Santa Fe Car Accident Lawyer

Over six million car accidents happen in the United States every year. If you or a loved one was involved in a car accident, you need superior representation from Shapiro Law Team.

We understand money won’t fix everything, but compensation can help mitigate the financial effects of a traumatic car crash. Call our Santa Fe lawyers today to get the help you need. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.

Why Do Clients Choose Our Santa Fe Car Accident Attorneys?

1. Santa Fe Personal Injury Law Firm

We offer comprehensive legal care and our attorneys handle your case on a personal level. If it comes down to it, we will go to trial for you.

2. Years of Experience & 500+ Cases Won

Shapiro Law Team is one of the most trusted firms in New Mexico. We’ve been achieving the best results for our clients since 2017, including a $2.75 million award for a truck collision.

3. You Don’t Pay a Dime Unless We Win

Shapiro Law Team works on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay us unless we win your case. We also offer free case evaluations to help get you started.

When Should You Contact a Car Accident Lawyer?

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you need to know your rights. Auto insurance companies will try to get you to accept their initial offer, but this is seldom what the claim value is worth. That’s why you should always contact a car accident lawyer like Shapiro Law Team.

We help you get the financial compensation you deserve. Our attorneys are trained to go up against any at-fault party, ensuring you get justice. Never settle for less. Work with us to get the maximum amount of compensation you deserve.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Santa Fe

Causation is important to identify early on. Whether it’s a truck accident, a motorcycle crash, a fender-bender, or any other type of vehicle collision, there is always a cause.

Our car accident lawyers have experience with all types of car collision causes:

1. Driver Negligence
   Driver error is the cause of most vehicle crashes in New Mexico. Driver error and negligence include driving while drunk, drowsy, drugged, or distracted. Other causes include speeding, reckless driving, tailgating, red-light running, illegal passing, and failing to yield the right-of-way.
2. Vehicle Owner Negligence
   This is when a vehicle such as a car, bus, or motorcycle does not operate correctly due to maintenance problems, leading to malfunctions and collisions. This is the vehicle owner’s responsibility and these causes could point to their negligence.
3. Defective Car Parts
   Hundreds of vehicle components work together to ensure safe operation. When a component malfunctions, a vehicle may not operate properly, potentially causing a collision.
4. Dangerous Roads
   Sometimes, neither the vehicle nor the driver is at fault—it could be the road. Road issues like loose rubble, debris, potholes, unsafe construction zones, or obscured signs may cause a crash. If this is the case, the city or a government entity could be liable.

Common Car Accident Injuries

A car accident can cause many serious, catastrophic, or even fatal injuries to those involved. Oftentimes, the forces exerted on car crash victims are enough to injure bones and tissues. Common car accident injuries include:

• Whiplash
• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Herniated disks
• Bone fractures
• Broken ribs/chest injuries
• Muscle sprains or strains
• Joint and ligament injuries
• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Internal injuries
• Burn injuries
• Lacerations
• Fatal injuries

Unfortunately, many vehicle accidents cause lifelong issues for victims. These types of catastrophic injuries could lead to millions of dollars in medical costs throughout one’s lifetime. Because of this, you need a lawyer to fight on your behalf and ensure that you are properly compensated for any past or future losses.

How to Prove Negligence in Car Accidents in Santa Fe

Proving the negligence of another party in a car accident takes work and dedication. That’s where we come in. We’re ready to gather and prevent all evidence to help you win your case. Four elements of negligence are considered when attempting to secure compensation for any vehicle accident:

• Duty
  Resolving an injury case involves proving that the defendant (whoever caused the injury) owed a duty of care to the plaintiff (victim of injury). Anyone who drives owes a duty of care to other drivers, passengers, and bystanders. This means they are responsible for operating the vehicle safely to ensure no one is harmed.
• Breach
  Once the duty of care has been established, the plaintiff must prove the defendant breached the duty. They need to present evidence to show the defendant wasn’t being careful or adhering to a proper standard of care while on the road. For example, this could be proving the defendant broke a traffic law by running a red light.
• Causation
  Once evidence is presented showing a breach of duty occurred, the plaintiff must prove this breach directly caused the accident.
• Damages
  Finally, the plaintiff must show they sustained some sort of monetary loss as a result of the breach of duty including but not limited to medical bills, property damages, and pain and suffering.

Understanding negligence is not enough. Take these steps to help prove negligence:

1. Seek Immediate Medical Care
   This helps establish the severity of your injuries and trauma. Do this regardless of the type of injury you have.
2. Call Law Enforcement Officials
   Almost every New Mexico vehicle collision should be reported to law enforcement. Once notified, they conduct a preliminary investigation that will be helpful to your attorney when further investigating your case.
3. Take Photographs at the Scene
   If it’s safe to do so, take pictures of the crash. This includes damages to your vehicle, other vehicles involved, debris, injuries, weather conditions, traffic signs, or any other possible causes of the crash.
4. Get Contact Information of Eyewitnesses
   The names and contact information of any other witnesses need to be obtained. This could include other passengers and bystanders.
5. Gather Video Surveillance
   Check if there are any cameras near the crash scene. Your attorney may be able to gather surveillance from these to help prove liability and fault in your case.
6. Continue Medical Care
   Continue seeking medical care until your doctor says otherwise. Discontinuing treatment before you are fully healed might jeopardize the total compensation you are entitled to.

Types of Car Accident Cases Shapiro Law Team Accepts

Shapiro Law Team accepts many car accident cases in Santa Fe, including:

• Passenger cars
• Commercial trucks
• Delivery vehicles
• Vans and buses
• Motorcycles
• Bicycles
• Pedestrians
• Wrong-way crashes
• Driving under the influence (DUI) accidents
• Head-on collisions
• Rear-end accidents
• Intersection accidents
• Rollovers
• Texting and driving accidents

What Are Damages? How Much Is Your Car Accident Claim Worth?

Damages mean both the losses you suffered in a collision and the compensation you could receive.

When calculating damages, looking at past and future losses is essential. In New Mexico, you can receive compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. This may include:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Vehicle repairs
• Out-of-pocket costs
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional injuries
• Diminished enjoyment of life
• Death benefits
• Punitive damages

The best way to get an honest and accurate depiction of what your claim could be worth is by consulting a personal injury attorney near you. Call Shapiro Law Team for a free consultation.

Contact a Santa Fe Car Accident Attorney Today

Your future, health, and well-being depend on the immediate action you take after an auto accident. That’s why you can’t wait. Contact an experienced vehicle collision attorney today. It may bridge the gap between minimum and maximum financial compensation.