At Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand the emotional, physical, and financial toll personal injuries can have on you and your family. If someone else was responsible for the harm you’ve suffered, you deserve to be compensated in full. You may be able to file a legal claim and recover compensation for your medical expenses, other financial losses, pain and suffering, and more.
Our experienced Santa Fe personal injury lawyers are here to help you throughout the entire process. We offer a free initial consultation to review your case and offer some initial legal advice. Contact our law office serving Santa Fe, NM, today at (602) 595-5559 to get started.
How Curiel & Runion’s Santa Fe Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Accident
Our team of experienced Santa Fe personal injury attorneys have over 55 years of combined experience fighting for victims’ rights. Our knowledge of the state’s legal system has allowed us to navigate complex personal injury litigation efficiently and effectively. Since opening our doors in 2011, we have achieved a 98 percent success rate for our personal injury clients.
Our team can help with your case in Santa Fe, New Mexico, by:
- Evaluating your case during a free consultation
- Gathering evidence such as accident reports, photographs, and witness statements
- Interpreting the case law relevant to your case
- Advising on potential compensation and course of action
- Acting as a mediator between you and insurance companies
- Preparing and filing a lawsuit if a settlement is not reached
- Representing you in court and advocating for your rights; and
- Securing compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages
By supporting our clients this way, Curiel & Runion has secured more than $30 million in compensation for accident victims across New Mexico.
What Personal Injuries Occur in Santa Fe, NM?
Our clients in Santa Fe encounter personal injuries every day. Curiel & Runion has represented community members in the following personal injury matters:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
These are among the most common personal injury cases. Our team represents victims of car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and pedestrian accidents. These often result from reckless driving, driving under the influence, distracted driving, or not adhering to traffic laws.
Premises Liability
Property owners must maintain safe premises. Accidents, such as slip and falls, occur when individuals get injured due to hazardous conditions like wet floors, broken staircases, or uneven sidewalks.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice occurs when healthcare professionals fail to provide the expected standard of care, leading to patient injury. Common examples include surgical errors, misdiagnoses, and medication mistakes.
Workplace Accidents
Some professions are inherently risky. Construction site accidents, machinery malfunctions, or exposures to hazardous materials can result in injuries for which workers’ compensation claims may be filed.
Wrongful Death
If someone’s negligence causes the wrongful death of a loved one, a wrongful death claim can help you secure compensation for related financial losses and trauma you have endured.
What Is My Personal Injury Case Worth in Santa Fe, NM?
After an accident, one of the most frequently asked questions, “What is my personal injury case worth?” The answer is case-specific, and several variables often come into play. These variables include:
Severity of Injury
A minor injury with a swift recovery has a different valuation than a severe, debilitating injury such as traumatic brain injury or paralysis. Serve injuries may cause permanent disability and require lifelong care.
Medical Bills
This includes past, present, and future medical bills related to your injury. This can cover costs for ambulances, emergency room visits, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and other treatments. You can also seek compensation for medical care that you anticipate having in the future, such as surgeries or repeat physical therapy.
Loss of Income
Injuries may cause you to miss work. Permanent injuries may even reduce your earning capacity in the long term. You may seek compensation for temporarily or permanently lost wages and lost earning potential.
Pain and Suffering
This is subjective damage. Pain and suffering account for the emotional and psychological toll of your accident and injuries.
Property Damage
Accidents often cause property damage. If there is damage to your property, like your car in an automobile accident, you may be entitled to reimbursement for repair or replacement costs.
Each case is unique. The personal injury lawyers at Curiel & Runion can evaluate your case during a free consultation and calculate the damages you may be entitled to.
What Damages Could I Recover After an Accident in Santa Fe?
Personal injury victims in New Mexico can recover various economic damages and non-economic damages. Beyond medical bills and lost wages, damages for emotional distress, disfigurement, or loss of enjoyment in life are also considered.
In particularly egregious cases, punitive damages may also be awarded to punish the person who caused your injuries and deter further gross negligence.
