Even though the state of New Mexico requires drivers to stay at the scene of an accident that causes property damage of $500 or more, injury, or death, some motorists don’t. They leave without giving their insurance information to the other parties and take off before the police can arrive. These types of car accidents are known as hit and runs, and they’re all too common. In fact, 18 percent of all car accidents in New Mexico in 2021 were hit and run collisions.
When you’ve been injured or experienced the wrongful death of a family member in a hit and run accident in Albuquerque, it’ll be particularly important to know your legal rights. Whether you’re struggling with costly medical treatment, are unable to work, or are coping with debilitating emotional trauma, you deserve to have help getting back on your feet. While compensation may be available to you, the fact that you were in a hit and run can complicate matters.
That’s where the experienced car accident lawyers at Singleton Schreiber can help.
Singleton Schreiber is a dedicated legal advocate for hit and run accident victims in Albuquerque and across the state of New Mexico. Led by injury attorneys with decades of experience, our firm has successfully obtained billions of dollars for our clients - including victims of devastating hit and run car accidents.
Discover the impact our top-rated legal team can have on your hit and run case by calling our Albuquerque law office for a free consultation today.
Why Would a Driver Leave the Scene of an Accident in Albuquerque?
Pursuant to New Mexico Statutes Section 12-4-1, any driver involved in a motor vehicle accident assumes a responsibility to:
- Stay at (or near) the scene
- Exchange personal information and insurance details with other parties, and
- Determine if anyone involved in the crash requires medical assistance and, if so, take steps to procure it.
Alternatively, drivers can provide their personal information to the police when they arrive on the scene. Drivers who fail to take these steps are in violation of New Mexico law and can face misdemeanor criminal charges.
There are a few common reasons why a driver might risk criminal charges by fleeing the scene of an accident:
- They were distracted and didn’t realize they were involved in a relatively minor but still significant auto accident
- They were under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- There are warrants out for their arrest and they are afraid of being taken into custody
- They think they can escape responsibility for the accident they caused
- The accident was an act of road rage and they intentionally tried to harm the other driver
Regardless of why a driver leaves the scene of a car accident in Albuquerque, it’s still a crime and complicates the legal claims process that follows.
New Mexico is an At-Fault State for Car Insurance, So How Do I Get Compensation After a Hit and Run?
The driver who caused your Albuquerque, NM, car accident fled the scene. Under normal circumstances, you’d file a claim with their insurance company and request benefits from their policy. Now, however, you don’t know the driver’s name, who their insurance carrier is, or how to submit a claim with the provider.
What now?
The good news is that you won’t be left to shoulder the costs of your car accident on your own. There are typically two ways to go about getting compensation. It can all depend on the decisions you made when you bought your own car insurance coverage.
File a Claim For UM With Your Car Insurance Company
In New Mexico, insurance companies are legally required to ask if you’d like to purchase Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage when you buy your car insurance policy. While you have the right to decline UM coverage, roughly three-quarters of all drivers decide to buy it.
Uninsured motorist coverage doesn’t just apply to accidents with uninsured drivers, it can be used when you’re in a hit and run, too. If you have UM on your policy, you’ll file a claim with your personal car insurance provider for benefits to pay for your medical care, offset lost wages, and help with pain and suffering.
Seek Compensation Through a Civil Lawsuit
You may have the right to sue anyone who caused your car accident - including other motorists, the manufacturer of a defective vehicle, a government agency, or an employer. You can also file a lawsuit against the hit and run driver when they’re eventually located.
Why Should I Hire a Lawyer After a Hit and Run Car Accident in Albuquerque, NM?
While any car accident can be stressful, a hit and run can take things to another level. Many times, the injuries sustained in hit and run accidents are quite severe, and are often a factor in why the driver left the scene in the first place. Getting compensation is more challenging, which can take time away from your recovery.
However, you can invest fully in your recovery by hiring an experienced lawyer to handle your hit and run car accident case.
Accident victims in Albuquerque trust Singleton Schreiber because we offer honest, full-service legal representation that consistently yields life-changing case results.
When you ask for our help after a hit and run, we’ll:
- Independently investigate the details of your hit and run
- Gather evidence to help identify the hit and run driver so they can be held accountable and to build the foundation for a successful legal claim
- Take care of all administrative elements of your claim
- Represent you during negotiations with your insurance company, whose interests won’t be aligned with yours
- Bring your hit and run lawsuit to trial if you don’t receive a fair settlement offer from the defense
Our New Mexico litigators represent occupants of motor vehicles, motorcyclists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other parties who are injured in hit and run accidents in Albuquerque. Our case results include over $2.5 Billion in monetary awards. Contact our law office today to discuss the details of your hit and run case with a personal injury, car accident, or pedestrian accident attorney.
