Car Accident Lawyer Albuquerque

Being injured in a car accident can be an extremely traumatic experience that can leave you rattled and confused. If you were seriously hurt, it is very likely that you have incurred significant medical expenses and will be out of work for a significant amount of time. In addition, you are almost certainly experiencing pain and suffering, which is recognized as a compensable loss under New Mexico law.

Fortunately, if the accident was someone else’s fault, there is a good chance that you will be able to recover compensation for your injuries and other losses. The process of doing so can be complicated, however, so it is a good idea to enlist the assistance of an experienced attorney to make sure that you receive the full value of your legal claim. Not every attorney is created equal, however. Here are some things that you should look for when choosing a lawyer to represent you after an accident. Car Accident Lawyer Albuquerque

Practice Area Focus: Car Accident Lawyer Albuquerque

Just like you wouldn’t want your dentist looking at your sore throat, you should not have an attorney that specializes in bankruptcy law representing you in a personal injury matter. Personal injury law is a very complex area, and it takes a significant amount of experience to learn how to effectively represent people who have been hurt in accidents caused by the negligence of others.

Accessibility

Failure to be accessible and communicate with clients is often cited as the most common complaint people have with their lawyers. Remember, when you meet with an attorney, it is just as much about figuring out whether he or she is the right lawyer for you as it is about the attorney evaluating your potential case. Ask how often you can expect to be in contact and whether you will have the attorney’s cell phone number and email address. Car Accident Lawyer Albuquerque

Experience

Finally, you should always consider an attorney’s experience when searching for a personal injury lawyer. This is not to say you should choose the lawyer with the most years of practice – younger attorneys can be just as effective as older attorneys. You should make sure, however, that the lawyer you choose to retain has successfully handled cases like yours in the past and that he or she has the resources required to take your case to trial, if necessary.

Call the Khayoumi Law Firm Today to Speak with a Car Accident Lawyer Albuquerque Personal Injury Lawyer

Salim Khayoumi is an experienced attorney who understands how to get car accident victims the compensation they deserve. To learn more about how we can help you, schedule a free consultation today by calling 505-333-8613 or sending us an email through our online contact form.

The post What to Look for in an Albuquerque Car Accident Lawyer appeared first on Accident Attorney Albuquerque & DWI Lawyer Albuquerque.

They don’t always settle

While a fender bender usually ends with the insurer of the driver at fault paying the driver who is not at fault for damages, not every accident case ends this way. If there is a question as to who is at fault, or if there is a question as to the extent of the damage to a vehicle or the necessity of medical treatment, the case may only be able to be resolved by a full trial. It is critical for accident victims to choose an attorney who will take a case to trial, if needed, so the accident victim will be confident that the best result was obtained.

They can be complicated

Traffic accident cases can be very complex. If a case goes to trial, the trial could last days. Accident reconstruction experts and medical experts are regularly called to testify and to be deposed. Police reports must also be analyzed, and witnesses must be found and interviewed. A good car accident attorney will be familiar with all of these different groups of people as well as be familiar with the auto insurance companies.

More than one person can be at fault

Under New Mexico law, more than one person can be found to be at fault. That means that if you are found to be partially at fault and the other driver is found to be partially at fault, your recovery will be reduced to account for your fault in the accident. An experienced auto accident attorney would be able to advise you if there was a possibility that you would be considered at fault.

The clock is ticking

New Mexico law limits the amount of time you have to file depending on the type of claim you have and depending on what type of entities the accident involves. For example, if a government entity is involved, there are strict rules in place on how and when you can bring a claim. For this reason, it is important to seek an attorney to help move your case along before it is too late to bring a lawsuit. Courts will not hear a case if the time limitations have expired.

Call an Albuquerque Car Accident Lawyer Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation

The Khayoumi Law Firm is highly experienced in car accident cases. To schedule a free consultation with New Mexico lawyer Salim A. Khayoumi, call our office today at 505-333-8613 or contact us online.

The post Four Things You Didn’t Know about Auto Accident Cases appeared first on Accident Attorney Albuquerque & DWI Lawyer Albuquerque.

Unfortunately, these rights are not self-executing, which means that victims need to take certain steps to obtain compensation and can also do things that could jeopardize their ability to recover. The most effective thing that you can do after a car accident to ensure that you get the settlement or award to which you are legally entitled is to retain an experienced car accident attorney in Albuquerque to represent you. Some of the ways that a lawyer can protect your rights are detailed below.

A Lawyer Will Negotiate on Your Behalf with the Insurance Company

Most car accident cases are resolved by the at-fault party’s insurance company  coming to a settlement agreement with the victim. It is critical to understand that the insurance company is not on your side and is under no legal obligation to make sure that your losses are adequately compensated. As a result, they may take advantage of the fact that you do not know what your case is actually worth and try and get you to accept a settlement offer far below the actual value of your case.

