If you were injured in a New Mexico car accident, get medical care, document the crash, and avoid recorded statements to insurance adjusters until you understand your injuries and rights. New Mexico follows pure comparative fault, meaning you may recover even if partly at fault—and early evidence preservation significantly strengthens your claim.
- ⏰ Deadline: New Mexico personal injury claims generally carry a 3-year filing window
- 💰 Cost: Contingency fee—no charge unless we recover for you; case costs are advanced and reimbursed from the recovery
- → Next step: Free, confidential case review—call and ask for Alex
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, you generally have three years from the date of a car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. New Mexico follows pure comparative fault, so you can still recover damages even if you were partly at fault — your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
NEW MEXICO CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
Car Accident Lawyer in New Mexico
The insurance company has a team of adjusters and lawyers working against you the moment you file a claim. You deserve someone fighting just as hard on your side — someone who knows New Mexico roads, New Mexico courts, and how to try a case.
✓ Free Consultation ✓ No Fee Unless We Win ✓ Fearless Advocacy
WE HANDLE YOUR CASE
Rear-end collisions
T-bone & intersection crashes
Head-on collisions on I-25 & I-40
Hit-and-run accidents
Rollover accidents
Commercial vehicle crashes
Weather-related accidents
Red-light & stop-sign violations
Hundreds
Cases Handled in NM
by Our Team
$0
Upfront Cost to You
5
NM Offices to Serve You
100%
Contingency Fee —
No Win, No Fee
NEW MEXICO BY THE NUMBERS
The Reality of New Mexico Roads
The data from the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tells a clear story: this is a state where crashes are common, often serious, and disproportionately caused by impaired or uninsured drivers.
- 40,000+ reportable traffic crashes per year statewide
- 400+ traffic fatalities annually — a per-capita rate consistently above the national average
- Alcohol-involved crashes account for a disproportionate share of NM fatalities, historically among the highest in the country
- Bernalillo County sees the largest absolute crash volume; rural counties see the highest fatality rate per crash
- I-40, I-25, and Coors/Paseo del Norte in Albuquerque are perennial high-crash corridors
- An estimated 20%+ of NM drivers carry no insurance, and many more carry only state minimums
Sources: NMDOT and NHTSA reporting. For the most recent NM crash data, see the NM Traffic Safety Division annual reports.
WHY THESE NUMBERS MATTER FOR YOUR CASE
These statistics explain why uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is essential in New Mexico, why early evidence preservation is critical on rural roads where physical evidence disappears quickly, and why an experienced trial lawyer matters when insurance carriers know there are deep statistical patterns they can exploit.
PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS
What to Do After a Car Accident in New Mexico
The steps you take in the hours and days after a crash can make or break your case. Here’s what an experienced New Mexico car accident attorney wants you to know:
1
Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Even if you feel fine, get checked out. Injuries like whiplash, concussions, and internal trauma often don’t show symptoms for hours or days. Medical records also become your most important evidence.
2
Call the Police
Insist on a police report at the scene. This official documentation of fault and circumstances is critical to your case.
3
Document Everything
Photograph the scene, vehicle damage, your injuries, road conditions, and any signage. Get contact information from witnesses before they leave.
4
Don't Talk to the Other Driver's Insurance
Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. Don’t give a recorded statement or accept any offers before speaking to an attorney.
5
Call Alex — Free Consultation
The sooner we get involved, the better we can preserve evidence, interview witnesses, and build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
YOUR RECOVERY
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
New Mexico law allows accident victims to recover damages for the full impact of their injuries — not just their immediate medical bills. Here’s what our team pursues on your behalf:
Medical Expenses
Past and future hospital bills, surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any ongoing treatment related to your injuries.
Lost Wages & Earning Capacity
Income lost while you recover, plus future earnings if your injuries prevent you from returning to your job or limit your career.
Pain & Suffering
Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, PTSD, and the overall loss of enjoyment of life caused by the accident and your injuries.
Property Damage
The cost to repair or replace your vehicle and any personal property damaged in the crash.
Wrongful Death
If you lost a family member in a car accident, you may be entitled to funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and financial support your loved one would have provided.
Punitive Damages
In cases of extreme negligence — such as drunk driving or street racing — the court may award additional damages to punish the at-fault driver.
NEW MEXICO LAW
What Every New Mexico Accident Victim Needs to Know
Pure Comparative Fault: New Mexico follows a “pure comparative fault” rule. Even if you were partially at fault for the accident, you can still recover compensation — it’s just reduced by your percentage of fault. Don’t let an insurance company use this against you.
3-Year Statute of Limitations: You generally have three years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in New Mexico. Waiting too long can permanently bar your right to recover — and evidence fades fast.
Minimum Insurance Requirements: New Mexico requires drivers to carry at least $25,000/$50,000 in bodily injury liability. Many drivers carry the minimum, which is why uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage matters — and why we fight to maximize every available dollar for our clients.
I-25 & I-40 Are Among NM’s Most Dangerous Roads: High speeds, distracted drivers, commercial truck traffic, and unpredictable weather make these corridors consistently dangerous. We handle crashes on these highways and throughout the state.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage: This is the single most important coverage you can carry in New Mexico, given the state’s high rate of uninsured drivers. UM applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance. UIM applies when their coverage isn’t enough to compensate for your injuries. New Mexico law requires insurers to offer UM/UIM in equal limits to your liability coverage; you can reject it only in writing.
UM/UIM Stacking: New Mexico is a stacking state. If you have multiple vehicles on a policy (or multiple policies), your UM/UIM limits often stack — meaning your effective coverage may be much higher than a single vehicle’s limit. Stacking analysis is technical, fact-specific, and frequently mishandled. I review every client’s declarations pages personally.
Medical Payments (MedPay) Coverage: First-dollar coverage that pays your medical bills regardless of fault, typically in $1,000–$10,000 increments. MedPay does not reduce your bodily injury claim and is almost always worth using.
The Driver’s Employer’s Coverage: If the at-fault driver was working at the time of the crash — delivering for a company, driving a commercial vehicle, working as a rideshare driver, or otherwise on the clock — the employer’s commercial policy applies, often with much higher limits.
WHY TIMING MATTERS
Insurance companies begin building their defense immediately. The longer you wait, the more your case suffers:
Crash scene evidence disappears
Surveillance footage gets overwritten
Witnesses forget details
Medical connections become harder to prove
Filing deadlines creep closer
Call us now — the consultation is free and confidential.
Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) Crashes
Crashes involving an Uber or Lyft driver are more complex than ordinary car accidents because more than one insurance policy may apply. While a rideshare driver is logged in and on a trip, the company's commercial coverage provides substantially higher limits than a personal auto policy; when the app is off, only the driver's personal policy applies. Whether you were a passenger, the driver of another vehicle, or a pedestrian changes the analysis. I identify every policy in play — the driver's, the rideshare company's, and your own UM/UIM — so the full coverage is on the table.
COMMON CRASH INJURIES
The Injuries I Help New Mexicans Recover From
Insurance companies sort claims by injury category and pay accordingly. Knowing what you are dealing with — and how to document it — is half the battle.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and concussion. Common in even moderate-speed crashes; symptoms (headache, dizziness, light sensitivity, mood changes, sleep disruption, memory problems) can be mistaken for ordinary post-crash stress. Mild TBI can have lasting cognitive consequences that change a person earning capacity for life.
Spinal cord and back injuries. From whiplash and herniated discs to complete spinal cord damage and paralysis, back and neck injuries dominate serious car accident cases. The full picture often takes weeks to develop — which is why insurers pressure victims to settle early, before the true scope of the injury is known.
Whiplash and soft-tissue injuries. Routinely minimized by insurance adjusters as soft or subjective, whiplash and related soft-tissue injuries can cause years of chronic pain, restricted mobility, and lost work. Strong medical documentation is essential.
Broken bones and orthopedic injuries. Fractures of the legs, arms, ribs, hips, pelvis, and skull are common in higher-speed crashes. Compound fractures, surgical hardware, and long rehabilitation periods all support significant damages.
