Lovington 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney
Commercial truck traffic through Lovington has grown with the oilfields around it. When one of these large, heavy vehicles hits a passenger vehicle, the people in the smaller vehicle absorb most of the damage. If that happened to you or someone in your family, you are probably dealing with medical bills, significant wage loss, and other damages and losses.
Stout & Stout Lawyers represents people injured in 18-wheeler crashes in Lovington and across Lea County, and we can start working on your case as soon as you’re ready. Reach out to our Lovington truck accident attorney and schedule your free consultation.
Reasons Victims Choose Stout & Stout Lawyers for Their 18-Wheeler Accident Case
A truck crash claim usually involves more than one company and more than one insurance policy. Sorting out who is responsible, and preserving the evidence that proves it, takes a firm that has handled these cases before. Here is what clients can expect when they hire us:
- A firm with more than 70 years of combined experience handling injury claims for New Mexico families
- A free consultation where we review what happened and explain your options before you commit to anything
- No fee unless we recover money for you, so hiring an injury lawyer in Lovington does not depend on your finances
- Service in English and Spanish
Trucking companies protect themselves soon after a serious crash, and you should do the same. The sooner we can send preservation letters and secure driver logs and electronic data, the stronger your claim tends to be.
Why You Need a Lawyer After an 18-Wheeler Crash in Lovington
Truck accident claims are harder to win than ordinary car accident claims because the trucking company controls a lot of the evidence. A lawyer takes on the work an injured person cannot realistically do alone:
- Investigating the crash, including reviewing the police report, photographing the scene, interviewing witnesses, and bringing in accident reconstruction experts when the facts are disputed
- Preserving trucking company records before they disappear, such as driver logs, inspection reports, drug and alcohol testing results, and data from the truck’s electronic control module
- Reviewing all available insurance coverage, since commercial trucking policies are far larger than personal auto policies and there may be more than one at play
- Preparing the case for trial if the insurance company refuses to make a fair offer
Having a lawyer by your side makes the case a lot easier for you, allowing you to focus more on getting better.
What Causes 18-Wheeler Accidents?
Many 18-wheeler crashes involve driver error, company practices, mechanical problems, cargo issues, or a combination of factors. Fatigue can contribute to commercial truck crashes, and a lawyer may review whether the driver complied with the federal hours-of-service rules. Speeding on rural highways like NM 18 is another frequent factor, because a loaded semi needs several hundred feet to stop and simply cannot react the way a car can.
Other crashes trace back to decisions made before the truck ever got on the road. Skipped brake maintenance, worn tires, and cargo that was loaded unevenly or above weight limits can all lead to serious accidents. Part of your lawyer’s job is finding out which of these factors was present and who is responsible.
How Are 18-Wheeler Claims Different From Car Accident Claims?
The biggest difference is that a trucking claim is often also against a business, not just a driver. Motor carriers are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and those regulations create duties an ordinary motorist never has, covering things like driver qualification, drug testing, vehicle inspection, and how many hours a driver can work. Proving a violation of those rules can make a trucking case much stronger.
The stakes also tend to be higher on both sides.Commercial trucking policies may provide substantially more coverage than an ordinary personal auto policy, depending on the carrier and operation. This means the insurer assigns experienced adjusters and defense lawyers quickly and fights harder. Injuries also tend to be more severe, which makes accurately valuing the claim incredibly important
What Trucking Evidence Should Be Preserved?
The most important evidence is the material only the trucking company has, and it should be preserved before it can be destroyed. Carriers are permitted to discard certain records after set retention periods, and electronic data can be overwritten in the ordinary course of business. A preservation letter puts the company on notice that relevant evidence should be retained while the claim is investigated. Important items include:
- Data from the engine control module and any electronic logging device, showing speed, braking, and hours driven
- The driver’s qualification file, employment application, and prior driving history
- Post-crash drug and alcohol test results
- Dispatch records and delivery schedules, which can reveal pressure to speed or skip rest
- Inspection, repair, and maintenance records for the tractor and trailer
- Dashcam or fleet camera footage
- Bills of lading and weight tickets for the load being hauled
The truck itself can also be evidence. When a mechanical failure is suspected, having it inspected before it is repaired or sold may be the only way to prove what went wrong.
How Can Federal Trucking Rules Affect the Case?
Federal trucking regulations set out specific rules for driver training, hourly limits, maintenance schedules, and cargo practices, all of which apply to commercial trucking operations nationwide, including in New Mexico.
If a crash involves a truck and results in injury, evidence of a violation can support a personal injury claim and may suggest the truck company’s negligence. Federal regulations require motor carriers to maintain certain records, including some hours-of-service, driver qualification, inspection, and maintenance information, which may become important evidence in a truck accident claim.
Contact a Lovington 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney
The weeks after an oilfield injury are the wrong time to take an insurance company’s word for what your claim is worth. Before you accept a settlement or sign anything, talk to us. Stout & Stout Lawyers offers free consultations in English and Spanish, and we can review the crash, identify the potentially responsible parties, and explain your options for pursuing compensation.