Additionally, insurance company adjusters may engage in tactics that are designed to get you to admit that you were fully or partially at fault for the accident. When you retain a lawyer, he or she will communicate with the insurance company for you so you do not have to worry about saying or doing anything that would jeopardize your ability to recover for your losses.

An Attorney Will Investigate Your Claim

If your case is contested (meaning that the other party does not admit that he or she was at fault), you may need to obtain evidence that indicates that the other party’s negligence caused the accident. Examples of evidence that can be relevant to a car accident case include the following:

• Eyewitness testimony
• Surveillance footage
• Vehicle maintenance records
• Cell phone records
• Vehicle computer data

Importantly, waiting to start the process of gathering evidence could result in its loss or destruction, so it is important to call a lawyer as soon as possible.

Call an Auto Accident Attorney in Albuquerque Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation

It is critical for car wreck victims to do everything possible to protect their rights after an accident. For this reason, it is advisable for victims to contact an attorney as soon as they can. To schedule a free consultation with New Mexico lawyer Salim A. Khayoumi, call our office today at 505-333-8613 or contact us online.

The post How Retaining an Albuquerque Car Accident Lawyer Will Protect Your Rights appeared first on Accident Attorney Albuquerque & DWI Lawyer Albuquerque.

FMCSR Violations and Negligence Per Se

Generally speaking, when a person is injured in an accident, he or she must establish that the other party was negligent is some way in order to recover. Doing so often requires victims to point to specific acts that would be considered negligent, which is this context means “something that a reasonable person would not do.” So, for example, if you were struck by a driver that was trying to tie his or her shoelaces while on the interstate, it is very likely that you would be able to recover, as most people would likely agree that a reasonable person would not do that.

Using a legal doctrine known as “negligence per se,” however, it may be possible to sidestep the question of “reasonableness” altogether. Negligence per se establishes that a person was negligent as a matter of law if it can be shown that he or she violated a safety rule that was designed to protect the general public and that that violation caused the accident. In the context of a truck accident case, there are many safety rules that a driver or trucking company may violate that could cause an accident, including the following:

• Driving for a longer period of time in a given day than is allowed (11 hours, currently)
• Failing to conduct a pre-trip inspection
• Driving on a suspended commercial driver’s license (CDL)
• Driving a vehicle that exceeds weight regulations
• Failing to conduct the required background checks on drivers

Of course, in order to know that a violation has occurred, one must be familiar with the regulations to begin with. For  this reason, anyone injured in a truck accident should contact an attorney who has experience litigating commercial truck accident cases.

Call a Car Accident Attorney in Albuquerque Today to Discuss Your Case

If you have been injured in a wreck with a large commercial truck, you should call an attorney as soon as you can. To schedule a free consultation with Albuquerque car accident lawyer Salim A. Khayoumi, call our office today at 505-333-8613 or contact us online.

The post How Federal Regulations can Impact a Truck Accident Case appeared first on Accident Attorney Albuquerque & DWI Lawyer Albuquerque.

• If your child walks to and from school each day, choose a route that minimizes having to cross the street and avoids high-traffic areas
• Make sure that your child wears bright colors whenever he or she is walking from place to place or playing outside
• Go over basic safety rules with your child – always look left, right, left before crossing, do not chase balls into the street, no running or roughhousing while walking, and always cross at crosswalks, for example
• If you child’s schedule requires him or her to walk at night or during dusk or dawn, make sure that he or she walks with a flashlight or another illuminated device

What Should I Do if My Child is Involved in a Pedestrian Accident?

Unfortunately, accidents can happen even to the most careful of people. If you child is involved in a pedestrian accident, you should have your case reviewed by an attorney as soon as you can. If you can establish that the driver that caused your child’s accident was at-fault, your child may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Some examples of the kinds of conduct that would make a driver legally at-fault for an accident include the following:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians
• Impaired driving
• Ignoring school bus stop signs

There are many other ways that a driver could negligently cause a car accident. The best way to determine whether your child is entitled to compensation is to have an attorney review your case. At the Khayoumi Law Firm, we will review your case at no charge and let you know whether you have a legal claim to pursue.

Contact an Albuquerque Car Accident Attorney Today to Discuss Your Case

If you or your child has been injured by the carelessness of a driver, you should contact an attorney as soon as you can. To schedule a free consultation with an Albuquerque car accident lawyer, call Salim A. Khayoumi today at 505-333-8613 or send us an email through our online contact form.

The post Is Your Child at Risk for a Pedestrian Accident? appeared first on Accident Attorney Albuquerque & DWI Lawyer Albuquerque.

