Albuquerque and Santa Fe Car Accident Attorney
You shouldn’t have to suffer due to another driver’s negligence
Recovering from a serious car accident is never easy. You often need to deal with medical bills, lost wages, property damage and replacement transportation. Your life may be changed forever due to an injury that causes chronic pain or a permanent disability. You may have even lost a loved one.
Knowing what to do after a car accident in New Mexico can be confusing. Even knowing what your rights are might not be clear. You need to act fast. But you need to be smart. That’s why it’s critical that you fully understand your rights and the legal options available to you.
If you’ve been hurt in New Mexico due to another motorist’s reckless behavior, you may be legally entitled to compensation. Unfortunately, insurance companies are often looking for ways to pay injury victims as little as possible. To get the money you deserve during this difficult time in your life, you need a hard-hitting New Mexico car accident attorney who will fight for your rights. You need the Szantho Law Firm.
What sets our law firm apart
There are many reasons people choose Szantho Law Firm when they’ve been hurt in a car accident caused by another driver in New Mexico:
- Our personalized approach – We take the time to learn about your crash.
- Our comprehensive methods and techniques – We carefully investigate what happened.
- Our familiarity with New Mexico – We have lived and worked here for decades.
- Our hands-on experience – We know how to handle complex legal cases.
- Our in-depth knowledge – We thoroughly understand the state and federal laws that apply to New Mexico car accidents.
- Our proven track record – We consistently secure sizable settlements and verdicts.
- Our negotiating skills – We know how to deal effectively with insurance companies.
- Our fearless courtroom tactics – We don’t back down. We rise to the challenge.
Attorney Andras Szantho knows exactly what to do. A former New Mexico prosecutor and long-time resident, he has the discipline and the drive you need to succeed. Here are questions we’re asked most frequently about car accidents.
I was in a car accident. Now what?
- Remain at the scene. You could be arrested if you leave the scene of a car accident.
- Call 911.
- If it’s safe to do so, move your car out of the way of traffic.
- Record your accident by taking photographs of your car, skid marks, property damage signage, weather conditions, and anything else at the crash scene.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver or drivers.
- Talk to any witnesses and get their name, phone number and address.
- Call a personal injury lawyer as soon as you are able to.
- Call your insurance company promptly to report the accident, but just focus on the facts. If they have any further questions or concerns, tell them to contact your attorney.
Do I need to see a doctor after my car accident, even if I feel OK?
Yes. See a doctor even if you feel fine. Car accidents can cause internal injuries with delayed onset symptoms or traumatic brain injuries like concussions. Seeing a doctor is best for both your health and your injury claim. If you wait to see a doctor, the insurance company might downplay your injuries and deny you fair compensation for your accident injuries.
Do I need a car accident lawyer?
In order to be compensated by the insurance company for a car accident, you need to prove that another driver’s negligence caused your collision and your injuries. Negligent drivers might deny causing your crash, and insurance companies might play fast and loose with the facts to deny your claim. Each type of car accident caused by negligence has specific things that an attorney can investigate to prove the other driver was at fault.
How much is my injury claim worth?
That depends. There isn’t a standard amount because each crash is unique. The specific circumstances of your crash and the injuries you sustained will determine how much you are entitled to in compensation. It could be hundreds, thousands, or maybe even millions. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, and pain and suffering.
Should I accept a settlement offer from the insurance company?
Be careful. Insurance companies are businesses, and, like any business, they look out for their bottom line. They’ll look for any way to pay injury victims less. If they offer you a quick settlement soon after your accident, they probably think you’re desperate enough to take it. You might feel overwhelmed by your medical bills and car repair costs, and you may be tempted to settle, even if it is a lowball offer. Don’t do it.
How Did Your Car Accident Happen?
