A Santa Fe elementary school teacher was recently killed in what began as a one-car accident on Interstate 25 near La Cienega. 54-year-old Dorothy Mullins was reportedly returning home from transporting school supplies, toys, and other items to Juárez, Mexico as part of a holiday collection campaign when she lost control of her vehicle. According to New Mexico State Police Lieutenant Robert McDonald, Mullins was headed north on the freeway when she slid off of the roadway and hit a barrier wall. Following the initial impact, her automobile allegedly rolled back onto the interstate before coming to rest in the middle of the two northbound lanes. McDonald stated the driver of a Chevrolet pick-up truck was unable to stop and struck Mullins’ disabled vehicle. Sadly, Mullins was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Although the accident is currently under investigation by police, McDonald said alcohol was not a suspected factor in the fatal collision. The crash was reportedly one of many in the area that resulted from inclement weather.
Unfortunately, single-vehicle and other crashes occur regularly on the interstates and other roadways in our state. In 2011, 353 people died in traffic accidents throughout the State of New Mexico. Of those, 240 people were killed in a single-car crash. This means about two-thirds of drivers and passengers killed in New Mexico car accidents died as a result of a single-vehicle collision. Dangerous road conditions, vehicle defects, swerving to avoid a negligent driver, and weather frequently cause such accidents.
In certain cases, the family members of someone who was killed in a single-car or other crash may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit against a car manufacturer, a town or city, another driver, and others who may have caused the tragic loss. Although no amount of money can make up for the pain associated with losing your loved one, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your relative’s lost earning capacity, any pain and suffering that occurred prior to his or her death, medical bills, funeral expenses, and more. If you lost a close relative in a single-vehicle or other New Mexico car accident, you should contact a hardworking personal injury lawyer.
If your family member was killed in an unexpected automobile accident, please contact the Fine Law Firm. Our experienced Santa Fe wrongful death lawyers are available to help you recover the compensation you deserve following the tragic loss of a loved one. At the Fine Law Firm, our dedicated attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience handling thousands of New Mexico automobile, motorcycle, truck, and other injury accident cases. To schedule a free confidential case evaluation, call the Fine Law Firm today at (505) 889-3463 or contact our hardworking lawyers through the law firm’s website.
More Blog Posts:
Two Roadway Construction Workers Killed, One Hurt When Struck by RV Near Gallup, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, December 27, 2012
New Mexico Again Ranks Number One in Per Capita Accidental Deaths, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, December 23, 2012
Additional Resources:
I-25 crash kills Santa Fe teacher, by Nico Roesler, Santa Fe New Mexican