New Mexico Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

The Goldwater Law Firm Is on a Mission to Help Motorcycle Accident Victims

Attorney Bob Goldwater created The Goldwater Law Firm with one goal – to get justice for people suffering from injuries and illnesses. To that end, Bob has created a nationwide network of law firm partners that includes some of the country’s largest and most successful legal practices. 

Our law firm partners include New Mexico personal injury attorneys who can fight for full and fair motorcycle accident damages. While you focus on healing, our co-counsel can manage every detail of your claim and work tirelessly to safeguard you from financial hardships created by an accident you did not cause. 

Our co-counsels can:

Investigate Your Motorcycle Accident

An attorney can investigate your motorcycle collision and use the evidence collected to identify liable parties, prove negligence, and establish your right to compensation. A legal representative can:

• Visit the accident scene to take photographs and videos and gather physical evidence
• Locate and interview eyewitnesses
• Collect available footage of the crash, including dashcam, surveillance, or cell phone video
• Obtain police reports, medical records, and other essential case documents
• Gather receipts, invoices, bills, pay stubs, estimates, and additional proof of your current and future losses

In addition, The Goldwater Law Firm has an extensive network of crash reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, and other experts who can write reports or testify on your behalf. 

Advocate on Your Behalf

Our co-counsel will defend your rights, protect you from bad-faith tactics, shield you from pressure to accept a hasty, lowball settlement, and aggressively negotiate for full and fair awards. If necessary, their lawyer can take your case to civil court and represent you at trial. 

Alleviate You While You Recover

Our law firm partners are here to alleviate your legal burden. When you work with them, they manage case details, including drafting and filing paperwork, tracking and adhering to deadlines, and communicating with involved parties. Throughout, you will receive frequent and timely updates so you are never in the dark about the status of your case. 

A New Mexico Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Fight for Maximum Compensation

New Mexico is an at-fault car accident state, meaning drivers must carry liability insurance to pay for damages if they cause a collision. According to the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department (MVD), motorists must have, at minimum, $25,000/$50,000 in bodily injury coverage per person/accident and $10,000 in property damage liability. 

A New Mexico motorcycle accident lawyer can file a claim against the negligent driver or pursue compensation with a personal injury lawsuit if necessary. Whatever the method, the goal is the same: securing the maximum compensation possible so that you do not pay out of pocket for someone else’s mistakes. In general, damages may include:

• Medical bills: Medical treatment for a severe motorcycle injury can be extensive, expensive, and ongoing. You can seek compensation for all your medical costs, from emergency transportation and treatment to hospital and doctor fees to extended nursing services and everything in between. 
• Lost wages and employment benefits: You can recover lost wages, earnings, and benefits. If you have a permanent or disabling injury that interferes with your ability to work, you may qualify for compensation for lost earning capacity. 
• Property damages and various expenses: You can seek the cost of motorcycle repairs or your bike’s fair market value if the damages are a total loss. You can also pursue various expenses, including household services and medically necessary home or vehicle modifications. 
• Pain and suffering: You can seek monetary compensation for mental anguish, emotional distress, chronic and severe pain, scarring, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment, and diminished quality of life. 

Families Seeking Wrongful Death Damages

Motorcycle riders do not have a vehicle cab to absorb the impact of a crash. They also do not have the protection of a seatbelt, airbags, or other safety features that an enclosed vehicle offers. 

Because of these factors, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motorcyclists have a high rate of traffic accident fatalities. According to 2022 data, per mile traveled, riders are 22 times more likely to sustain a deadly crash injury than passenger vehicle occupants. 

If your loved one died in a collision, we offer our sincere condolences. Our law firm partners would be honored to help you take action. A New Mexico wrongful death attorney can seek compensation for medical expenses, funeral, and burial costs, lost income and financial contributions, the deceased’s conscious pain and suffering, and survivors’ emotional distress. 

Contact The Goldwater Law firm today to learn more about recoverable damages after a motorcycle accident. Fill out our online request form or call now for a free consultation. 

A New Mexico Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Prove Negligence Caused Your Injury

A New Mexico motorcycle accident lawyer can help you prove that a negligent driver or other liable party caused your collision by demonstrating the following four elements:

1. Duty of care: All drivers owe others on the road a duty of care. Motorists are legally obligated to operate their vehicles safely and avoid harming others. 
2. Breach of duty: A driver breaches the duty of care when they break traffic laws or drive in a manner most others would not find safe or reasonable. Examples include driving drunk, driving distracted, or speeding. 
3. Causation: Causation links the breach of duty to your injuries. For example, a lawyer may show that a drunk driver ran a red light, causing them to hit your motorcycle, resulting in a broken leg and a back injury.
4. Damages: Damages illustrate that the accident and injury caused financial hardships, physical injuries, and trauma. 

An attorney can also defend you if an at-fault party accuses you of negligence, a tactic often employed to reduce personal injury compensation. 

New Mexico follows a “pure comparative negligence” system, meaning any blame the court assigns you for the crash will reduce your awards by the corresponding amount. Therefore, if you have $100,000 in damages but the court finds you 30 percent liable, you would receive $70,000. This law also guides claims adjusters when they calculate your settlement offer. 

What Is the Motorcycle Accident Statute of Limitations?

According to New Mexico Statutes Annotated § 37-1-8, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is three years. If the motorcycle accident resulted in a fatal injury, New Mexico Statutes Annotated § 41-2-2 allows three years to file a wrongful death lawsuit. 

Even if you expect to resolve your case with an insurance settlement, do not delay. You will lose your bargaining power if time runs out and you cannot take legal action. A New Mexico motorcycle accident lawyer can help you get started on your claim immediately. 

New Mexico Motorcycle Accident Statistics

The University of New Mexico reports that 1,025 people were injured or killed in motorcycle accidents in the state in 2023. According to the New Mexico Department of Transportation, factors common in motorcycle collisions include:

• Timing. Over half of all motorcycle accidents happen from May to September when the weather is usually warmer. Nearly one-fifth of motorcycle crashes occur on Saturdays, and one-fourth of accidents take place between 4 pm to 6 pm. 
• Demographics. Male motorcycle riders involved in crashes outnumber female riders by over 10 to one. In addition, nearly half of motorcyclists in collisions are between the ages of 20 and 40. 
• Hit-and-runs. Over 12 percent of motorcycle accidents involve a hit-and-run driver. 
• Location. Albuquerque and Bernalillo County have the highest rate of motorcycle accidents. 
• Contributing causes. The most frequent contributing factors in fatal accidents involving motorcyclists include excessive speed, alcohol or drug impairment, and distracted driving.