18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys in San Miguel County, New Mexico

When 80,000 Pounds Changes Everything: Fighting for Truck Accident Survivors Across San Miguel County

The mountains of northern New Mexico don’t forgive mistakes. When an 18-wheeler loses its brakes on the descent toward Las Vegas or jackknifes across I-25 during a winter storm in San Miguel County, the aftermath isn’t just an accident—it’s a life-altering catastrophe. At Attorney911, we’ve spent more than 25 years standing beside families whose lives have been shattered by commercial truck crashes, and we know that recovering in San Miguel County requires more than just legal knowledge. It demands an understanding of these mountain corridors, the trucking companies that race through them, and the federal regulations they’re supposed to follow but so often ignore.

Ralph Manginello, our managing partner, has been fighting for injury victims since 1998. He’s admitted to federal court, has taken on Fortune 500 corporations like BP in the Texas City refinery explosion litigation, and has recovered multi-million dollar settlements for families facing the same devastation you might be experiencing right now. But here’s what makes our firm different, especially for San Miguel County residents: our associate attorney, Lupe Peña, used to work for national insurance defense firms. He spent years inside the system, watching how trucking insurers minimize claims and manipulate victims. Now he uses that insider knowledge to fight against them. That’s your advantage.

Every 16 minutes, someone in America is injured in a commercial truck crash. If you’re reading this from San Miguel County—whether you’re in Las Vegas, Pecos, or the rural stretches of Highway 3—you might be one of them. And you need to know that the trucking company already called their lawyers. Their insurance adjuster is already looking for ways to pay you less. What are you doing to protect yourself?

Why San Miguel County Truck Accidents Are Different

San Miguel County isn’t Houston or Dallas. The trucking accidents here carry unique dangers that flatland attorneys simply don’t understand. The steep grades of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the sudden weather changes that turn I-25 into an ice rink, and the long-haul corridors connecting Colorado to Albuquerque create perfect conditions for catastrophic crashes.

We’ve handled cases throughout New Mexico, and we know that San Miguel County’s 18-wheeler accidents often involve:

Mountain Pass Brake Failures: The descent from Glorieta Pass into the county puts immense strain on truck braking systems. When drivers fail to gear properly or trucking companies defer maintenance to cut costs, runaway truck accidents become inevitable under 49 CFR § 396.3.

Weather-Related Jackknifes: Black ice along I-25, sudden snow squalls near Rowe, and high winds across the plains can cause even experienced drivers to lose control. Federal regulations under 49 CFR § 392.3 require drivers to stop when conditions make driving unsafe, but delivery schedules often override safety.

Fatigue on Long Hauls: San Miguel County sits on the I-25 corridor, a critical north-south freight route connecting Denver to El Paso. Drivers pushing to make delivery windows in Albuquerque or Santa Fe routinely violate Hours of Service regulations under 49 CFR § 395.8, driving beyond the 11-hour limit while their ELD data tells the real story.

Cargo Shifts on Mountain Curves: Improperly secured loads under 49 CFR § 393.100 become deadly when trucks navigate the tight curves of Highway 63 through the Pecos Canyon. We’ve seen rollovers that blocked roads for hours and spilled hazardous materials into watersheds.

The physics don’t change whether you’re in Texas or New Mexico—a fully loaded truck weighs 80,000 pounds, roughly 20 times the weight of your average car. At 65 miles per hour on I-25 through San Miguel County, that truck needs nearly 525 feet to stop. That’s almost two football fields. When a distracted or fatigued driver doesn’t notice traffic slowing ahead, there’s no margin for error.

What FMCSA Regulations Mean for Your San Miguel County Case

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates every commercial truck on American highways, including those barreling through San Miguel County. These aren’t just bureaucratic rules—they’re lifelines that trucking companies routinely cut to boost profits. When we investigate your crash, we’re looking for violations of these specific federal regulations:

49 CFR Part 391: Driver Qualification Standards

Before any trucker should be behind the wheel on I-25, they need a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), current medical certification under § 391.41, and a clean driving record. The trucking company must maintain a Driver Qualification File containing employment history, background checks, and drug test results under § 391.51.