- Rear-End Crash
- Distracted Driver
- Speeding
- T-Bone Collision
- Drunk Driving
- Uninsured/Underinsured Driver
- Hit and Run
- Intersection Accident
From Albuquerque to Santa Fe, Andras Szantho fights for car accident injury victims
At the Szantho Law Firm, we’ve helped hundreds of injury victims obtain the compensation they need to move forward after being injured or losing loved ones in a New Mexico car accident. Attorney Andras Szantho brings an athlete’s discipline and energy to every case, and he’ll argue before a jury with all the determination and confidence he gained as a prosecutor.
Legal cases involving collisions can be highly complex and require close attention to detail to successfully litigate. We’ll give you the personal attention you deserve and leave no stone unturned as we look for critical evidence that could bring you victory in court. Our team will investigate the crash site, interview witnesses and pore over your official New Mexico accident report and other documents. Armed with that knowledge, we’ll take the fight to the insurance companies and insist that they pay every cent you’re owed.
When you’ve been hurt in a car accident, recovering financial compensation should be simple. You get the medical attention you need to recover as much as possible. Then the insurance company compensates you for all medical expenses and lost wages, as well as other financial damages you have suffered.
The reality is far more complicated. Insurance companies are not on your side when you’ve been hurt in a crash. They are only interested in paying you as little as possible. So they may question how bad your injuries are or whether you need certain treatment. They may even try to blame you for causing your collision.
The experienced lawyer you need after your crash
In some cases, an insurance company may contact you soon after the crash with a settlement offer. They may promise quick payment and tell you it’s the best that they can do. Don’t believe them. Their offer won’t even come close to covering your total damages. The insurance company is trying to pay you less than you deserve.
That’s why you need an experienced car accident attorney who will fight for you. We determine the total damages you have suffered and fight to help you recover compensation. In many cases, the insurance company agrees to a settlement. If they won’t agree to a settlement that meets your needs, attorney Szantho will be ready to fight for you in court.
After your crash, you often only get one shot at the justice you deserve. Make your case count. Contact the Szantho Law Firm and schedule your free case evaluation with an experienced New Mexico car accident lawyer. Call 866-853-2462.
Rear-end collisions sometimes happen on the highway, but they are more common on busy streets and areas where traffic slows down, such as work zones. They also happen at crosswalks – one driver stops for a pedestrian, but the driver behind doesn’t. A growing number of rear-end accidents are caused by drivers who are distracted or texting, even though texting while driving is against the law in New Mexico.
Your rear-end collision may seem straightforward. The driver who hit you from behind might appear to be automatically at fault. Insurance companies often see things differently and will do everything they can to avoid paying your claim. They may argue that because the collision happened at a low speed, there’s no way you were seriously injured. That’s why you need attorney Andras Szantho on your side. He will aggressively investigate your rear-end accident and stand up to the insurance companies.
All drivers have a responsibility to keep their eyes on the road and keep themselves and others safe. In recent years, we’ve seen thousands of drivers fail in that responsibility by texting and driving, often leading to rear-end collisions. Drivers also cause crashes while talking on their cell phones, adjusting the radio or eating behind the wheel, to name a few common distractions.
In order to collect damages (financial compensation) for a car crash involving a distracted driver, you may need to prove that the other motorist was distracted. Our legal team can thoroughly investigate your case, using eyewitness reports, the other driver’s own statements and any documents, like cell phone records, that might show that distracted driving was a contributing factor in your collision. We’ll help you hold the irresponsible driver who hurt you accountable.
Speed limits exist for a reason. At high speeds, cars become harder to stop and turn, making collisions more likely. A high-speed crash is also more likely to cause massive property damage and crippling injuries than low-speed car accidents. That’s why speeding remains one of the leading causes of death in car accidents in New Mexico.
Showing that the other driver was speeding can be the key to collecting damages (financial compensation) in a legal case. As your attorney, we’ll aggressively investigate your collision in search of the truth – from gathering eyewitness accounts to reviewing police reports, analyzing road conditions and other important information that proves the other driver was driving too fast. If necessary, we’re even prepared to take your case to trial on your behalf.
