Goldberg & Loren's Albuquerque car accident lawyers help victims of auto accidents recover compensation for their injuries. With over 32 years of experience, we have recovered over half a billion dollars for our clients in insurance claim settlements and awards through aggressive litigation.
We work to recover maximum compensation, and our experienced car accident attorneys can help you understand your rights when filing a personal injury claim.
We know how difficult it is to recover from a car crash and the many losses that come with it. We will help you to deal with insurance companies, medical bills, lost wages, and other costs associated with your injury.
Give Goldberg & Loren a call today at (505) 421-3698 for a free consultation
A Message From George Goldberg
“Our firm has fought for injured people for more than 30 years, and our New Mexico team handles these cases from our Albuquerque office on Lang Avenue. A serious Albuquerque crash can upend your health, your income, and your family in an instant, and the other driver’s insurer starts building its defense the same day. New Mexico follows pure comparative negligence, so even a victim who was partly at fault can still recover a share of their damages, and the insurance company is the one that has to make things right. Insurers count on you not knowing that. Our New Mexico attorneys make that law work for you, backed by a firm that has recovered more than half a billion dollars for injured clients since 1994. When you call, you work directly with our attorneys, and you pay nothing unless we win.”
George Goldberg, Founding Partner, Goldberg & Loren
A Recent New Mexico Result
Our client was T-boned when another driver ran a stop sign and failed to yield, leaving them with a head injury and ongoing headaches. Our New Mexico attorneys recovered $850,000.
Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Behind results like this is a firm that has recovered more than half a billion dollars for injured clients since 1994, with the resources to fully investigate your crash and take an insurer to trial if it will not be fair.
What to Do if You Have Been Injured in an Auto Accident in Albuquerque
After an Albuquerque car accident, take certain steps to make sure evidence is preserved, documented, and assessed:
- Seek Medical Attention: No matter how small the injury may seem, seek medical attention. Even a minor injury can become exacerbated over time, so having an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan is necessary.
- Report The Accident: File a police report as soon as possible after a car crash. Getting a copy of the crash report will not only protect you in the event of any legal action taken against you, but it will also provide a source of evidence in the event your case goes to court.
- Document The Accident: Take pictures at the scene of the accident and make sure to get contact information from any witnesses who saw the accident happen. This can be an invaluable resource as you build your case.
- Contact Your Insurance Company: The insurance company will likely want to take a statement from you, and they should also provide any information on what their policy limits are in the event of an accident. You should make sure that all documents related to the accident are provided to your insurer.
- Contact an Attorney Promptly: Contact our car accident attorney as soon as possible so that you can protect your rights. We can help preserve the evidence needed to prove your case. In-person and online appointments are available for your convenience. We are open now to meet with new clients.
What Not to Do After a Traffic Collision in Albuquerque
When you are involved in a car wreck it is important to protect your rights. This means there are certain things you should not do:
- Do Not Leave the Scene: Always stay at the scene of the accident until you have spoken to the police.
- Do Not Admit Fault: Even if you feel like it may be your fault, do not admit to any responsibility. This could harm your case and make it more difficult for an auto accident lawyer to argue your case.
- Do Not Post About Your Accident On Social Media: Anything you post on social media can be used against you in court. It is best to stay away from posting anything about the accident online.
- Do Not Sign Any Documents From The Insurance Company: Never sign any documents that are provided by the other person’s insurance company without consulting your attorney first. The insurance company may use these documents in an attempt to reduce their payout amount.
- Do Not Talk To Anyone Other Than Your Lawyer: Speak only to your auto accident lawyer about the details of your accident. Do not speak with anyone else about the incident, as anything you say could be used against you.
Albuquerque Auto Accident Statistics
New Mexico is one of the most dangerous states in the country to drive. In 2024, the state recorded 409 traffic deaths, a rate of 19.2 per 100,000 residents, among the six highest fatality rates in the nation, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Within Albuquerque, crashes concentrate on the city’s busiest arteries. The Big I, the I-25 and I-40 interchange at the heart of the city, is one of New Mexico’s busiest, and corridors like Coors Boulevard, San Mateo Boulevard, Montgomery Boulevard, and Central Avenue carry heavy daily traffic through the metro.
The most recent figures from the University of New Mexico Geospatial and Population Studies Traffic Research Unit, prepared for the New Mexico Department of Transportation, show that in 2023 Albuquerque had 13,547 reported crashes: 91 fatal, 4,324 injury, and 9,132 property-damage-only.
Those crashes involved 33,895 people, including:
- 93 people killed
- 301 suspected serious injuries
- 1,621 suspected minor injuries
- 4,475 possible injuries
- 27,405 with no apparent injury at the scene
That means roughly one in five people (about 19%) involved in an Albuquerque crash in 2023 was hurt or killed. Alcohol was a factor in 582 of those crashes, a reminder of how often impaired driving turns a routine trip into a serious injury claim. [1]
Common Reasons for Car Accidents in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Distracted driving was identified as the primary cause of auto accidents in Albuquerque during 2021, contributing to 45 fatal accidents and 2,769 non-fatal injury accidents.
