State law requires that all motorists involved in a New Mexico traffic accident resulting in “injury or death” immediately stop at the scene of the accident to determine if the other motorists are in need of medical attention. Additionally, motorists are required to exchange certain information. In part, this is to provide all motorists with the necessary information to file a post-accident insurance claim.
The question often arises how insurance comes into play in a New Mexico hit-and-run accident, in which the at-fault driver flees the scene and is not subsequently located. In general, the victims of New Mexico hit-and-run accidents can pursue a claim for compensation with their own insurance policy, under the uninsured/underinsured motorist protection (UIM) clause. Essentially, the law considers a hit-and-run driver to be an “uninsured” motorist.
All New Mexico insurance policies are required to offer UIM coverage to customers. The amount of UIM coverage offered in a policy must be identical to the amount of liability insurance. New Mexico motorists are able to reject UIM coverage (or obtain coverage less than their liability limit), but in order for a motorist’s waiver of UIM coverage to be valid, the insurance company must obtain a written waiver that is executed at the same time the policy is obtained. If an insurance company does not obtain a properly executed waiver of coverage, then the insurance company must provide UIM coverage equal to the amount of liability coverage.
New Mexico motorists are also able “stack” the coverage from multiple vehicles that are on the same policy. Thus, if a motorist has three vehicles on a policy, each with $50,000 in UIM coverage, then the motorist may be able to recover up to $150,000 under that policy.
Hit-and-Run Accident Kills 79-Year-Old Man
Earlier this month, a 79-year-old man was struck and killed by the driver of a stolen work truck. According to a local news report, a man spotted his father’s work truck stopped at a stop light. The young man approached his father’s vehicle, and the driver sped off. The young man called police and pursued the truck, which eventually ran a red light, crashing into a Ford pick-up truck. The fleeing motorist exited the work truck and left the scene on foot. The driver of the Ford pick-up truck was taken to the hospital, but later died from the injuries he sustained in the crash. Police continue to search for the driver of the work truck.
Have You Been Injured in a New Mexico Hit-and-Run Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a New Mexico hit-and-run accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation through a New Mexico personal injury lawsuit. The dedicated and experienced New Mexico truck accident lawyers at the Fine Law Firm have extensive experience representing injury victims and their families in all types of personal injury claims, including New Mexico hit-and-run accidents. We offer free consultations to accident victims to discuss their potential options and how we can help them obtain compensation for the injuries they have sustained. To learn more, call 505-889-FINE to schedule your free consultation today.
More Blog Posts:
Investigations in Automobile and Trucking Accidents, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, September 6, 2018.
Federal Appellate Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Favor of Defendant under Daubert Standard, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, September 17, 2018.