How Much Will a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost in Santa Fe, NM?
Most personal injury lawyers represent clients on a contingency fee basis. At Curiel & Runion, we believe in providing justice to our clients without financial stress. That is why we are committed to working on a contingency fee.
Under this arrangement, we pay for costs upfront and deduct a percentage from the final settlement or verdict secured on your behalf. This ensures that every injury victim can seek justice regardless of financial standing. Our personal injury lawyers review our fee arrangement with you during an initial consultation.
What if I’m Partially at Fault for the Accident?
In the aftermath of an accident, you can face a whirlwind of emotions. This is especially true if you believe you may have contributed to the accident. Many people who suspect they are at fault hesitate to pursue legal action. However, New Mexico’s personal injury laws offer a window of opportunity even for those who believe they may have been partially at fault.
The “Pure Comparative Fault” System
New Mexico adheres to the “pure comparative fault” system. This system allows victims to recover damages even if they are partially or predominantly at fault for their injuries. The principle behind this system is simple: every party involved should be held accountable for their share of the damage caused.
For example, imagine you are determined to be 20 percent responsible for a car accident because you were driving over the speed limit. At the same time, the other driver was determined to be 80 percent at fault because they ran a red light. You can still seek compensation. However, your compensation will be adjusted based on your level of fault. If you were awarded $100,000 in damages under this scenario, the amount would be reduced by 20 percent, leaving you with $80,000.
Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers can evaluate your case and help you navigate the intricacies of the comparative fault system. The firm’s team will investigate the circumstances surrounding your injury, contact eyewitnesses and experts, and review your damages.
How Do I Prove My Santa Fe Personal Injury Case?
The crux of most personal injury cases rests on your ability to demonstrate that another party was negligent. This means showing that their actions or failures to act resulted in harm to you. Negligence has four elements that must be proven:
Duty of Care
You must show the defendant owed you a duty of care. This means that the defendant had a legal responsibility to act in a certain manner toward you. For example, drivers must follow traffic regulations to prevent accidents.
Breach of Duty
You must show the defendant breached or violated their duty of care. This requires demonstrating that the defendant’s action (or lack of action) did not align with what a reasonably prudent person would do under similar circumstances. The defendant must also have been able to reasonably foresee that their actions might cause you harm.
Causation
You must prove that the defendant’s breach of duty was the proximate or direct cause of their injury. This means that “but for” the defendant’s actions, you would not have suffered harm. You must further show that the defendant could reasonably foresee that their actions might harm you.
Damages
Finally, you must show that you suffered actual damages due to the defendant’s breach. This could be physical injuries, property damage, financial loss, or emotional distress. It is insufficient to show that the defendant was negligent without showing verifiable harm.
Each of these elements is crucial. Failure to convincingly demonstrate any of them to the judge or jury will be detrimental to your personal injury claim.
How Do I Establish Negligence?
Establishing negligence often requires a systematic approach. You must gather evidence and present a clear and compelling narrative of your accident and injuries. After an accident, be sure to retain valuable evidence. This includes accident reports, photographs or videos from the accident scene, witness statements and contact information, and medical records and bills that substantiate your injuries.
The attorneys at Curiel & Runion will use this evidence to make the best arguments against the defendant. We have done so successfully in hundreds of cases involving motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice, workplace accidents, and wrongful death.
How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in New Mexico?
Time is of the essence in personal injury cases. This is because New Mexico generally provides a three-year window from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. If you do not file a lawsuit in time, you will likely lose the ability to recover your damages from the defendant – forever.
There are nuances, though, for certain types of personal injury matters. This time period may also be paused in certain circumstances. Schedule a consultation with Curiel & Runion as soon as possible to protect your legal rights.
Contact Our Santa Fe, NM, Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
At Curiel & Runion, we understand the emotional, physical, and financial toll personal injuries can have on you and your family. Our team of Santa Fe personal injury lawyers can protect your rights and help you secure the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss the specifics of your case and learn how our team can help you.