Holidays often see an increase in drunk drivers on the road, as people take time off of work and attend parties or other social events that involve drinking alcohol. As we are all aware, drunk drivers are at a significantly increased risk of involvement in an accident and can seriously injure innocent victims. Fortunately, victims of drunk drivers can often recover compensation for their injuries, but it is important to understand that they need to take action to do so.

The Criminal Part of a DUI Accident Will Not Result in You Recovering Compensation

After you are involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver, it may give you some peace of mind to see him or her arrested and hauled off to jail. Furthermore, knowing that the drunk driver who hit you will be facing fines, probation, jail time, and other penalties may give you the sense that justice will be done. It is important to understand, however, that the criminal action initiated by the state will not result in you recovering compensation. In order to do so, you need to take action and make a claim against the driver’s insurance policy or file a personal injury lawsuit in court to obtain a judgment. Some examples of the kinds of damages that are often recoverable after a DUI accident include the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Property damage
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering
• Punitive damages, in some cases

If you have been offered a settlement by an insurance company already, do not make the mistake of accepting it before speaking to an attorney. In many instances, insurance companies offer injured parties settlements that are significantly less than their cases are actually worth. Accepting such a settlement may leave you under-compensated for your injuries and without any legal recourse. For this reason, you should always speak to an attorney after an accident, even if you do not believe you have a case.

Contact an Albuquerque Car Accident Attorney to Schedule a Free Consultation Today

Drunk drivers can cause serious accidents that leave victims with devastating injuries. If you have been hurt in an accident caused by a driver who has impaired by drugs or alcohol, it is very likely that you will be able to recover compensation. To learn more about your legal options, call Albuquerque auto accident attorney, call Salim Khayoumi today at 505-333-8613.

The post Injured by a Drunk Driver over Labor Day Weekend? You May Be Entitled to Compensation appeared first on Accident Attorney Albuquerque & DWI Lawyer Albuquerque.

While this presumption may be true most of the time, it is not always the case that the rear driver is at-fault for a rear-end accident. There are several situations in which the negligence of the lead driver could cause a trailing vehicle to crash into his or her vehicle. Some of the more common include the following:

• The driver of the front vehicle was driving a vehicle with broken or inoperative tail or brake lights
• The driver of the lead vehicle switched lanes suddenly without warning
• The vehicle in front was in reverse rather than drive at a stoplight or stop sign and accelerated into the rear vehicle
• A driver suddenly turns onto the street in front of you with insufficient speed, causing you to hit the back of their vehicle

How can a Lawyer Help?

It is important for accident victims to understand that if the police arrive at the scene of a rear-end collision, any report they generate is likely to indicate that the driver of the rear vehicle is at fault. The police do not have the final say regarding fault, however, and are not trained in determining legal negligence the way that an attorney is. Furthermore, neither insurance companies nor courts are bound by the opinion of law enforcement, so it is advisable to always have a car accident attorney in Albuquerque review your case. A lawyer will thoroughly review the facts of your case and determine whether there is any evidence that the front driver was at fault for your accident. If there is, he or she may file a counterclaim on your behalf in order to recover for your damages.

Call a Car Accident Attorney in Albuquerque Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation

If you have rear-ended another vehicle while driving, do not simply assume that the accident was entirely your fault. As indicated above, there are several scenarios in which the driver of the vehicle that was struck from behind could be at fault for a rear-end collision. To schedule a free consultation with New Mexico lawyer Salim A. Khayoumi, call our office today at 505-333-8613 or send us an email through our online contact form.

The post Can the Front Driver be at Fault in an Albuquerque Rear-End Accident? A Personal Injury Attorney in Albuquerque Provides Answers appeared first on Accident Attorney Albuquerque & DWI Lawyer Albuquerque.

Determining whether negligence occurred can be extremely difficult for a person without legal training or experience handling personal injury cases. For this reason, if you are involved in an accident, you should always have your case reviewed by an attorney. Failing to do so may result in forfeiting your right to recover anything at all for your injuries. That being said, there are certain things that may strongly indicate that your accident was the fault of the driver with whom you collided. Some of these include the following:

• The driver was drunk at the time of the accident
• The driver was speeding at the time of the accident
• The driver failed to yield the right of way
• The driver was looking at his or her cell phone or was otherwise distracted
• You were in a dedicated bike lane when your accident happened
• The driver failed to stop at a stop sign or red light
• The driver hit you from behind

Contacting an Attorney Quickly can Have an Impact on the Outcome of Your Case

After a bicycle accident resulting in injury, you should call an attorney as soon as you can for a variety of reasons. First of all, there is a time limit on how long you have to file a claim, so any delay in getting started may risk your right to recover compensation. Additionally, waiting can result in the loss or destruction of evidence that supports your case – memories can fade, surveillance footage can be deleted or lost, and maintenance records lost. By contacting an attorney immediately after an accident occurs, you can ensure that the process of investigating and building your case starts as soon as possible, which will maximize your chances of getting a favorable settlement or award.

