Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Albuquerque, NM Of 2024 – Forbes Advisor – Technologist

Personal injury laws across the country allow people to file civil lawsuits against any party who negligently caused them harm. In the case of a motorcycle accident, this means that if another driver causes an accident, the motorcycle rider can file a motorcycle accident lawsuit against them.

Filing this type of lawsuit in New Mexico can be complicated if the rider is unfamiliar with New Mexico accident rules. The regulations that guide insurance claims and lawsuits are different in every state. Thus, most claimants will hire an experienced Albuquerque motorcycle accident lawyer to represent them throughout the process.

According to federal motorcycle accident statistics, motorcycle riders are four times as likely to be injured in an accident as car drivers. When drivers suffer serious injuries, they often need to file a lawsuit to get the compensation they need. That may seem easy enough, but there is a limit to how long a claimant can wait before filing a lawsuit.

That time limit is set by the New Mexico statute of limitations for personal injury claims. According to that statute, claimants have three years from the date they were injured to file a lawsuit against the party that caused the harm. If they wait longer than that to file a lawsuit, the courts will dismiss it.

Anyone who drives a motorcycle in New Mexico needs to be familiar with New Mexico motorcycle laws. The following are regulations that could affect the outcome of a motorcycle accident.

• Helmet laws. Riders under the age of 18 must wear an approved helmet while operating a motorcycle.
• Licensing. Riders must be licensed to ride a motorcycle by obtaining a motorcycle endorsement. A standard driver’s license does not permit someone to drive a motorcycle.
• Off-highway vehicles. Motorcycles that are identified as off-highway vehicles may not be operated on streets or highways.
• Reporting accidents. If anyone is injured or killed in a motorcycle accident or more than $500 of damage is inflicted, the accident must be reported to the police.
• Insurance requirements. Motorcycle riders, like car drivers, are required to be insured before riding their motorcycles on public roads.

Identifying Fault for Motorcycle Accidents in New Mexico

New Mexico, like the majority of states in the country, uses at-fault motorcycle insurance and accident rules. This means that the at-fault driver or rider in a motorcycle accident is responsible for compensating everyone who was injured in the accident.

Because the at-fault driver (or their insurance company) is responsible for compensation, identifying fault becomes a critical part of any claim or lawsuit. All potentially liable insurance companies can instigate independent investigations to determine which party was at fault. Similarly, the lawyer for the injured party can also try to uncover evidence to determine fault.

Identifying fault in New Mexico motorcycle accidents is additionally complicated by the pure comparative negligence rules that the courts use to calculate damages from a jury verdict. If the litigating party was partially responsible for the injuries they suffered, any award they receive is reduced by a percentage equal to the percentage they are responsible for their injuries.

Typically, you are likely to receive higher net compensation if you hire a lawyer to represent you than if you don’t. Attorneys offer several benefits, which usually result in higher awards or settlements and less time waiting to receive money.

To start, experienced lawyers are familiar with common types of collisions between cars and motorcycles and the injuries that result from them. Because they are familiar with common injuries, they can better estimate the value of compensation that you could receive from an insurance claim or lawsuit. This puts you in a better negotiating position and may mean that you will get fair compensation without filing a lawsuit.

If a lawsuit is unavoidable, your attorney can handle the complicated red tape involved with any lawsuit. They can also argue your case before a jury.

Reading this guide is a good start to finding the best lawyer for your case. However, it won’t tell you everything you need to know. When considering attorneys from this list, take the following factors into account.

• Accident location. It’s a good idea to choose a local lawyer when picking someone to represent you. But if the accident was in another state​​—California, for example—then you would need an attorney who understands California accident laws and is licensed to practice in that state.
• Languages spoken. If English is not your native tongue, you may be best served by choosing a lawyer who speaks your native language. This can prevent miscommunication.
• Past results. While past results don’t guarantee future results, they can give you a good idea of how effective your attorney is likely to be.

Forbes Advisor ranked attorneys offering services in motorcycle accident law within a 50-mile radius of Albuquerque, NM using data points across the categories of qualifications, experience, reputation, client experience and diversity and inclusivity. We pulled data for these categories from reliable, third-party resources such as state bar associations and individual firm websites. Data is accurate as of July 2024.

We evaluated attorneys based on the following metrics.

Qualifications (15%):

• Active business license
• Public records check
• Practice areas
• Overall reputation of law school

Experience (15%):

• Years of membership in state bar
• Ethics and bar disciplinary history

Reputation (30%): 

• High regards in top legal publications
• Positive reviews
• Accolades from colleagues

Client Experience (25%):

Diversity and Inclusivity (15%):

We considered only attorneys without disciplinary history who have been licensed for at least five years.