The Albuquerque metropolitan area accounts for nearly 39% of all traffic accidents in New Mexico. According to the state’s annual crash report, Bernalillo County saw 15,864 traffic accidents in 2021, the most recent year with full statistics.
Understanding how and when these crashes happen can help city planners address road design and other safety issues. Car accident statistics can also aid insurers and Albuquerque injury lawyers in understanding how accident victims get injured and who bears the fault for their losses.
If you were hurt in a collision in Albuquerque, NM, contact Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers at (505) 594-3621. Our Albuquerque car accident attorneys have over five decades of combined experience and offer a free initial consultation to discuss your options.
How Can Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers Help After a Car Accident in Albuquerque, NM?
Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers was founded in 2011 to represent personal injury victims in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Our attorneys have over 55 years of combined legal experience working on behalf of injured clients. We have recovered more than $30 million in financial compensation for accident victims.
After a collision, our Albuquerque car accident lawyers can offer the following:
- A free case evaluation to explain your rights so you can make informed decisions
- A legal team with a 98% success rate of winning or settling claims
- Aggressive representation ready to stand up to insurance companies
After a car accident in Albuquerque, you could face mounting medical expenses and significant time off from work for treatment and therapy. Contact Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your needs and your right to compensation after your accident.
How Many Car Accidents Happen in Albuquerque, NM?
The New Mexico annual crash report found that, in 2021, 13,955 car accidents occurred in Albuquerque alone. And throughout Bernalillo County, there were 15,864 accidents.
Albuquerque saw more traffic accidents than any other city in the state. Las Cruces and Santa Fe had the second- and third-highest numbers of crashes in the state. But these two cities combined only saw about one-third of the accidents that Albuquerque did.
This fact is important for a couple of reasons. First, even though most of New Mexico is undeveloped and rural, the state’s crash statistics match those you would expect to see in an urban area.
Second, New Mexico appears to have a low number of pedestrian and bicycle accidents. But when you consider that most of these accidents happen in just a few cities, the numbers seem to be more consistent with those from other states.
How and When Do Car Accidents Happen in Albuquerque?
Albuquerque has a lot of traffic accidents. One study named it the second-most dangerous city for driving. According to this report, Albuquerque had the highest fatality rate based on the number of miles traveled. In other words, more people in Albuquerque died per 100 million miles traveled than in any other city surveyed.
Using Albuquerque car accident statistics, you can see why the city has a reputation for being high-risk.
Outcomes of Albuquerque Car Crashes
Albuquerque’s 13,955 crashes included:
- 112 fatal accidents
- 4,459 non-fatal injury accidents
- 9,384 damage-only accidents
These crashes produced:
- 118 fatal injuries
- 6,427 non-fatal injuries
The annual crash report does not break down the severity of the non-fatal injuries in Albuquerque.
But statewide, injuries broke down as follows:
- 0.49% suffered fatal injuries
- 1.0% had injuries that prevented them from leaving the scene without help
- 5.2% experienced visible, non-incapacitating injuries
- 11.8% complained of pain or other symptoms without any visible injury
Roughly 81% of accident victims in 2022 left the accident scene injury-free.
Dangerous Times to Drive in Albuquerque
The annual crash report does not separate Albuquerque crashes from those in the rest of the state. But since the city dominates crash statistics, the hour-of-day and day-of-week statistics should reflect Albuquerque crashes.
Crashes in New Mexico tend to happen on weekdays, with Friday being the most dangerous day to drive. But other weekdays have crash numbers within 2–3% of Friday’s numbers. Weekend days see a drastic drop in crash numbers. The collision rates on Saturdays and Sundays are roughly two-thirds of the weekday crash rate.
The most dangerous time to drive is during the afternoon commute. Crashes increase throughout the work day and peak between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. during the afternoon rush hour. They then taper off through the night before beginning a slow rise again around 4 a.m.
How Most Albuquerque Crashes Happen
Crashes in Albuquerque occur primarily at intersections.
Causes of these crashes include:
- Disobeying traffic signs and signals
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Turning unsafely
These crashes can cause serious injuries, including crushing injuries that occur when the front of one vehicle smashes into the side of another. Distracted driving is also a problem in Albuquerque. Inattentive and distracted driving was blamed for 13.5% of fatal crashes and 21.0% of non-fatal injury crashes in 2021.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation With Our Experienced Albuquerque Car Accident Lawyers If You Need Legal Help
A car accident can leave you with serious physical injuries and massive medical bills. Contact Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your car accident and the compensation you can pursue for the injuries you suffered.