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Albuquerque Rollover Accident Attorney

Albuquerque Lawyers Dedicated to Helping Collision Victims

Cars that have a higher center of gravity are more prone to rollover accidents. Among the cars most likely to roll over are SUVs. When there are no rollover bars, the roof may be crushed, resulting in catastrophic injuries or even death to those inside the vehicle. Rollover accidents may be the fault of a driver or the manufacturer of the SUV. You may be able to recover compensation for your injuries after a car accident in the Albuquerque area. At the Fine Law Firm, our Albuquerque car accident attorneys can explore the details of your case and advise you on your options.

Bringing a Negligence Claim for Compensation

If you wish to pursue compensation after a rollover accident, the first issue is figuring out what caused the rollover. In many cases, it is necessary to retain an expert in accident reconstruction to determine what went wrong. The expert can examine the property damage, witness testimony, debris, and other evidence to evaluate fault. For example, was the SUV designed such that a rollover was more likely? Was a component broken? Was there a road hazard that caused the car to tip? Or did a driver swerve, necessitating a sudden movement by the driver of a light vehicle that tipped the car over? In some cases, there are multiple people and entities at fault for a rollover accident.

A common reason for rollovers is design defects. SUVs, for example, have to be designed very carefully in order to reduce the possibility of a rollover based on their higher center of gravity and narrow wheel track. When a car’s component parts are not designed safely for an intended and foreseeable use, an accident victim can file a product liability lawsuit. Even SUVs that meet the minimum safety standards are not necessarily crashworthy and may have a roof crush problem.

If you are able to prove a design defect or negligence, you may be able to recover damages from the responsible party or parties. However, New Mexico follows the rule of comparative negligence. This means that a plaintiff’s recovery will be reduced by his or her percentage of fault. As a driver, if you choose to off-road, for example, and take a turn too hard, resulting in a rollover, a jury may assign a percentage of blame for an accident to you, even if the SUV had a design defect. For example, if you are found to be 30 percent at fault for causing the crash, you may be able to recover up to 70 percent of the costs and losses that resulted from it.

In some tragic situations, a rollover accident may result in a loss of life. When this happens, certain family members of the victim may be able to bring a wrongful death action against a driver, a manufacturer, or another party whose negligence was responsible for their loss.

Enlist an Attorney to Assert Your Rights

If you are hurt in a rollover accident, you may sustain serious injuries. The New Mexico injury lawyers at the Fine Law Firm are committed to helping Albuquerque residents and other individuals seek the greatest possible compensation after an accident. Contact the Fine Law Firm via our online form or call us at (505) 243-4541 for a free consultation. We also represent injured individuals in Rio Rancho and other areas of New Mexico.