You may be surprised to learn that New Mexico taxpayers pay a significant amount of money due to city-related accidents in Albuquerque. Local news reports have revealed that taxpayers ultimately paid $1 million for crashes involving police officers during the 2017 fiscal year. In this same local news report from 2017, the Albuquerque City Risk Manage Department records indicated nearly 1,000 officer-involved crashes occurred since July of 2014.

Unsurprisingly, victims who are one of many injured by law enforcement in an Albuquerque car accident may be confused about their legal options. This is unsurprising since pursuing legal compensation for an accident in which the City of Albuquerque may be liable is unlike a more typical car accident involving negligent drivers who are private citizens.

However, these accidents can cause significant damage to property and may result in serious injuries. In the 2017 fiscal year alone, these crashes cost taxpayers more than $1 million in medical costs and property damage. If you or a loved one has been injured in a similar Albuquerque accident, you need to choose the best Albuquerque car accident lawyer for your legal claim.

 

As an Albuquerque personal injury attorney with nearly two decades of legal experience, here are the qualities I believe an Albuquerque car accident lawyer ought to possess in order to ideally represent your legal claim when you deserve legal compensation for your city-related accident.

 

Your Attorney Must Know the Laws That Apply to Your City Accident

Any accident in New Mexico is governed by the state’s Motor Vehicle Code, but accidents that occur in Albuquerque may also involve additional municipal regulations put in place by the City of Albuquerque itself. As such, your Albuquerque car accident lawyer should be familiar with the regulations in the Albuquerque Traffic Code as well as the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Code.

Provisions and regulations of the city code may apply to the facts of your claim and provide you with the evidence needed to show that your injuries were caused by a legally liable party.

 

Remember, all claims against governmental entities in New Mexico require that a Tort Claim Notice is filed with every responsible agency within 90 days of the occurrence or date of injury. https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2011/chapter41/article4/section41-4-16/

 

After the 90-day Tort Claim Notice has been filed, you then have two years to file a lawsuit against all responsible governmental entities or your claim may be barred by the statute of limitations. https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2011/chapter41/article4/section41-4-15/

 

Many people mistakenly believe that they have the same three-year statute of limitations that typically applies to personal injury claims in New Mexico but this does not take into account personal injuries caused by governm

ental employees or agents acting within the course and scope of their employment such as a police officer or a bus driver. Then, a Tort Claim Notice is required within 90 days and a two-year statute of limitation may apply.

 

Choose an Attorney Who Helps You Receive the Compensation You Truly Deserve to Receive

When filing an accident claim in Albuquerque’s Bernalillo County Judicial District, a plaintiff must also indicate whether more or less than $25,000 in compensation is being sought. Determining this figure often requires the help of an attorney who has the experience needed to know the true value of your legal claim.

Insurance companies often try to convince accidents to settle for far less than their legal claim is worth, for example. After all, remember that accidents involving Albuquerque police officers alone added up to more than $1 million in total costs paid by taxpayers.

 

Pick Albuquerque Car Accident Lawyer Who Can Hold the Municipality Accountable for Any Legal Wrongdoing

Depending on the facts of your case, the City of Albuquerque itself may bear legal responsibility for your injuries. When cities bear legal responsibility for causing an accident and a victim’s injuries, this is known as the municipal liability.

Filing a municipal liability claim requires additional legal knowledge and insight to successfully help victims and their loved ones receive compensation after a motor vehicle accident. Examples of issues that may lead to city liability in a car accident include:

  • Road design and/or maintenance failure
  • Unlawful operation of city vehicles and/or improper maintenance of those vehicles
  • City bus accidents

If you or a loved one has been injured or worse in a city-related accident, I guarantee that I will get you a higher offer than you would receive from the insurance company or no fee is charged to you. I also charge a standard attorney fee that does not escalate or increase over time to provide the financial transparency that lets you know your case is in capable hands and that you can rely on my legal advice. Finally, my third guarantee is that no matter how high your medical bills, you will receive money in your pocket or I will not charge an attorney fee. These three guarantees are made in an effort to be the best motor vehicle attorney in Albuquerque for your accident claim.

Contact me online today as your Albuquerque car accident lawyer for a legal consultation to discuss the facts of your motor vehicle accident that occurred in the city of Albuquerque.