We’ve seen cases where San Miguel County trucking accidents involved drivers with suspended licenses, expired medical cards, or histories of drug violations that companies ignored during hiring. That’s not just negligence—that’s negligent hiring, and it makes the trucking company directly liable for your injuries.

49 CFR Part 392: Driving Rules

This section covers the actual operation of commercial vehicles. Key violations we often find in San Miguel County crashes include:

• § 392.3 (Ill or Fatigued Operation): No driver shall operate while impaired by fatigue. Given the long hauls through New Mexico, this is one of the most violated rules.
• § 392.6 (Scheduling Runs): Carriers cannot schedule trips that require speeding to complete.
• § 392.11 (Following Distance): Trucks must maintain safe following distances, critical on I-25’s busy corridors.
• § 392.82 (Mobile Phone Use): Handheld phone use while driving is prohibited, yet we see this constantly in run-off-road accidents.

49 CFR Part 393: Vehicle Safety Standards

Your family’s safety depends on whether the trucking company maintained their equipment. We examine:

• § 393.40-55 (Brake Systems): Mandatory inspections and maintenance. Given San Miguel County’s mountain grades, brake failures here are almost always maintenance failures.
• § 393.100-136 (Cargo Securement): Specific requirements for tiedowns, working load limits, and blocking/bracing. Cargo shifts cause rollovers on tight mountain curves.
• § 393.80 (Mirrors): Proper mirror setup to eliminate blind spots, essential for the lane changes on I-25 through Las Vegas.

49 CFR Part 395: Hours of Service (HOS)

This is where we often find the smoking gun. Since December 2017, Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) automatically record:

• No more than 11 hours driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty
• No driving beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty
• Mandatory 30-minute break after 8 hours driving
• Weekly limits (60/70 hours in 7/8 days)

When we download ELD data from trucks involved in San Miguel County crashes, we frequently find drivers who exceeded these limits, often pressured by dispatchers to meet impossible delivery windows. This data is objective—it doesn’t lie about whether the driver was too tired to safely navigate the mountains.

49 CFR Part 396: Inspection and Maintenance

Under § 396.3, motor carriers must systematically inspect and maintain vehicles. Drivers must conduct pre-trip inspections under § 396.13, documenting brake condition, tire wear, lighting, and steering. Post-trip reports under § 396.11 must note any defects.

In brake failure cases common on mountain descents, we subpoena maintenance records going back years. Often we find patterns of deferred maintenance—brake adjustments skipped, air leaks ignored, warning lights disabled. That pattern proves the company valued profit over your safety.

The 18-Wheeler Accident Types We Handle in San Miguel County

Not all trucking accidents are the same, and San Miguel County’s geography creates specific risks. Here’s what Ralph Manginello and our team have seen on these roads:

Brake Failure Accidents

On the steep grades descending from Glorieta Pass toward Pecos or the approaches to Las Vegas, brake failure turns trucks into 80,000-pound missiles. Under 49 CFR § 393.48, brake systems must be maintained to stop within prescribed distances. When air brakes overheat on long descents or mechanical failures occur due to skipped maintenance, drivers can’t stop before intersections or traffic backups.

These accidents typically involve rear-end collisions at high speed or runaway trucks entering runaway truck ramps (when they’re available). We investigate maintenance records, driver training on mountain driving techniques, and whether the company provided adequate equipment for the terrain San Miguel County demands.

Jackknife Accidents

When a truck’s trailer swings perpendicular to the cab, it often blocks multiple lanes of I-25 or Highway 84. Causes include sudden braking on slick surfaces, empty or light trailers that lack traction, and driver overcorrection. During San Miguel County’s winter storms, these accidents create chain-reaction pileups that shut down interstate commerce for hours.

Rollover Accidents

The tight curves of Highway 63 through the Pecos Wilderness and the winding roads connecting rural communities in San Miguel County see frequent rollovers. Top-heavy trucks taking curves too fast, improperly secured liquid cargo that sloshes and shifts the center of gravity, or drivers unfamiliar with mountain handling techniques lose control. The result is often a truck on its side, sometimes blocking the only road access for remote communities.

