Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C. is a personal injury law firm committed to helping individuals in Los Lunas and the surrounding areas obtain justice and compensation for injuries caused by someone else’s negligence.
When you go about your day, you never expect an accident to turn your life upside down. But when you or a family member suffer injuries because someone did something they shouldn’t have, your life can change in an instant. Suddenly, you’re coping with pain and suffering, stacks of costly medical bills, lost wages, and a lot of stress and anxiety about your future.
A Los Lunas personal injury lawyer with Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C. can help turn things around. We provide compassionate, client-focused legal help for victims of car accidents, premises liability accidents, nursing home abuse and neglect, and more.
You should be able to access top-rate legal representation no matter your financial situation, so we work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing for our services unless we resolve your case and secure the full and fair compensation you deserve.
Comprehensive Personal Injury Legal Services in Los Lunas
Personal injury law encompasses many cases involving physical, emotional, and financial harm caused by another party’s actions or inactions. At Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C., we have extensive experience handling all types of personal injury claims in Los Lunas. Some of the most common cases we handle include:
Car Accidents in Los Lunas
Car accidents are a leading cause of personal injury claims in Los Lunas and across New Mexico. Busy roadways like Highway 314 and Main Street are often the site of collisions caused by distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving, or failure to compensate for adverse weather conditions.
According to the New Mexico Department of Transportation Annual Crash Report, there were 45,786 total traffic crashes in the state in one recent year, with 18,412 resulting in injuries and 480 fatalities. The New Mexico Department of Health Indicator-Based Information System
(NM-IBIS) shows Valencia County reported about 70 motor vehicle accident deaths in a recent four-year period. Most traffic accidents happened between Los Lunas, Isleta Pueblo, Bosque Farms, and Belen.
Our Los Lunas personal injury attorneys work diligently to investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident, gather critical evidence, and negotiate with insurance companies so you receive the compensation you deserve for medical bills, vehicle repairs, lost wages, and more.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists face unique dangers on Los Lunas roads and highways. With limited protection against collisions, even minor accidents can lead to severe injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and fractures. Motorcycle crashes account for about 48 fatalities in New Mexico every year, and hundreds of other riders suffered injuries ranging from road rash to life-altering disabilities.
Many motorcycle accidents result from other drivers failing to notice motorcyclists or yielding the right-of-way.
Los Lunas Truck Accidents
Commercial trucks are a common sight in Los Lunas due to its proximity to major highways. However, these massive vehicles can cause catastrophic injuries when involved in accidents. A New Mexico DOT crash report revealed 3,235 truck-related crashes in New Mexico in one recent year, the highest level in more than a decade.
Truck accidents that also involve smaller passenger vehicles often result in fatalities and catastrophic injuries due to the size and weight disparity between trucks and cars and other smaller motor vehicles. New Mexico truck crashes resulted in 83 deaths and at least 127 serious injuries. Many more motorists suffered moderate injuries.
Truck accidents in Los Lunas and Valencia County aren’t uncommon due to the proximity of I-25, one of New Mexico’s busiest and most vital commercial corridors.
Common causes of truck accidents include speeding, distracted driving, fatigue, improper maintenance, and shifting cargo.
Pedestrian Accidents in Los Lunas
Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable on Los Lunas streets, especially in areas with high foot traffic or inadequate crosswalks.
New Mexico reported 579 pedestrian-involved crashes statewide in one recent year, resulting in 94 deaths and at least 105 serious injuries. Pedestrian accidents are often caused by driver inattention, failure to yield, or speeding.
When vehicles strike pedestrians, the consequences are often devastating. Victims may suffer from broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, or internal organ damage.
Bicycle Accidents in Los Lunas
Bicyclists share the road with vehicles in Los Lunas, but negligent motorists pose significant risks to those traveling on two wheels. In one recent year, there were 271 bicycle-related crashes across New Mexico.
At least two dozen bicycle accidents resulted in serious injuries.
Bicycle accidents frequently occur when drivers fail to provide adequate space or do not check their surroundings before turning or changing lanes.
Bicyclists involved in accidents often sustain serious injuries, such as TBI, fractures, spinal cord injuries, and road rash.
Premises Liability Cases
Premises liability cases arise when unsafe conditions on someone else’s property lead to injuries that could have been prevented. These cases aren’t just about holding property owners accountable; they’re about demanding safety and justice for victims and making properties safer for everyone. Some common premise liability cases include:
- Slip and Fall Accidents: Slippery floors, uneven sidewalks, or poor lighting aren’t just minor oversights; they’re accidents waiting to happen. Slip and fall accidents can result in severe injuries like fractures, sprains, or traumatic head injuries, leaving victims facing steep medical bills and painful recoveries.
- Negligent Security: Imagine walking through a parking lot at night with broken lights and no security measures in place. Negligent security can lead to assaults, robberies, or worse, leaving victims with physical and emotional scars. Property owners are responsible for ensuring their spaces are safe for everyone.
- Dog Bites: An unrestrained or aggressive dog can turn a friendly neighborhood into a site of trauma. Dog bite victims often endure painful injuries, infections, and even permanent disfigurement. The emotional toll of such an attack can linger for years.
Your safety matters, and if someone’s oversight caused your suffering, our Los Lunas personal injury lawyers can hold them accountable to obtain the compensation you deserve. There is simply no excuse when property owners fail to take reasonable measures to ensure their store, restaurant, office building, apartment complex, parking garage, hotel, or other property is safe and secure.
Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse
Entrusting your loved one to the care of a nursing home or assisted living facility only to find out they have been neglected or abused by employees is heartbreaking and deeply troubling. Unfortunately, residents of New Mexico nursing homes may face inadequate care, neglect, or outright abuse.