Call an Albuquerque Personal Injury Attorney Today to Schedule a Free Consultation

If you have been hurt in a bicycle accident in Albuquerque, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Examples of damages that may be available include those for your medical expenses, the damage to your bicycle, any income you have lost, and your physical and emotional pain and suffering. To schedule a free consultation with attorney Salim Khayoumi, call our office today at 505-333-8613 or send us an email through our online contact form.

The post Recognizing when a Bicycle Accident is a Driver’s Fault appeared first on Accident Attorney Albuquerque & DWI Lawyer Albuquerque.

Collect Information

If you are physically able to do so, you should gather as much information about the accident as you can. Some examples of the information that you should document inched the following:

• The names of the other drivers involved in the accident
• Any logos or business names on any commercial vehicles that were involved
• The weather conditions at the time of the accident
• The other drivers’ insurance information
• Contact information for anyone that witnessed the accident

See a Physician

One of the biggest mistakes that people make after being involved in a car accident is failing to see a doctor for a thorough medical evaluation. Injuries like whiplash may not become painful for days after an accident occurs, and waiting to get a diagnosis can make it hard to prove that your accident caused your injuries. Additionally, seeing a physician will ensure you start any treatment that you need as soon as possible.

Document the Way Your Injuries Have Affected You

Establishing damages is a critical part of every car accident case. You should keep detailed notes about the way in which your injuries affect you on a daily basis. For example, if you are experiencing pain on a regular basis or have having difficulty sleeping, document each time it occurs. These types of problems are often difficult to establish as they cannot be seen and are solely based upon your own subjective experience. For this reason, taking notes can be helpful in establishing just how much your injuries have affected you on a day to day basis.

Call an Attorney

Car accident victims should always talk to an attorney as soon as possible after an accident and before accepting any settlement offers that have been made. An attorney will evaluate your case and determine how much your case may be worth, negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, and file a lawsuit if you are unable to obtain a fair settlement offer. If you choose to represent yourself, there is a risk that you will accept a settlement offer that below what your case is actually worth or accidently admit full or even partial liability for the accident.

Call the Khayoumi Law Firm Today to Speak with a Personal Injury Lawyer

After a car accident, it is critical for you to retain legal counsel as soon as possible. Albuquerque car accident lawyer Salim Khayoumi is dedicated to helping people who have been injured by the negligence of others recover compensation for their injuries. To schedule a free consultation, call our office today at 505-333-8613 or send us an email through our online contact form.

The post Four Steps to Take after an Albuquerque Car Accident appeared first on Accident Attorney Albuquerque & DWI Lawyer Albuquerque.

Whether or not you will be able to recover compensation for your catastrophic injury depends on whether your accident was the result of someone else’s negligence. In the context of personal injury law, negligence happens when a person fails to conduct himself or herself with the degree of care that would ordinarily be exercised by a reasonable person in the same or similar circumstances. For example, it would likely be deemed negligent to drive at night without headlights or to leave a liquid spill on the entryway to your store. Importantly, negligence can be hard for victims to spot, so it is important to have every accident case reviewed by an experienced Albuquerque personal injury lawyer.

The Value of a Case Depends on a Number of Factors

The recovery that catastrophic injury victims can obtain can often be well into the millions of dollars. This is due to the fact that many people who sustain these types of injuries are unable to work and will require medical care for the rest of their lives. The exact value of a particular claim depends on a variety of factors, including the following:

• The age of the victim
• The earning potential of the victim
• Whether the victim was partially at fault for the accident
• The amount of pain and suffering experienced by the victim
• The severity of the disability or impairment

When you meet with an attorney to discuss your case, he or she may be able to give you a general idea of what your claim may be worth. It is important to keep in mind that personal injury attorneys almost invariably take their cases on a contingent fee basis, which means that you will not owe anything for legal representation unless your lawyer successfully recovers on your behalf. Additionally, any legal fees that are paid to your attorney will come out of the settlement or award you receive, so you will never have to dip into money you already have to pay for legal representation.

Call an Albuquerque Personal Injury Lawyer Today to Retain Legal Representation

If you or a family member has suffered a life-changing injury because of someone else’s carelessness, you should call a lawyer immediately. To schedule a free consultation with Albuquerque personal injury attorney Salim Khayoumi, call our office today at 505-333-8613.

The post What is a Catastrophic Injury and How Much Should Victims Expect to Recover? appeared first on Accident Attorney Albuquerque & DWI Lawyer Albuquerque.