Albuquerque Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Riding your motorcycle through the warm Albuquerque breeze on a spring day is an excellent way to spend an afternoon. But becoming a victim of a serious motorcycle accident is probably an outcome you never fathomed for yourself or a loved one. 

Motorcycle accidents often produce devastating injuries and hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. With the help of our Albuquerque motorcycle accident lawyer, you can seek compensation from the at-fault party in your crash and start moving forward from this event. 

At Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C., we have over 30 years of experience representing motorcycle accident victims across New Mexico. Contact our motorcycle injury attorneys today for your free consultation. 

Frequent Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Albuquerque

Albuquerque’s arid weather makes it an excellent city to ride a motorcycle. Sadly, New Mexico is among the states with the highest fatality rates for motorcycle crashes, with an average of nearly eight deaths for every 10,000 registered motorcycles in the state. 

Motorcyclists are often more vulnerable to crashes than drivers of passenger vehicles. Our Albuquerque motorcycle accident lawyers find that accidents often occur due to the following causes:

• Failure to notice a motorcycle: Because motorcycles are shorter and thinner than passenger vehicles, many drivers fail to notice them when checking their blind spots or stopping at an intersection. They are only looking for other cars, not motorcycles, leading them to pull out in front of a motorcyclist and cause a crash. 
• Sudden stops: When a motorcyclist must slam on the brakes to avoid a collision, they don’t have the same protections as a driver of a passenger vehicle. Motorcycles don’t have seatbelts or airbags and often cannot stop as quickly as cars. Braking too quickly could lead a motorcyclist to flip over the handlebars and become injured.
• Weather: Motorcycles don’t have as much traction as passenger vehicles, making them more vulnerable to sliding on wet pavement. Motorcyclists also have limited visibility in the rain since motorcycles typically do not have windshields or wipers. 
• Congested traffic: Motorcyclists are vulnerable to accidents during congested, stop-and-go traffic, like what is common on I-25 and I-40 during rush hour. Other drivers may not see them when zipping between lanes to avoid delays. Some motorcyclists attempt lane splitting to avoid congested traffic, but the practice is illegal in New Mexico. 

Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

When motorcyclists become involved in collisions, they are vulnerable to serious injuries. New Mexico law only requires riders under the age of 18 to wear helmets, which means not every motorcyclist wears one. Those who don’t are susceptible to particularly serious injuries, such as:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injuries
• Injuries to the face
• Neck injuries

Those who do wear helmets can still experience devastating injuries, such as:

• Broken bones
• Internal bleeding
• “Biker’s arm,” or nerve damage to the upper arm when a rider lands on their arm during a crash

Motorcyclists are also susceptible to severe road rash, which is an abrasion that occurs when they slide across asphalt or concrete. 

The injuries you sustain in a motorcycle accident can cause immense pain and seriously disrupt your livelihood. Our motor vehicle accident lawyers can fight for compensation on your behalf so you can make up for some of the pain your crash has caused you. 

Proving Liability After a Motorcycle Crash 

If you believe another driver was at least partially at fault for your motorcycle crash, you can seek compensation under New Mexico’s pure comparative negligence policy. This policy allows anyone involved in an accident to recover compensation as long as they are not 100% responsible. 

Often, motorcyclists take some responsibility for accidents for reasons such as:

• Failing to leave ample following distance
• Riding in unsafe weather conditions
• Failing to maintain their bikes regularly

However, our Albuquerque motorcycle accident lawyers can help you maximize your compensation by minimizing your role in the accident. We will collect evidence to prove that another party or multiple parties were responsible for the accident.

Such evidence may include:

• Photos and videos of the accident
• Witness testimonies
• Testimonies from Accident Reconstructionists
• Vehicle maintenance reports

Our New Mexico accident attorneys will help you build a strong case to improve your chances of securing adequate compensation. 

What Compensation Can You Seek After a Motorcycle Crash? 

With the help of our Albuquerque personal injury lawyers, you can seek the financial compensation necessary to start moving forward from your accident. 

The exact amount your case is worth depends on how you are seeking funds: through an insurance claim or a lawsuit. If the at-fault driver had liability insurance, you can seek compensation up to their policy limits to cover expenses such as:

• Repair costs for your motorcycle
• Medical bills
• Time off work 
• Loss of earning capacity due to long-term injuries

The minimum liability insurance coverage in New Mexico is $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 for property damage per accident. But serious motorcycle crashes can quickly rack up over $100,000 in expenses. 

Our Albuquerque motorcycle accident lawyers can help you explore the possibility of suing the at-fault driver for additional damages. Through a lawsuit, you could also seek non-economic expenses, such as:

• Pain and suffering 
• Emotional distress
• Loss of quality of life
• Loss of consortium

These damages help make up for the devastating consequences of the accident that you cannot assign a price tag to. 

Statute of Limitations for Motorcycle Accident Cases in Albuquerque

New Mexico places a three-year statute of limitations on most personal injury lawsuits, including motorcycle accident cases. This means you have three years from the accident date to sue the at-fault party. If three years have already passed, our Albuquerque motorcycle accident lawyers can inform you about any exceptions to the statute that may apply to your case. 

Why Choose Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C.?

At Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C., we’ve stood by clients since 1984, defending their rights and helping them hold negligent parties accountable. Our attorneys have over 65 years of combined experience and have resolved thousands of personal injury and wrongful death cases in our time. 

When you choose our firm for your motorcycle crash legal representation, you benefit from the following:

• Compassionate assistance: We understand the overwhelming stress, anger, sadness, and anxiety that come with motorcycle crashes. Our compassionate attorneys will do everything we can to help you move forward. 
• Personal approach: We never represent corporations or defend insurance companies. Our focus is on victims like you. 
• Local knowledge: We are intimately familiar with Albuquerque traffic laws, patterns, and negligence laws unique to New Mexico. We pour that knowledge into every case we take on. 
• Motorcycle accident experience: We’ve represented numerous motorcycle accident victims and are well-versed in the intricacies and complexities of these cases. We regularly provide legal assistance for motorcycle accidents and can confidently assist with your case. 

Seek Legal Representation After an Albuquerque Motorcycle Accident Today

A severe motorcycle accident doesn’t need to be the end of the road for you or your loved one. At Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C., we provide dedicated legal representation for Albuquerque motorcycle accident victims. Allow us to fight for compensation on your behalf while you focus on recovering.

Contact us today at 505-243-6045 to schedule a consultation with our Albuquerque motorcycle accident lawyers.