Steps to Take After a New Mexico Car Accident

According to recent traffic analysts' data, 2021 was the deadliest year on New Mexico roadways. The overall number of traffic fatalities increased considerably in the current year compared to previous years.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation and other major agencies have identified a number of worrisome statistics, which we will quickly examine below, along with how authorities plan to address these dismal numbers.

At Will Ferguson & Associates, our Albuquerque car accident lawyers recognize that establishing the facts of a case is crucial to assisting accident victims in obtaining compensation for their injuries. Similarly, understanding the relevant statistics and facts about automobile accidents in New Mexico might shed light on why such tragedies are so widespread in our state. Here are some of the most pertinent statistics on auto accidents in New Mexico.

Car Accidents on New Mexico's Roads

Incredibly, there were 470 car fatalities on New Mexico highways in 2021. This is a significant increase from the state's tally of 425 road deaths in 2019. According to Jeff Barela, spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Transportation, speeding, aggressive driving, and distracted driving were the leading causes of fatal accidents in New Mexico during the last year. Tragically, 2021 saw the greatest number of traffic-related fatalities in at least a decade.

In the meantime, the number of traffic-related fatalities caused by drunk driving decreased. In 2019, there were 176 alcohol-related accidents in New Mexico. By 2021, there were just 110 of them left. Barela cites a 26% drop in drunk driving-related accident fatalities in the preceding year as evidence of the lowest rate of alcohol-related traffic deaths in 20 years.

Despite this, a recent insurance study revealed that New Mexico drivers were the second worst in the nation due to the state's high rate of irresponsible and intoxicated motorists.

In addition, New Mexico statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration seem to confirm these results. According to NHTSA data, New Mexico ranked fifth for reckless driving, twelfth for speeding, and tenth for driving under the influence arrests.

Statistics on Drunk Driving

When statistics are restricted to drunk driving in New Mexico, it is clear that the state has a serious public safety problem. According to a study released in 2014 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the drinking pandemic in New Mexico is unparalleled.

There have been more alcohol-related deaths per capita in this state than in any other. In New Mexico, for example, 51,2 per 100,000 individuals die from alcohol-related causes.

Clearly, these numbers indicate a high frequency of drunk driving accidents. In 2015, alcohol was a factor in 1,037 crashes that led to injuries or deaths.

Both the government and private motorists are accountable for reducing these alarming traffic fatality rates. The government may develop new policies to reduce traffic accidents, strengthen the enforcement of current laws and regulations, and improve driver education programs. Drivers may help by complying with traffic laws, avoiding distractions such as texting and phone conversations, and avoiding alcohol and drugs before getting behind the wheel.

If you were injured in a car accident caused by an intoxicated driver in New Mexico, you might be entitled to compensation for your losses, including medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. You might be entitled to compensation for additional losses, such as funeral and burial costs if your loved one was killed in an accident caused by a drunk driver.

Causes of New Mexico Car Accidents

The 2015 Community Report from the New Mexico Department of Transportation reveals an unusual five-year trend relating to accidents and seasons. Specifically, December is the month with the greatest number of accidents from 2011 to 2015.

Over the last five years, the average number of accidents in December has been 3,977 each month. Only October comes close, with an average of 3,846 accidents every year. With the exception of 2013, December has been the most accident-prone month in every year.

There may be a number of factors at play here, including increased holiday traffic and chilly weather. December is the most deadly month for automotive accidents in New Mexico, regardless of the reason.

Given the prevalence of DUI-related incidents in New Mexico, one might be forgiven for concluding that drunk driving is the leading cause of accidents in the state. Instead, driver inattention or distraction is the most common cause of automobile accidents.

In 2015, driver attention contributed to 21,894 of the state's 62,787 accidents due to human error. In 2015, failing to cede the right-of-way was the second leading cause of crashes, contributing to 6,602 instances.

Who Causes Most Car Accidents?

In addition, young drivers are the most likely to be involved in car accidents nationally and in New Mexico.

Young drivers have less driving experience, making them more prone to making mistakes. This is worsened by young drivers' all-too-common distractions.

In 2015, the 20 to 24 age group was involved in the greatest number of collisions. In addition, 10,124 of the 83,415 drivers engaged in collisions in the state were within this age range. The 15- to 19-, 25- to 29-, and 30- to 34-year-old age groups were equally prone to cause or be involved in crashes. However, the number of drivers engaged in accidents drops considerably beyond the age of 35.

Contact a New Mexico Auto Accident Attorney

Overall, these numbers illuminate the realities of New Mexico's automobile accidents. However, if you or a loved one have been injured in one of these events, please contact Will Ferguson & Associates for a consultation.

Call our Albuquerque automobile accident attorneys at (505) 243-5566 to learn how we can review the facts of your case to see whether you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.

If we determine that you and your family are entitled to compensation, we will handle every aspect of your legal claim and offer you representation from a recognized team of Albuquerque car accident attorneys.

Immediately contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss the circumstances of your New Mexico auto accident. We are here to assist in obtaining justice on your behalf.

The post Steps to Take After a New Mexico Car Accident appeared first on Personal Injury Lawyer New Mexico.

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