New Mexico Wrongful Death Lawyer
Any death in the family brings profound grief and sorrow for all of that individual’s loved ones. When the death is the unexpected result of another party’s negligence, the family can be entitled to compensation for the harm caused.
A wrongful death lawsuit allows certain family members to pursue damages from the party whose negligence or intentional actions caused the death of a loved one. Need an Injury Lawyer New Mexico assists families all over New Mexico with wrongful death claims, including clients in Roswell, North Valley, Farmington, Los Alamos, South Valley, Portales, Clovis, Las Vegas, Hobbs, Sunland Park, Alamogordo, Chaparral, Carlsbad, Los Lunas, Gallup, Deming, Albuquerque, Española, Las Cruces, Silver City, Rio Rancho, Lovington, Santa Fe, Artesia, and many other nearby areas.
Wrongful Death Laws in New Mexico
Under New Mexico Statute § 41-2-1, a deceased person’s personal representative can bring a legal action against any person whose wrongful act, neglect, or default of another party caused a loved one’s death. Under New Mexico Statute § 41-2-2, a person has three years to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Family members may be entitled to various compensatory damages in these cases. In addition to economic damages relating to calculable losses such as medical expenses and lost wages, victims may be entitled to noneconomic damages for more subjective harm such as pain and suffering or loss of consortium.
In some cases, victims may also be awarded punitive damages. While the state does not place any cap on punitive damages, such awards are still relatively rare. Punitive damages are typically limited to cases in which a negligent party acted with intentional malice, trickery, or deceit. The awards are intended to punish wrongdoers and discourage others from engaging in similar conduct.
Causes of Wrongful Death in New Mexico
People can be killed in any one of a number of unfortunate incidents in New Mexico. Some of the most common reasons wrongful death lawsuits are filed stem from cases involving:
- Car Accidents
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Commercial Vehicles
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Bus Accidents
- Ridesharing (Uber or Lyft) Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Workplace Accidents
Find a Wrongful Death Attorney in New Mexico
Was your loved one killed because of another party’s negligence in New Mexico? You will want to contact Need an Injury Lawyer New Mexico as soon as possible. We represent individuals and families in communities all over Otero County, Sandoval County, Chaves County, San Juan County, McKinley County, Valencia County, Bernalillo County, Eddy County, Doña Ana County, Lea County, and Santa Fe County.
Our firm understands that families who have recently lost loved ones are rarely prepared to be making court appearances and satisfy legal deadlines for important paperwork, which is why our experienced personal injury attorneys handle all of these requirements on your behalf. We can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and Need an Injury Lawyer New Mexico provides free, no obligation consultations so you can have your case reviewed and fully understand all of your legal options.