Albuquerque Hit and Run Lawyer

Trusted Hit and Run Attorney in Albuquerque, NM

In New Mexico, the law requires every driver in an accident to remain at the scene. Yet hit-and-runs happen frequently in Albuquerque and the surrounding Bernalillo County. Dealing with the aftermath of these incidents requires an understanding of state statutes and insurance protocols. If you’ve been involved in a collision where the other driver fled the scene, contacting an Albuquerque hit-and-run lawyer is a critical first step toward recovering compensation.

Victims often mistakenly believe that just because the responsible party is missing, they can’t take legal action. However, an Albuquerque hit-and-run attorney can help you approach recovery through your own insurance policies and independent investigations to identify the fleeing driver. At the King Law Firm, our team prioritizes your recovery and works tirelessly to gather evidence that supports your claim, even when the situation feels impossible.

The Rising Concern of Fleeing Drivers in New Mexico

Hit-and-run accidents are a growing public safety crisis. Reports from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reflect this by showing the following increases across the United States:

• Deaths from hit-and-runs reached 2,972 in 2022, which was an all-time high.
• About one in every 10 car accident injuries comes from hit-and-runs, which caused more than 200,000 injuries to drivers and passengers in 2023.
• In 2023, hit-and-run drivers caused one in five of all cyclist injuries.
• In 2023, one out of every four pedestrians injured was hit by a driver who fled the scene.

As far as traffic crashes in New Mexico, the year 2024 saw hit-and-runs make up 18.6% of all crashes. There were 8,371 total hit-and-run crashes that year, with 1,600 of them being injury crashes and 46 of them resulting in deaths.

Why Drivers May Break New Mexico’s Hit-and-Run Laws

New Mexico’s specific hit-and-run laws are outlined in NMSA 1978, § 66-7-201. It states that drivers have a legal duty to stop and stay at the scene of an accident where there’s an injury or death.

When a driver chooses to ignore these rules and leave the scene of an accident, they make the recovery process harder for the victim. There may be several reasons a driver decides to be careless this way, such as:

• Wanting to avoid the legal consequences of driving without insurance
• Driving under the influence
• They already have existing warrants out against them

No matter what their reason is for not staying at the scene, the impact of this choice hurts the victims of hit-and-run cases just the same. However, if the police don’t find the driver or the state doesn’t pursue criminal charges, victims can still seek compensation through civil suits or insurance claims.

Why You Should Hire a Hit and Run Lawyer

The complexities of an insurance claim involving a fleeing driver make it a must to hire a hit-and-run lawyer who understands the nuances of New Mexico’s uninsured motorist coverage. Most drivers in Albuquerque carry this coverage as part of their standard policy, which acts as a safety net when the at-fault driver is unknown or lacks insurance.

It’s important to be considerate of the fact that some insurance companies may try to limit payouts as much as they can, even for their own policyholders.

Your hit-and-run lawyer is an advocate who manages all communication with insurance adjusters. The right professional looks at the extent of your damages, including future medical malpractice needs and lost earning capacity, to help you seek a settlement that reflects the true cost of your injuries. A firm like King Law Firm handles the technical legal hurdles so that you can focus on your physical and emotional healing.

About King Law Firm

King Law Firm is led by Ian King, an experienced criminal and civil litigation trial attorney in New Mexico. His legal skill and service to the New Mexico community have been recognized by the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Attorney and Practice Magazine, the Southwest Super Lawyers Magazine, and the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys.

Ian King is a former prosecutor, so he knows how the state handles criminal and civil cases in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court on Lomas Boulevard Northwest in Albuquerque. Our team is dedicated to providing transparent, accurate guidance to those involved in hit-and-runs and other forms of personal injury.

FAQs

How Much Does a New Mexico Lawyer Cost for a Hit-and-Run?

How much a New Mexico lawyer costs for a hit-and-run depends on the case. In general, most personal injury firms follow a contingency fee structure, which outlines that the client isn’t responsible for paying upfront costs. The legal fee is a percentage of the final settlement or award. If the firm doesn’t recover money, the client doesn’t have to pay attorney fees.

What Is the Charge of Hit-and-Run in New Mexico?

In New Mexico, the charge of a hit-and-run is a misdemeanor if it only results in property damage. However, if the crash results in injuries or death, the charge could be escalated to a third- or fourth-degree felony. The consequences of getting convicted for a hit-and-run can include fines, jail time, and the revocation of driving privileges.

Is It Worth Filing a Claim for a Hit-and-Run in New Mexico?

In many cases, it is worth filing a claim for a hit-and-run in New Mexico, since doing so can give you the chance to recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Even if the driver who hit you remains unidentified, you could seek compensation through your uninsured motorist coverage.

Do Police in New Mexico Care About Minor Hit-and-Runs?

Police in New Mexico care about minor hit-and-runs. All traffic violations are taken seriously, though response times vary based on how severe the incident is. Reporting a minor hit-and-run creates an official record of it, which is needed for insurance claims and potential future legal action. Documentation helps identify patterns in specific areas and assists in holding negligent parties accountable for the damage they cause.

Contact an Albuquerque Hit-and-Run Attorney Today

When you seek legal counsel early, you help preserve the integrity of your claim and increase the chances of identifying the party responsible for a hit-and-run. At King Law Firm, we stand with you. Contact our office today so we can help you find a path forward and navigate New Mexico’s legal system.