The term “T-bone” refers to a type of side-impact car crash in which one car hits another at a right angle, forming a T. These car accidents often happen at intersections when one driver runs a red light or stop sign, hitting another car in the side. In many instances, broadside accidents such as T-bone collisions result in serious injuries or death.
At the Szantho Law Firm, we know how to prove that the driver who hit you was at fault. We then use that information to help you collect all of the compensation you’re owed. Even after an accident as serious as a T-bone collision, your insurance company might try to argue that your injuries were due to a preexisting condition or pressure you to accept a smaller settlement that doesn’t even come close to covering the costs of your accident. Insurance companies don’t scare us. We’ll stand up to them and aggressively fight for your rights.
The dangers of driving drunk have been well-documented for decades. Even so, some drivers choose to get behind the wheel while drunk or under the influence of drugs. Drunk drivers often erratically change speeds, weave in and out of traffic and even drive on the wrong side of the road, putting everyone else on the road at serious risk. Drunk drivers also frequently cause fatal car accidents. Each year, roughly 30 percent of traffic fatalities in New Mexico are caused by drunk drivers.
Drunk driving crashes might seem straightforward but they often turn out to be much more complicated than many people first expect. That’s because you often need to prove that the drunk driver was responsible for your collision. That’s why you need a car accident lawyer your side, fighting for your rights. Our investigation often includes eyewitness reports, police reports and anything in the other driver’s statements that indicates that he or she was intoxicated at the time of the crash. We also often track down the person who supplied the driver with alcohol. Depending on the circumstances, that individual may be liable for damages as well. Simply contact us. We’ll take care of everything.
Uninsured/Underinsured Driver Hit Me
Car insurance is mandatory in New Mexico and throughout most of the United States. Even so, millions of people choose to put themselves and others at risk by driving without insurance. Each year, an estimated 12 percent of collisions are caused by uninsured drivers nationwide. That’s especially true in New Mexico, which regularly ranks among the states with the highest percentage of uninsured motorists. Even if the driver who hit you does have insurance, he or she may not have enough coverage to pay all of your expenses.
After a collision with an uninsured or underinsured driver, your legal situation can quickly become very complicated. If you have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, you should be covered by your own insurance, but getting the money you rightfully deserve for these claims can often be very difficult. Insurance companies often do everything they can to avoid compensating drivers. Another possible complication – the other driver might be covered under a family member’s or employer’s insurance. Cut through the confusion. Contact attorney Andras Szantho. He knows how to win.
Leaving the scene of a car accident is a serious crime in New Mexico, and there’s never a good reason to do it. Still, some drivers choose to drive away instead of stopping to exchange insurance information, as required by law. Why would another driver flee the scene of an accident? Sometimes, it’s because they don’t have a driver’s license. Other times, they have an outstanding arrest warrant or they’re in the midst of some other illegal activity.
Fortunately, you have legal options, even if the driver who hit your car is never found. By law, hit-and-run drivers are considered uninsured by default, so you should be covered under your uninsured motorist coverage, if you have it. Our legal team can help you review all your options and fight for the compensation you deserve in the wake of a hit-and-run accident. If it wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t have to pay, even if the responsible party gets away. Simply contact our law firm right now. We’re prepared to do the hard work that needs to be done to build a strong legal case.
Intersections are common places for many different types of car accidents. Side-impact crashes often take place when one vehicle runs a red light or stop sign, colliding into the side of another vehicle. Drivers turning left at an intersection are sometimes hit by an oncoming car. Rear-end collisions are also common, especially when a driver stops for a red light or a pedestrian, and the driver behind does not slow down.
If you were obeying the traffic laws at an intersection and were hit due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve justice. We have years of experience handling complicated intersection accidents. As your attorney, we can investigate the circumstances surrounding your crash and gather evidence proving the other driver was at fault. We take an aggressive approach towards every car accident. We’ll stand up to the insurance companies and make sure you receive all of the compensation you’re owed after your collision.