Every year, thousands of victims suffer serious and life-changing injuries in automobile accidents. A car accident can inflict catastrophic injuries that leave victims with permanent and lifelong disabilities. While nothing can turn back time or take away a disability, a victim can achieve justice by taking legal action against the responsible party.
You have legal rights as a victim or the family member of a victim with a permanent disability caused by a car accident in New Mexico. Protect them by hiring a skilled car accident attorney in Albuquerque to represent you as you file a claim.
What Is a Permanent Disability?
According to the National Safety Council, an estimated 2,443,000 disabling and nondisabling injuries were caused by traffic accidents in the U.S. in 2023. A disabling injury is one that takes away a physical ability the individual had prior to the car accident; typically, these injuries affect important bodily functions.
If a disability is permanent, it means it still persists although the patient has reached his or her point of maximum medical improvement. Examples of permanent disabilities often caused by car accidents are traumatic brain injuries and brain damage, spinal cord injuries, paralysis or nerve damage, amputations, vision or hearing loss, and organ damage.
Who Is Liable for a Permanent Car Accident Injury in New Mexico?
When a car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrian accident in Albuquerque causes a permanent disability, the victim may have the right to file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. These legal actions attempt to make the victim whole again by holding someone accountable for the crash and providing financial compensation to make up for related losses.
New Mexico’s fault-based car accident law holds the driver or party responsible for causing the collision accountable for resultant damage. If this includes one of the victims sustaining a permanent disability, the at-fault driver can be held financially responsible for the past and future consequences of this injury.
Typically, this means the driver will pay for the victim’s losses using his or her automobile insurance policy. However, if the policy does not have enough coverage to pay for a lifelong injury, the victim could be sued directly and required to pay additional damages out of pocket.
Costs and Losses Associated With a Permanent Disability
It is critical to understand the full impact of a catastrophic car accident injury. Suffering a permanent disability because of someone else’s negligence may entitle you to financial compensation for a lifetime of tangible and intangible losses.
You have the right to seek fair and full compensation for damages such as:
- Past, current and future required medical treatments
- Ongoing or live-in care
- Rehabilitation and therapies
- Mobility assistive devices
- Home and vehicle disability modifications
- Lost wages and lost future earning capacity
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Pain, suffering and emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of quality or enjoyment of life
When filing a car accident claim that involves a permanent disability, it can be in your best interest to hire a car accident attorney to represent you. An attorney can accurately determine how much your case is worth and go up against insurance companies on your behalf to negotiate a fair outcome based on the severity of your injuries.
What to Do After Suffering a Permanent Disability in a Car Crash in New Mexico
Hiring an attorney can prevent a car insurance company from taking advantage of you or convincing you to accept a settlement that is less than you deserve. Working with an attorney can greatly increase your chances of achieving a settlement or judgment award that pays for the full extent of your disability.