Internal injuries. Damage to the spleen, liver, kidneys, lungs, and other organs is often invisible at the scene but life-threatening within hours.
Burn injuries. Vehicle fires and post-collision fires cause some of the most painful and disfiguring injuries — and often involve product liability claims against the vehicle manufacturer.
Amputation and loss of limb. Devastating but unfortunately recurring in high-speed and commercial-vehicle crashes. Lifetime care planning, prosthetic costs, and lost earning capacity are central to valuation.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Psychological injury is real, compensable, and frequently overlooked. Difficulty driving, intrusive memories, sleep disturbance, and avoidance behaviors after a serious crash deserve documentation, treatment, and full inclusion in your damages claim.
WHY EARLY DOCUMENTATION IS EVERYTHING
The single most common attack on injury damages is the argument that you did not treat consistently. Gaps in treatment let insurers argue your injuries either were not real or were not caused by the crash. See a doctor early. Follow the treatment plan. Document everything.
Injured in a Car Accident? Don't Face This Alone.
Singleton Schreiber has the resources and experience to take on the biggest insurance companies in New Mexico — and hold them accountable. Call Alex for a free, no-obligation consultation.
YOUR ATTORNEY
Alexander Flores — Senior Counsel, Singleton Schreiber
I’m Alex Flores. I grew up in New Mexico, my family is here, and I’ve spent my career inside the institutions that decide whether justice gets done — first as a Marine officer and judge advocate, then as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Albuquerque, and now as Senior Counsel at Singleton Schreiber.
As a Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney, I co-led the Indian Country Crimes Section, personally prosecuted nearly 200 federal felony cases, and altogether, tried 17 federal jury trials. I argued — and won — appeals before the Tenth Circuit.
At Singleton Schreiber, I bring that trial discipline to people on the other side of the courtroom: New Mexicans seriously injured in car crashes, truck collisions, and other negligence that upends their lives. I’m also part of the firm’s team representing survivors of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire — the largest wildfire in New Mexico history — in federal court under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
I still serve as a Judge Advocate with the New Mexico Air National Guard. The discipline that shapes that work — knowing the consequences of being unprepared, knowing that the people in front of you are counting on you to get it right — is the same discipline I bring to every case here. I prepare each one as if it will be tried. I don’t get outworked by insurance companies. And I make sure the people I represent always know exactly where their case stands.
Former Federal Prosecutor
U.S. Attorney’s Office, NM
17 Federal Jury Trials
+ Tenth Circuit appellate wins
USMC & NM Air Guard
Judge Advocate
Alexander Flores
Senior Counsel, Singleton Schreiber
STATEWIDE NEW MEXICO REPRESENTATION
Serving Injured New Mexicans From Every Corner of the State
I represent injured clients across all 33 New Mexico counties — from the Albuquerque metro to the Four Corners, from the Permian Basin to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. I travel anywhere in the state for serious cases. Below are dedicated location pages for the communities I serve most often:
- Albuquerque Personal Injury Lawyer
- Santa Fe Personal Injury Lawyer
- Rio Rancho Personal Injury Lawyer
- Las Cruces Personal Injury Lawyer
- Farmington Personal Injury Lawyer
- Roswell Personal Injury Lawyer
- Hobbs Personal Injury Lawyer
- Alamogordo Personal Injury Lawyer
- Carlsbad Personal Injury Lawyer
- Clovis Personal Injury Lawyer
- Gallup Personal Injury Lawyer
- Silver City Personal Injury Lawyer
- Portales Personal Injury Lawyer
- Los Lunas Personal Injury Lawyer
- Taos Personal Injury Lawyer
NOT IN ONE OF THESE CITIES?
Every county and every community in New Mexico is within my service area. Call (505) 587-3473 for a free consultation no matter where in the state your crash happened.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accident Claims in New Mexico
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (NMSA § 37-1-8). For claims against a government entity, you may have as little as 90 days to file a notice of claim. Don’t wait — contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
New Mexico follows a pure comparative fault rule, which means you can still recover compensation even if you were partially responsible. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were 20% at fault and your damages are $100,000, you could recover $80,000. Never assume you can’t file a claim because of shared fault — call us first.