The other frequent causes of auto crashes are as follows:
- Aggressive Driving
- Defective Vehicle Parts
- Driver Fatigue
- Drunk Driving
- Failing to Yield
- Illegal Turns, U-Turns
- Inadequate Road Conditions
- Maintenance Failure
- Reckless Driving
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Weather
The Types of Traffic Accident Cases We Handle in Albuquerque
Our legal team provides legal representation for the following cases:
- Head-On Collisions: These are some of the most dangerous types of car accidents and can result in serious injuries or even death.
- Rear-End Collisions: Rear-end collisions can be caused by a variety of things, including tailgating, distracted driving, and failure to yield.
- Side-Impact Accidents: Also known as T-bone or side-impact accidents, these can occur when a driver fails to yield the right of way.
- Rollover Accidents: These are some of the most serious types of car crashes and can be caused by improperly maintained roads, defective tires, or driver fatigue.
- Multi-Car Pileups: Multi-car pileups can involve multiple vehicles, resulting in significant damage and serious injuries.
- Single-Car Crashes: Single-car crashes are usually caused by driver negligence, such as drunk driving or distracted driving.
- Blind Spot Accidents: When a driver fails to use their mirrors or turn signals, they can cause an accident in another vehicle’s blind spot.
- Hit-and-Run Accidents: Hit-and-run accidents occur when one of the drivers involved flees the scene without providing contact information.
- Merging Accidents: These accidents occur when two vehicles try to merge into the same lane of traffic.
Types of Injuries Common in Albuquerque Car Accidents
Injuries that are common after traffic collisions in New Mexico:
- Head Injuries / Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A traumatic brain injury is caused by a sudden impact on the head and can have long-lasting effects.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Spinal cord injuries can occur in any type of car crash, resulting in full or partial paralysis.
- Whiplash: Whiplash is a type of neck injury that occurs when the head is quickly forced back and then forward.
- Broken Bones: Broken bones can be caused by any type of crash, resulting in fractures and dislocations.
- Burns & Scarring: These types of injuries are caused by fires or exposure to dangerous chemicals from the car’s fuel tank.
- Internal Injuries: Internal injuries can occur in any type of crash, resulting in organ damage or internal bleeding.
- Psychological Injuries: Psychological injuries, such as PTSD or depression, can be caused by the trauma of a car accident.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Injuries in a Car Accident in Albuquerque?
In Albuquerque, liability for injuries in an auto accident typically rests with the party or parties determined to be at fault.
Here are some common scenarios where liability may apply:
- Negligent Drivers: The driver who caused the accident due to reckless behavior, such as speeding, running a red light, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, can be held liable.
- Vehicle Owners: The owner of a vehicle can be held liable if they negligently entrusted their vehicle to someone known to be a reckless or incompetent driver.
- Government Entities: If the accident was caused by poor road conditions, inadequate signage, or other issues related to road maintenance or design, the government entity responsible for that roadway might be liable.
- Manufacturers: In cases where a vehicle's components or safety features malfunctioned and contributed to the accident or exacerbated injuries, the manufacturer or distributor might be held liable under product liability laws.
Determining liability in an auto accident can be complex and often requires thorough investigation, legal expertise, and documentation of evidence.
Consulting with our knowledgeable personal injury attorneys in Albuquerque can help assess your case and pursue appropriate legal action to seek compensation for your injuries and damages.
Types of Compensation You Can Receive For Vehicle Accidents in Albuquerque
The amount of compensation you receive in a car accident case will depend on several factors, including the severity of your injuries and the negligence of the other driver. In general, you may be eligible for compensation including:
- Medical Expenses: This includes past and future medical bills, such as hospital stays, surgery costs, and prescription medications.
- Lost Wages: If you had to miss work due to the accident or your injuries, you can seek reimbursement for lost wages.
- Pain and Suffering: This is a non-economic form of compensation that covers physical pain and emotional anguish caused by the accident.
- Property Damage: If your vehicle was damaged in the crash, you can seek compensation for repairs or replacement.
- Punitive Damages: Punitive damages are intended to punish the person responsible and deter them from engaging in similar behavior in the future.
- Loss of Consortium: This type of compensation is awarded to the spouse of someone who has been severely injured or killed in a car accident.
How Long Do I Have to Seek Compensation for a Car Crash in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, including Albuquerque, the Statute of Limitations for personal injury claims arising from a traffic collision is typically three years. This means you have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in civil court. [2]
The time limit for seeking compensation for a traffic collision is governed by the Statute of Limitations, which sets a deadline for filing a lawsuit. Here are the key details:
- Discovery Rule: Sometimes injuries from an accident may not be immediately apparent. In such cases, the Statute of Limitations may begin from the date when the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.