Underride Collisions

When a smaller vehicle crashes into the rear or side of a trailer and slides underneath, the results are almost always catastrophic. Federal law under 49 CFR § 393.86 requires rear impact guards on trailers manufactured after 1998, but these guards often fail in collisions, and side underride guards remain unregulated despite being even more deadly. We’ve seen underride accidents on I-25 where passenger vehicles became wedged beneath trailers, causing decapitation injuries.

Tire Blowouts

The combination of heavy loads, high speeds on I-25, and summer heat exceeding 90 degrees in San Miguel County creates perfect conditions for tire failures. Under 49 CFR § 393.75, tires must have adequate tread depth, but we frequently find retreaded tires, underinflated dual wheels, or tires driven beyond their load ratings. When steer tires blow at highway speeds, even experienced drivers struggle to maintain control.

Wide Turn Accidents (“Squeeze Play”)

In downtown Las Vegas, Pecos, or the smaller communities throughout San Miguel County, 18-wheelers making right turns often swing wide into opposing lanes. Passenger vehicles enter the gap between the truck and curb, then get crushed when the truck completes its turn. These accidents often involve dump trucks serving the oil fields and construction sites scattered throughout the county.

Blind Spot (“No-Zone”) Accidents

An 18-wheeler has massive blind spots—20 feet in front, 30 feet behind, and large zones to the left and right. The right-side blind spot is particularly dangerous because it extends across multiple lanes. Lane change accidents on I-25 through San Miguel County often occur when truckers fail to check mirrors properly or lack proper convex mirrors required under 49 CFR § 393.80.

Cargo Spill and Hazmat Accidents

Given San Miguel County’s position on major freight routes, we see tanker trucks hauling fuel, chemicals used in oil production, and industrial materials. When these trucks roll over or collide, spills create environmental hazards and fire risks. Federal hazardous materials regulations under 49 CFR Part 397 require specific routing, handling, and emergency response procedures—violations that create strict liability.

As client Chad Harris told us, “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” That’s how we treat every San Miguel County family facing the aftermath of these devastating crashes.

Who Can Be Held Liable in Your San Miguel County Trucking Case?

One critical difference between car accidents and 18-wheeler crashes is the number of potentially responsible parties. While a typical car wreck involves two drivers, trucking accidents often implicate a web of corporations and individuals. We pursue every avenue of recovery because San Miguel County victims deserve full compensation, not just whatever the driver’s insurance offers.

The Truck Driver

Drivers can be personally liable for:

• Speeding or reckless driving on mountain grades
• Distracted driving (cell phone use violates 49 CFR § 392.82)
• Driving while fatigued (violating § 392.3)
• Operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol (§ 392.4-5)
• Failure to conduct pre-trip inspections (§ 396.13)
• Improper braking techniques on descents

We subpoena cell phone records, ELD data, and driver logs to prove negligence.

The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier)

This is often your primary defendant because they carry the highest insurance limits. Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, employers are liable for their employees’ negligence. Additionally, we look for:

• Negligent Hiring: Did they check the driver’s record? Did they know about previous accidents?
• Negligent Training: Did they train the driver on mountain driving, hours of service, and cargo securement?
• Negligent Supervision: Did they monitor ELD compliance or ignore patterns of violations?
• Negligent Maintenance: Did they skip brake inspections or defer repairs to save money?

The Cargo Owner/Shipper

Companies shipping goods through San Miguel County may be liable if they:

• Required overweight loading that contributed to brake failure
• Failed to disclose hazardous materials
• Created unrealistic delivery schedules that forced HOS violations
• Provided improper loading instructions

The Loading Company

Third-party warehouses or loading facilities that improperly secured cargo under 49 CFR § 393.100 can be liable when shifts cause rollovers on curves.

Truck and Parts Manufacturers

In brake failure or tire blowout cases, we investigate whether defective components contributed. Product liability claims against manufacturers don’t require proving negligence—only that the product was defective and caused injury.

Maintenance Companies

Third-party mechanics who performed negligent repairs or failed to identify safety hazards during inspections may share liability.

Freight Brokers

Brokers who arrange shipping but don’t own trucks may be liable for negligent carrier selection—hiring a company with poor safety ratings or known violations.

Government Entities

When dangerous road design, lack of guardrails, or inadequate signage on San Miguel County roads contributes to accidents, governmental liability may exist—though New Mexico’s Tort Claims Act limits these actions and requires strict notice within 90 days.

As Lupe Peña, our former insurance defense attorney, explains: “When I worked for the insurance companies, I saw how they evaluated claims. They look for any reason to minimize or deny. Now I’m on the victim’s side, and I know exactly what evidence forces them to pay full value.” That’s the Attorney911 advantage for San Miguel County families.

The 48-Hour Evidence Preservation Protocol

Evidence in 18-wheeler cases disappears faster than you might think. Trucking companies have rapid-response teams that arrive at accident scenes before the tow trucks leave. While you’re being treated at Alta Vista Hospital or Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital, they’re already protecting their interests.

Critical Timelines You Must Understand:

The Spoliation Letter: Your Legal Protection

Within 24-48 hours of being retained, we send formal spoliation letters to the trucking company, their insurer, and all potentially liable parties. These letters:

1. Put them on notice that litigation is anticipated
2. Demand preservation of all electronic and physical evidence
3. Create legal consequences for destruction (courts can instruct juries to assume destroyed evidence was harmful to the defendant)
4. Preserve ELD data, ECM downloads, maintenance records, and driver files

What We’re Preserving:

• Electronic Control Module (ECM) Data: Speed, braking application, throttle position, cruise control status, and fault codes from moments before impact
• Electronic Logging Devices (ELD): Hours of service compliance, GPS location history, and duty status records
• Driver Qualification Files: Complete employment and certification records under 49 CFR § 391.51
• Cell Phone Records: Text messages, calls, and app usage proving distraction
• Maintenance Records: Years of inspection reports and repair logs under § 396.3
• Physical Evidence: The truck itself, failed components, and cargo securement devices

If you’ve been injured in a San Miguel County trucking accident, every hour you wait makes your case harder to prove. The trucking company isn’t waiting—they’re building their defense right now.

Call Attorney911 at 1-888-288-9911 or 888-ATTY-911 immediately. We’ll send preservation letters today.

Catastrophic Injuries and Your Recovery Path

The force differential between an 80,000-pound truck and a passenger vehicle makes catastrophic injuries the norm rather than the exception in San Miguel County trucking accidents. We’ve helped families navigate:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Even “mild” concussions can cause lasting cognitive deficits, personality changes, and emotional dysregulation. Severe TBIs may require 24/7 care and lifelong assistance with daily activities. Our firm has recovered settlements ranging from $1.5 million to $9.8 million for TBI victims, ensuring they have resources for neuro-rehabilitation, cognitive therapy, and lost earning capacity.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Whether paraplegia or quadriplegia, spinal cord injuries require extensive home modifications, specialized vehicles, and ongoing medical care. Lifetime costs often exceed $4.7 million. We work with life care planners to ensure your settlement covers decades of necessary care.

Amputations

Traumatic amputation at the scene or surgical amputation due to crush injuries changes everything. Prosthetics require replacement every few years at $5,000-$50,000 each. We fight for compensation that accounts for these recurring costs, plus home accessibility modifications and vocational retraining.

Severe Burns

Fuel fires and hazmat spills create devastating burn injuries requiring multiple skin grafts, reconstructive surgeries, and psychological counseling for disfigurement.

Wrongful Death

When negligence takes a loved one, San Miguel County families can pursue wrongful death claims under New Mexico law. Damages include lost future income, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and funeral expenses. We’ve recovered millions for families who’ve lost breadwinners to trucking negligence.

As client Glenda Walker said, “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.”

Understanding New Mexico Law in San Miguel County

Statute of Limitations

In New Mexico, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. That’s longer than Texas’s two-year limit, but waiting is still dangerous. Evidence degrades, witnesses move away, and trucking companies destroy records. Contact us immediately to protect your rights.

Pure Comparative Fault

New Mexico follows “pure comparative negligence,” meaning you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault. If you’re found 30% responsible for the accident, you recover 70% of your damages. Even if you’re 99% at fault, you can still recover 1%. This differs from states like Texas that bar recovery if you’re more than 50% at fault. However, insurance companies will still try to blame you to reduce their payout—we fight these allegations with forensic evidence from ECM data and accident reconstruction.

No Damage Caps

Unlike some states, New Mexico does not cap non-economic damages (pain and suffering) or punitive damages in personal injury cases involving commercial vehicles. If the trucking company acted with reckless disregard for safety—such as knowingly putting a fatigued driver on the road or ignoring brake maintenance warnings—juries can award unlimited punitive damages to punish the wrongdoing.

Federal Jurisdiction

Because commercial trucking involves interstate commerce, many San Miguel County trucking cases can be filed in federal court (District of New Mexico). Ralph Manginello’s admission to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas allows us to handle interstate trucking litigation, and we work with local New Mexico counsel when necessary to ensure you have representation familiar with both federal trucking laws and local San Miguel County court procedures.

Commercial Insurance Requirements: $750K to $5 Million

Federal law mandates that trucking companies carry far more insurance than passenger vehicles:

• Non-hazardous freight: $750,000 minimum (most common)
• Oil and petroleum products: $1,000,000 minimum
• Hazardous materials: $5,000,000 minimum

Many carriers carry $1-5 million or more in coverage. This means there’s actually money available to compensate catastrophic injuries—if you know how to access it. The MCS-90 endorsement (49 CFR § 387) ensures that even if a carrier’s insurance denies coverage for technical reasons, victims can still recover minimum damages.

50 Essential Questions About San Miguel County 18-Wheeler Accidents

1. What should I do immediately after an 18-wheeler accident on I-25 in San Miguel County?

Call 911 immediately—New Mexico State Police or the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Department will respond. Seek medical care even if you feel fine; adrenaline masks injuries. Photograph everything: truck license plates, DOT numbers, damage, skid marks, and road conditions. Gather witness information but do not give statements to trucking company representatives or insurers without counsel.

2. Should I go to the hospital even if I feel okay?

Yes. Internal injuries, TBIs, and spinal damage often don’t show symptoms immediately. Facilities like Alta Vista Hospital in Las Vegas or Presbyterian hospitals in the region can identify injuries that become critical evidence. Gaps in treatment give insurance companies ammunition to deny claims.

3. What information should I collect at the scene?

Get the truck’s DOT number (usually on the door), driver’s CDL information, trucking company name and logo, license plates, insurance details, and witness contacts. Use your phone to photograph vehicle damage, the accident scene, road conditions, and any visible injuries you have.

4. Should I talk to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster?

No. Adjusters are trained to minimize your claim. As Lupe Peña knows from his defense background, they record statements and ask leading questions designed to make you admit fault or downplay injuries. Refer them to your attorney.

5. How quickly should I contact a San Miguel County trucking accident attorney?

Immediately—within 24-48 hours. Evidence disappears fast: black box data overwrites in 30 days, dashcam footage deletes in days, and witnesses leave the area. We send preservation letters within hours.

6. What is a spoliation letter?

It’s a formal legal notice demanding preservation of all evidence: ECM data, ELD logs, maintenance records, and driver files. Once sent, destroying evidence carries serious legal consequences including adverse jury instructions.

7. Who can I sue after an 18-wheeler accident?

Potentially: the driver, trucking company, cargo owner, loading company, truck manufacturer, parts maker, maintenance company, freight broker, truck owner, or government entities responsible for road defects.

8. Is the trucking company responsible even if the driver caused the accident?

Usually yes. Under respondeat superior, employers are liable for employees’ negligent acts. Additionally, companies are directly liable for negligent hiring, training, or maintenance failures.

9. What if the driver claims I was at fault?

New Mexico’s pure comparative fault system allows recovery even if you were partially responsible. We use ECM data and accident reconstruction to prove what actually happened, not just what the driver claims.

10. What is an owner-operator?

A driver who owns their truck and contracts with carriers. Both the owner-operator and contracting company may be liable, requiring investigation of all insurance policies.

11. How do I check the trucking company’s safety record?

FMCSA maintains public data at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. We obtain CSA scores, inspection histories, and crash data. Poor safety records prove the company knew it was putting dangerous drivers on San Miguel County roads.

12. What is a truck’s “black box”?

The ECM (Engine Control Module) records speed, braking, throttle, RPM, and fault codes moments before impact. This objective data often contradicts driver statements.

13. What is an ELD?

Electronic Logging Devices, mandated since 2017, automatically record hours of service compliance, GPS location, and driving time. ELD data proves whether drivers violated federal rest requirements.

14. How long does the trucking company keep black box data?

ECM data can overwrite in 30 days. ELD data must be retained only 6 months under FMCSA minimums. That’s why immediate legal action is crucial.

15. What records should my attorney get?

ECM/EDR data, ELD records, Driver Qualification Files, maintenance logs, inspection reports, dispatch communications, drug test results, cell phone records, and the physical truck for inspection.

16. Can the trucking company destroy evidence?

Once on notice of litigation, destroying evidence is “spoliation.” Courts can instruct juries to assume destroyed evidence favored the plaintiff, impose monetary sanctions, or even enter default judgment.

17. What are Hours of Service regulations?

Federal law limits drivers to 11 hours driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, prohibits driving beyond the 14th hour of duty, requires 30-minute breaks after 8 hours, and mandates weekly limits (60/70 hours in 7/8 days).

18. What violations are most common?

Hours of service violations, false log entries, brake deficiencies, cargo securement failures, drug/alcohol violations, unqualified drivers, and failure to inspect vehicles.

19. What is a Driver Qualification File?

FMCSA-required file containing employment application, driving record, previous employer verification, medical certification, drug tests, and training records. Incomplete files prove negligent hiring.

20. How do pre-trip inspections relate to my case?

Drivers must inspect brakes, tires, lights, and steering before every trip under 49 CFR § 396.13. Failures to conduct inspections or ignored defects prove negligence.

21. What injuries are common in San Miguel County truck accidents?

TBIs, spinal cord injuries, amputations, severe burns, internal organ damage, and multiple fractures due to the massive force differential between trucks and cars.

22. How much are trucking cases worth?

Values depend on injury severity, medical costs, lost wages, and available insurance. With federal minimums of $750K-$5M, catastrophic injury cases often settle for high six or seven figures. We’ve recovered multi-million dollar settlements for clients.

23. What if my loved one was killed?

New Mexico allows wrongful death claims for lost income, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and funeral expenses. Punitive damages may be available for gross negligence.

24. How long do I have to file a lawsuit in San Miguel County?

Three years from the accident date under New Mexico law. Wrongful death claims have different timing requirements. Don’t wait—evidence fades fast.

25. How long do cases take to resolve?

Simple cases: 6-12 months. Complex litigation with multiple parties: 1-3 years. We work efficiently while maximizing recovery.

26. Will my case go to trial?

Most settle, but we prepare every case for trial. Insurance companies offer better settlements when they know your attorney will go to court if necessary.

27. Do I need to pay upfront?

No. We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win. We advance all costs. The trucking company has lawyers working now; you deserve representation too.

28. How much insurance do trucking companies carry?

$750,000 minimum for general freight, $1M for oil/equipment, $5M for hazmat. Many carry excess coverage.

29. What if multiple insurance policies apply?

We identify and stack all available coverage: carrier liability, trailer interchange, cargo insurance, umbrella policies, and owner-operator policies.

30. Should I accept a quick settlement offer?

Never without consulting an attorney. Early offers are “lowballs” designed to pay you before you understand your full injuries. Once accepted, you cannot get more.

31. What if the driver was an independent contractor?

Both the owner-operator and contracting carrier may be liable. We investigate lease agreements and insurance coverage for all parties.

32. How do cargo spills create liability?

Under 49 CFR § 393.100, cargo must be secured to prevent shifting or falling. Improper securement causing spills or rollovers creates liability for loaders and carriers.

33. What if a tire blowout caused my accident?

We examine maintenance records for proper inflation, tread depth compliance with § 393.75, and whether the tire was overloaded or defective.

34. How are brake failures investigated?

We subpoena maintenance records, out-of-service reports, and download ECM brake data. Deferred maintenance on mountain trucks is often the culprit.

35. What if the dashcam recorded the accident?

We demand preservation of all video footage immediately. Dashcams show driver behavior, distraction, and compliance with traffic laws.

36. Can I get GPS data?

Yes, through subpoena. GPS data proves route history, speed, and whether drivers took required rest breaks.

37. What if the trucking company goes bankrupt?

We pursue all liable parties and insurance policies. Even bankrupt carriers often have insurance or assets available for victims.

38. How are future medical expenses calculated?

We work with life care planners and medical experts to project decades of necessary treatment, therapies, and equipment costs.

39. What is loss of consortium?

Compensation for the impact of injuries on your marriage and family relationships—loss of companionship, affection, and support.

40. When are punitive damages available?

When trucking companies act with reckless disregard for safety—knowingly hiring dangerous drivers, ignoring maintenance, falsifying logs, or destroying evidence.

41. How do product defects create liability?

If defective brakes, tires, or safety systems caused the crash, manufacturers may be strictly liable without proving negligence.

42. What if road conditions contributed?

Poor road design, lack of guardrails, or inadequate signage may create governmental liability, though New Mexico’s Tort Claims Act requires strict 90-day notice.

43. Can I sue for PTSD?

Yes, mental anguish damages are recoverable. Document psychological treatment and how trauma affects daily life.

44. What if I was partially at fault?

Under New Mexico’s pure comparative fault system, you can recover even if partially responsible—though damages are reduced by your fault percentage.

45. How do you prove driver fatigue?

ELD data showing hours of service violations, cell phone records proving lack of rest, and dispatch records showing unrealistic schedules.

46. What is the FMCSA?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates all interstate trucking. Their regulations (49 CFR Parts 390-399) provide the standards for proving negligence.

47. Can I access the company’s safety record?

Yes, through FMCSA’s public databases and discovery in litigation. Previous violations establish patterns of unsafe practices.

48. What experts do you use?

Accident reconstructionists, trucking safety experts, medical specialists, vocational experts, economists, and life care planners.

49. How are wrongful death damages calculated?

Lost future income (based on decedent’s earnings and life expectancy), loss of companionship, mental anguish, funeral costs, and pre-death medical expenses.

50. Why choose Attorney911 for my San Miguel County case?

Ralph Manginello’s 25+ years of experience, Lupe Peña’s insider insurance defense knowledge, our $50+ million track record, and our willingness to take on Fortune 500 trucking companies. We know San Miguel County’s roads, the federal regulations trucking companies violate here, and how to maximize your recovery.

Your Next Step: Protect Your Rights Today

The trucking company that changed your life on a San Miguel County highway has already called their lawyers. Their insurance company is already building a case against you. They’re counting on you waiting, on evidence disappearing, on you accepting less than you deserve.

Don’t let them win.

Ralph Manginello has spent over 25 years making trucking companies pay for the devastation they cause. Lupe Peña knows every tactic insurers use because he used to be one of them. Together with our team at Attorney911, we’ve recovered over $50 million for families across Texas and New Mexico, and we’re ready to fight for you in San Miguel County.

Whether your accident happened on I-25, Highway 84, or the rural roads connecting Pecos to Las Vegas, whether it involved brake failure on a mountain grade or a fatigued driver pushing to make an Albuquerque delivery window, we understand the unique challenges of proving negligence in New Mexico trucking cases.

We offer free consultations, work on contingency (you pay nothing unless we win), and answer calls 24/7 because trucking accidents don’t wait for business hours.

Call Attorney911 now at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) or 888-ATTY-911.

Hablamos Español. Call Lupe Peña directly for Spanish-language representation: 1-888-ATTY-911.

Don’t let evidence disappear. Don’t let the trucking company build their defense while you suffer. Your fight starts with one call. We’re ready. Are you?

Attorney911 | The Manginello Law Firm
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