How much is my car accident case worth?
Every case is different. The value depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical bills, lost wages, the impact on your daily life, and whether the other driver’s conduct was especially reckless. We evaluate every factor to ensure you’re not leaving money on the table. The best way to get an accurate picture is a free consultation with Alex.
Should I accept the insurance company's first settlement offer?
Almost certainly no. Insurance companies make low initial offers hoping you’ll accept before you understand the full cost of your injuries. Once you accept a settlement, you typically waive your right to seek additional compensation — even if your condition worsens. Have an attorney review any offer before you sign anything.
Do I need a lawyer for a minor car accident in New Mexico?
Even “minor” accidents can cause significant injuries that don’t appear immediately. Soft tissue injuries, concussions, and back problems may not become apparent for days or weeks. And insurance disputes can arise even in seemingly straightforward cases. A free consultation costs you nothing and ensures you make an informed decision.
What does a car accident lawyer charge in New Mexico?
We work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing upfront and we only collect a fee if we win your case. There’s no financial risk to calling us, and no reason to navigate this alone.
What should I do at the scene of a car accident in New Mexico?
If you’re able, call 911 and get a police report, photograph the vehicles, road, and any signage, get the other driver’s insurance and license-plate information, collect witness contact info, and get medical attention the same day. Then call a lawyer before giving any statement to the other driver’s insurer.
Should I give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company?
No — not before talking to your own lawyer. The adjuster works for the at-fault driver’s insurer, and early recorded statements are routinely used to minimize your injuries or shift blame under New Mexico’s comparative-fault rule. Let your attorney handle communications.
What if the driver who hit me had no insurance — or fled the scene?
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage can compensate you when the at-fault driver has no insurance, too little insurance, or is never identified in a hit-and-run. Given New Mexico’s high rate of uninsured drivers, UM/UIM is often the most important coverage in the case, and stacking may increase what’s available.
I was hurt in an Uber or Lyft crash — who pays?
Rideshare crashes can involve the rideshare driver’s personal policy and the company’s commercial coverage, which provides higher limits while the driver is on a trip. Whether you were a passenger, another driver, or a pedestrian affects which coverage applies. These claims require identifying every available policy.
What if a government vehicle or employee caused my crash?
Claims against a New Mexico state or local government entity fall under the Tort Claims Act and require a written notice of claim within as little as 90 days — far shorter than the usual three-year deadline. If a federal vehicle was involved, a separate two-year Federal Tort Claims Act deadline applies. Act quickly.
How long does a New Mexico car accident case take?
It depends on the severity of the injuries and whether liability or damages are disputed. Straightforward cases can resolve in a few months; serious-injury cases that require full medical work-up and litigation take longer. The goal is to build the case correctly rather than settle cheaply and fast.
Ready to Fight Back? Call Alex — It's Free.
You’ve been through enough. Let Singleton Schreiber handle the insurance company, the paperwork, and the fight — while you focus on healing. Call today and ask for Alex personally.
| No fee unless we win | Confidential consultation
6501 Americas Parkway NE, Suite 670, Albuquerque, NM 87110 | aflores@singletonschreiber.com
How We Prove Fault in a New Mexico Car Accident Claim
A strong case is built on evidence, not assumptions. Our team works to preserve crash reports, photographs, surveillance footage, vehicle damage documentation, witness statements, and medical records—then uses that evidence to show what happened and why the insurance company should pay full value.
In New Mexico, comparative fault rules mean the insurer will look for any way to shift blame to you. We anticipate those arguments and build the record that counters them before they gain traction.
How Insurance Companies Try to Reduce What They Pay
Insurance adjusters are trained to settle fast and settle low. Common tactics include pushing for recorded statements before you’ve had legal advice, disputing medical causation, and treating pain symptoms as “pre-existing.”
When you hire us, we take over communication and build the documentation foundation insurers look for when they evaluate risk. You stop negotiating from weakness—and start negotiating from evidence.
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