Santa Fe Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Santa Fe Motorcycle Accident Attorney

If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident in northern or central New Mexico, a Santa Fe motorcycle accident lawyer from Berenson & Associates, PC, can help you seek compensation for your injuries and other resulting damages. Here at Berenson & Associates, PC, we understand the unique dangers and unfair stigmas motorcycle enthusiasts can face on the road, and we are proud to stand as steadfast legal advocates for injured bikers and their families.

Bikers understand the inherent risks involved with operating a motorcycle when compared to a passenger vehicle with an enclosed cab. Despite stereotypes, we know that most bikers are highly responsible motorists who take ample safety precautions to protect themselves and others.

Even so, unfortunate motorcycle accidents do occur, often through no fault of the biker. Whether you’re simply seeking to recoup costs for your custom motorcycle that was totaled in an intersection or you’re experiencing costly lifelong medical issues due to a catastrophic motorcycle crash, it is your right under New Mexico law to pursue compensation for damages.

In a perfect world, getting financial help while recovering from a serious injury would be a simple and straightforward matter. In reality, however, the legal system that stands between you and your personal injury payout can mirror one of the most twisting and treacherous highways a motorcyclist will ever have to navigate. Let Berenson & Associates, PC, clear the road with powerful, cutting-edge legal strategies.

Understanding New Mexico Motorcycle Accidents: An Alarming Fatality Rate

Recent data from the United States Department of Transportation highlights an elevated rate of motorcycle fatalities in New Mexico when compared to other states. This unfortunate fact should be of utmost concern to all Santa Fe motorists, not just bikers themselves.

With almost 80 deaths for every 10,000 registered bikes in the state, New Mexico is among the worst states in the nation for motorcycle fatalities per capita. Based on recent data trends, around 50 motorcyclists are killed in accidents in the state each year.

If your family member or loved one has been tragically lost to a motorcycle accident in Santa Fe that was caused by the negligent, reckless, or unlawful behavior of another party, you may be able to seek financial compensation through a motorcycle accident wrongful death claim.

We know that no amount of money can replace what you and your family have lost, but it is worth understanding that these types of settlements and judgments can be substantial, giving your family financial stability and flexibility in a tumultuous and vulnerable time. Payouts for wrongful death claims can cover funeral costs, loss of potential household income, and any medical expenses racked up between the time of the accident and the time of death.

Additionally, a talented Santa Fe wrongful death attorney can help you demand additional damages for intangibles like the pain and suffering incurred on a psychological level. It is your right under New Mexico law to be compensated for these factors, and we are prepared to help you navigate the mechanisms of New Mexico law to your advantage so that we can maximize the financial award for any wrongful death or motorcycle injury settlement.

A wrongful death claim can be filed up to 3 years after the date of death. If you are interested in pursuing this powerful legal remedy, please contact Berenson & Associates, PC, for a private, professional consultation focused on your family’s needs.

Reducing New Mexico’s High Motorcycle Fatality Rate: Safety Tips

New Mexico’s high motorcycle fatality rate has resulted in robust dialogue within and between the state’s various public safety, civic planning, and motorcycle advocacy institutions. It is possible that these discussions will result in changes to the state’s motorcycle laws or highway safety infrastructure in the near future, highlighting the need to work with a knowledgeable Santa Fe motorcycle accident lawyer who commands an up-to-the-minute understanding of New Mexico’s complex traffic laws and civil codes.

If motorcycle safety is important to you, we encourage you to exercise your civic rights and let your voice be heard in these ongoing conversations. In the meantime, there are simple steps we can all take on an individual level to reduce the number of catastrophic and fatal motorcycle accidents in our beautiful state.

Tips for Motorists:

• You may have learned back in your driver’s education class to look both ways twice before crossing or turning at an intersection. Start training yourself to check a third time with a special eye for motorcycles. Even the most experienced drivers can have moments of “motorcycle blindness” because our eyes and brains are so attuned to watching for the shape of an oncoming car or truck.
• Give motorcycles space. Just because a motorcycle is smaller and more nimble than a car doesn’t mean it’s okay to tailgate one.
• If you are driving directly ahead of or behind a motorcyclist, or a group of them, consider it your responsibility as someone operating a larger vehicle to drive in a way that is protective and respectful of them.

Tips for Bikers:

• Wear adequate protective gear and appropriate riding clothes.
• Increase your visibility. It’s easy to add additional lighting to your bike or a few high-vis elements to your riding gear without compromising your style.
• Drive defensively and don’t take unnecessary risks.

By sharing the road thoughtfully and obeying all safety guidelines and traffic laws, we can all work together to make New Mexico’s highways a safer place for bikers. But when smart riding isn’t enough to keep you safe, Berenson & Associates, PC will be here to help you hold the responsible parties accountable.

FAQs for Santa Fe Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Q: How Painful Is a Motorcycle Accident?

A: How painful a motorcycle accident is depends on the circumstances of the accident and the individual person. Factors that can impact the severity of the pain felt include the type of injury, the severity of the injury, whether protective gear was worn, and your own personal tolerance for pain. Many bikers have been lucky to walk away from serious crashes relatively unscathed, but a motorcycle accident can be extremely painful.

Q: What Is the Average Settlement for a Motorcycle Accident in NM?

A: It can be hard to calculate a meaningful “average” settlement for any given type of vehicle crash because every situation is unique, and numerous circumstances will affect how the accident claim is settled. A settlement or judgment amount for motorcycle accident damages in New Mexico is going to be based on several complicated factors, including the type and severity of injuries sustained, what caused the accident to happen, and the quality of your legal representation.

Q: At What Speed Do Most Motorcycle Deaths Occur?

A: The majority of motorcycle accidents (up to 70%) occur at intersections, so the bikes involved are often moving fairly slowly at the time of impact, with various analyses putting the average between 20 and 30 mph. This becomes more complicated when trying to extrapolate the average speed of fatal accidents because about a third of all motorcycle accident deaths involve speeding. Further, some accidents do not have speed data available, so naming an average is especially difficult.

Q: What Is the Most Common Injury in a Motorcycle Accident?

A: The most common type of motorcycle accident injury is road rash. This may sound almost innocuous to the uninformed, but road rash can be an extremely painful ordeal involving damage to multiple layers of skin and other deeper tissue.

Road rash is a friction injury that is typically caused by a motorcyclist being thrown from their bike–or falling over with their bike–and subsequently sliding along the rough pavement. Quality riding gear can help reduce your chances of suffering serious road rash in an accident.

Berenson & Associates, PC: Your Trusted Santa Fe Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been harmed in a motorcycle accident in or around Santa Fe, you may be entitled to compensation for your physical injuries and other damages. In this high-stakes situation, it can be crucial to seek legal guidance as soon as possible.

Berenson & Associates offers a team of highly adept accident attorneys and legal support staff with a track record of success handling motorcycle injuries and similar traffic accident cases. At our firm, success is defined by favorable outcomes for our injured clients in the form of substantial financial awards.

In the aftermath of a motorcycle accident, please see to your immediate medical needs first, but then call us for a confidential, client-focused consultation as soon as possible. We have an array of powerful legal strategies at our disposal and can tailor them to fit the specific circumstances of your case. Contact Berenson & Associates today–we’re standing by to help injured bikers seek justice.