Common issues include:
- Neglect: Neglect occurs when caregivers fail to meet residents’ basic needs, such as providing food, water, and hygiene. This type of neglect can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, or preventable illnesses.
- Physical Abuse: Physical abuse involves acts of violence, such as hitting or improper restraints, that cause injuries like bruises, fractures, or worse. These injuries can have long-lasting effects on victims.
- Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse includes verbal threats, intimidation, or isolation, which can promote deep psychological trauma. Victims of emotional abuse often experience anxiety, depression, or withdrawal from others.
Product Liability
Product liability lawsuits generally emerge when someone purchases a product that’s supposed to make their life easier, safer, or more enjoyable, only to have it cause serious harm.
When defective or dangerous products harm consumers, they may have grounds to seek compensation for their injuries and other damages.
- Defective Vehicle Parts: Malfunctioning vehicle components, such as tires, brakes, steering wheel assemblies, or airbags, can cause motorists to lose control of their vehicles and crash.
- Unsafe Consumer Products: Poorly designed or manufactured products can pose significant risks to users. Items like children’s toys with choking hazards or faulty appliances can lead to severe injuries and fatalities.
- Toxic Chemicals: Exposure to harmful substances in household or industrial products can cause respiratory issues, burns, or chronic health problems. Sometimes, hazardous chemicals may lack sufficient warnings or inadequate handling instructions. Victims may require long-term medical care to recover.
Our Los Lunas personal injury attorneys know how to hold manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable for their role in putting dangerous products on the market and in consumers’ homes.
Common Injuries in Los Lunas Personal Injury Cases
Recovering from an accidental injury can feel like an uphill battle. One moment, your life is moving along as planned, and the next, painful injuries ripple through every part of your life, from your physical well-being to your financial stability and emotional health.
At Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, we understand your immense challenges, and we’re here to help you pick up the pieces and move forward.
Our personal injury lawyers help clients suffering from:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Traumatic brain injuries are caused by sudden impacts or forces that disrupt brain function. Victims may experience memory loss, chronic headaches, mood swings, depression, or long-term cognitive impairments, all of which can affect their quality of life.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries occur when damage to the spine results in paralysis. These injuries often require lifelong care and extensive rehabilitation, dramatically altering victims’ independence and mobility.
Broken Bones
Fractures, including compound fractures and stress fractures, commonly result from car accidents, falls, or workplace incidents. Recovery often involves surgeries, physical therapy, and significant time away from work.
Internal Organ Damage
Blunt force trauma from accidents can damage internal organs like the liver, lungs, or kidneys. These injuries frequently require emergency surgery and prolonged medical care to prevent life-threatening complications.
Burn Injuries
Burn injuries result from car fires, chemical exposure, or defective appliances. Severe burns can lead to permanent scarring, nerve damage, and emotional trauma, requiring extensive medical treatment, including painful skin grafts.
Emotional and Psychological Injuries
Victims of personal injury cases often suffer emotional distress, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression. These injuries can impact daily life and relationships, necessitating professional therapy or counseling.
Understanding Personal Injury Law in Los Lunas
To successfully recover damages, your personal injury lawyer must prove:
- Duty of Care: The at-fault party owed a legal duty to the victim. For instance, all drivers have a legal duty to operate their vehicles responsibly so they don’t harm others.
- Breach of Duty: The at-fault party failed in their responsibility.
- Causation: Their failure created an event or situation that caused your injuries.
- Damages: You suffered measurable harm as a result.
We build strong cases by identifying all liable parties, gathering evidence, consulting medical professionals, and negotiating aggressively with insurance companies to secure the best outcomes for our clients.
Compensation in Personal Injury Cases
Depending on the severity of your injuries and losses and the circumstances of your accident, you may recover compensation for:
Economic Damages
Economic damages include measurable financial losses resulting from the accident.
These damages typically cover:
- Medical Expenses: These expenses include hospital bills, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and any other costs associated with your medical treatment. Victims often face significant financial strain due to these unexpected expenses.
- Lost Wages: If your injuries prevent you from working, you may be entitled to compensation for the income you lost during your recovery period. Additionally, victims can seek damages for reduced earning capacity if their injuries impact future employment opportunities.
- Property Damage: Property damage compensation addresses the cost of repairing or replacing vehicles, bicycles, or other personal property damaged in the accident. These damages help victims recover their financial losses.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate victims for intangible losses.
These damages include:
- Pain and Suffering: Victims can recover compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering caused by their injuries. This category accounts for the long-term impact on a victim’s quality of life.
- Loss of Enjoyment: This refers to the inability to participate in hobbies, activities, or other aspects of life that you once enjoyed. Compensation aims to address the emotional toll of these losses.
- Emotional Trauma: Emotional trauma compensation recognizes the psychological harm caused by the accident, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages may be awarded in cases where the defendant’s actions were particularly reckless or intentional. These damages punish the responsible party and deter similar behavior.
Our Los Lunas personal injury lawyers also help grieving families collect wrongful death damages when injuries lead to the loss of their loved one. Wrongful death damages generally include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, medical expenses, and funeral and burial expenses.
Why Choose Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C.?
Choosing the right law firm after an accident is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. At Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C., we’re more than just legal professionals; we’re advocates who are deeply committed to your recovery and justice.
Here are some reasons why clients in Los Lunas trust us to fight for them:
- A Track Record of Results: With decades of experience and millions recovered for our clients, we’ve built a reputation for obtaining life-changing settlements and awards. We don’t just handle cases—we invest ourselves in them 100%.
- Customized Legal Strategies: Every case is unique, and so is our approach. We dig deep into the details of your situation to develop a strategy that addresses your specific needs and maximizes your compensation.
- