, make sure that you quickly retain legal counsel. Contact Need an Injury Lawyer New Mexico right now. We are available 24/7.
Our firm handles these cases on a contingency fee basis, so you will not be assessed any fees unless you receive a monetary award. We also provide a free, no obligation consultation at which our attorneys will review your case and help you understand all of your legal options.