- Exceptions: There are certain circumstances that can affect the Statute of Limitations, such as if the injured person is a minor (the Statute of Limitations may be tolled until they reach the age of majority) or if the defendant leaves the state temporarily.
- Insurance Claims: While the Statute of Limitations applies to filing a lawsuit, insurance claims for personal injury and property damage typically have their own timelines. It's advisable to notify your insurance company promptly after an accident to begin the claims process.
Given the complexity of legal timelines and the importance of gathering evidence promptly after an accident, consult with our personal injury attorney in Albuquerque as soon as possible.
We can provide guidance specific to your case, ensure deadlines are met, and help pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages.
Do I Have to Report a Car Accident in New Mexico?
In most cases, yes. Under New Mexico law (NMSA 66-7-206), the driver of any vehicle in a crash that results in injury, death, or apparent property damage of $500 or more must give immediate notice, by the quickest means of communication, to the Albuquerque Police Department if the crash happens in the city, or otherwise to the county sheriff or the nearest New Mexico State Police office.
Beyond the legal duty, a prompt police report protects your claim. It creates an official, neutral record of what happened, who was involved, and often the officer’s read on fault, which is some of the most persuasive evidence in a later insurance claim or lawsuit. If you were hurt, get medical care first, then make sure the crash is reported and hold onto the report number. You must also stop, exchange information, and render aid at the scene: leaving the scene of an injury crash is a separate and far more serious offense.
How to report a crash in Albuquerque. If anyone is hurt, call 911 right away, and the Albuquerque Police Department will respond and complete a New Mexico Uniform Crash Report. For a crash with no injuries, you can call APD non-emergency dispatch at (505) 242-2677. Once the report is filed, request a copy from APD Records (you will need the report number, the date, and the location), because that report, and the officer’s diagram and statements, often becomes the backbone of your insurance claim. A New Mexico driver who is not physically able to report may have someone else do it on their behalf.
Are There Damage Caps in a New Mexico Car Accident Case?
For a standard car accident injury claim, no. New Mexico does not cap your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, future care) or your non-economic damages (pain, suffering, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life). What your case is worth is driven by the harm you actually suffered and the insurance coverage available, not by an artificial legal ceiling.
There are two important exceptions. Claims under New Mexico’s Medical Malpractice Act are subject to a statutory cap, and claims against government entities are limited by the New Mexico Tort Claims Act. Neither applies to an ordinary crash between private drivers, but both can matter if a government vehicle or a medical provider is involved, which is one more reason to have a lawyer identify every responsible party early.
Hit by an Uninsured or Drunk Driver in Albuquerque
Two problems make New Mexico crashes especially costly for victims, and both have solutions most people do not know about until it is too late.
Uninsured and underinsured drivers. About 24% of New Mexico drivers, roughly one in four, carry no insurance at all, the second-highest rate in the country behind only Mississippi (Insurance Research Council, 2023). Many more carry only the state minimum of 25/50/10, which is nowhere near enough for a serious injury. Your protection against this is your own uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, which New Mexico insurers must offer you and which pays your damages when the at-fault driver has no policy or too small a one. Part of our job is finding every UM/UIM policy that applies, including coverage you may not realize you have, so a hit-and-run or a broke defendant does not leave you paying for someone else’s mistake.
Drunk drivers, and the bar that over-served them. Alcohol is a factor in hundreds of Albuquerque crashes every year. When a drunk driver hurts you, the driver is not always the only one responsible. Under New Mexico’s Liquor Liability Act (NMSA 41-11-1), a bar, restaurant, or other licensed establishment that kept serving someone who was already visibly intoxicated can be held liable to the people that driver later injures, and a social host who recklessly over-served can be too. These claims reach a source of compensation beyond the driver’s own policy, which matters most in the catastrophic cases where that policy falls far short of the harm done.
The Effect of Traffic Collisions on Accident Victims
Car accidents can have a devastating impact on you, leaving you with physical, psychological, and financial suffering. Physical injuries can be painful and long-lasting, while psychological trauma may lead to conditions such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Financial difficulties can arise from medical bills and lost wages. You may also face challenges returning to work due to lingering pain or disability caused by the accident, which can further impact your income.
Our local Albuquerque car accident attorneys are here to assist you in pursuing fair compensation for your losses.
Meet the Attorney Behind Your Case
Your Attorney
George Goldberg
Founding Partner · Trial Attorney
“For more than 30 years I have represented the people insurance companies underestimated. I started out on the defense side, working for insurers, so I know exactly how they decide what a claim is worth and how they try to pay less. Our New Mexico attorneys put that insider knowledge to work for injured people across Albuquerque.”
- 30+ years of trial experience (practicing since 1994)
- More than 20,000 injury cases handled by the firm
- J.D., University of Miami School of Law, magna cum laude
- Began on the insurance-defense side, so he knows how adjusters value a claim
- Firm maintains an Albuquerque office at 4801 Lang Ave NE with New Mexico attorneys
Goldberg & Loren Fights for Maximum Compensation
What Our Clients Are Saying About Us – Client Reviews
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Get a Free Consultation From an Albuquerque Car Accident Attorneys
If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident, it is important to get legal help as soon as possible. An experienced Albuquerque personal injury lawyer will be able to assess your case and determine if you have a valid compensation claim.
At Goldberg & Loren, we are dedicated to helping victims of car accidents get the justice and compensation they deserve. Our legal team is experienced in handling car accident claims and will fight hard to ensure that your rights are protected.
Our Albuquerque car accident attorneys will fight to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Call us at (505) 421-3698 for a free consultation today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our attorneys work on a contingency fee. Which means you don’t pay anything up front, or out of pocket. You only pay a fee if the attorney recovers money on your behalf. Additionally, the amount you owe is typically based off a percentage of your award or settlement. Contingency fees can range anywhere from 33% to 40%. Depending on the complexity of the case.
When you’re involved in a car accident, it can be confusing to know what to do. It’s important to stay calm and take the appropriate steps to protect yourself legally.
Here are some questions you should ask after an accident:
- Who is at fault for the accident?
- What information did the other driver provide?
- What information did any witnesses provide?
- Did you have any visible injuries at the time of the crash?
- Did you take pictures of the accident site, vehicles and/or any injuries?
- Do you have an estimate of the total property damage costs?
- Have you filed a police report?
- Are you planning to file an insurance claim?
- Do you need to hire an auto accident attorney?
If your answers to these questions indicate that you may have a legal case, it’s wise to seek the advice of a car accident attorney as they can advise you on the best course of action.
Generally three years from the date of the crash (NMSA 37-1-8). A wrongful death claim also runs three years, and claims against a government entity have shorter notice deadlines, so it is best to talk to a lawyer early before evidence disappears.
No. New Mexico is an at-fault (tort) state, so the driver who caused the crash, and their insurer, is responsible for your damages. New Mexico also follows pure comparative negligence, which means even a partly at-fault driver can recover, with their award reduced by their share of fault.
In most cases, yes. Under NMSA 66-7-206 you must give immediate notice to police, by the quickest means, if a crash causes injury, death, or apparent property damage of $500 or more. A prompt police report also creates the neutral record that strengthens your insurance claim.
For a standard car accident injury claim, no. New Mexico does not cap your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) or your non-economic damages (pain and suffering). Different caps apply only in medical malpractice cases and in claims against government entities.
If you were seriously hurt, usually yes. Insurers consistently pay more when a firm is prepared to take the case to a New Mexico jury. We handle the reporting deadlines, find every insurance policy that applies (including your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage), and value your claim so you are not talked into settling for less than it is worth.
Local Resources
Local Hospitals
Depending on the accident's location and its distance from the incident, your loved one may be receiving care at one of the hospitals in the Albuquerque area.
University of New Mexico (Level I Trauma Center)
2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106
(505) 272-2111
Presbyterian Hospital
1100 Central Ave., SE Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-841-1234
Local Chiropractor
Experiencing a car accident can result in lasting physical issues such as whiplash, pinched nerves, and other complications. Here are some trustworthy chiropractors in Albuquerque to assist you:
Anderson Family Chiropractic
4127 Montgomery Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109
(505) 308-8885
Local Auto Repair Shop
From small fender-benders to significant accidents, these Albuquerque mechanics have the knowledge required to address a variety of vehicle repair challenges.
Advance Team Automotive, Inc.
3720 Hawkins St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109
(505) 891-1515
*Disclaimer: we do not endorse these companies; they are only recommendations provided to us by clients over the years.
Sources:
[1] SafeRoadsUSA. (2023b, November 1). Albuquerque Road Safety Overview. Safe Roads USA. https://www.makeroadssafe.org/albuquerque-road-safety-overview/
[2] New Mexico Statute of Limitations. (n.d.). Findlaw. https://www.findlaw.com/state/new-mexico-law/new-mexico-statutes-of-limitations.html.
We Represent Clients Who Have Experienced Car Accidents in the Following Cities and Communities Near Albuquerque, NM
- Northeast Heights
- Southeast Heights
- Northwest Albuquerque
- Southwest Albuquerque
- North Valley
- South Valley
- Downtown Albuquerque
- Uptown Albuquerque
- Westside
- Far Northeast Heights
- Near Northeast Heights
- Far Northwest Heights
- Near Northwest Heights
- Rio Rancho
- Los Ranchos de Albuquerque
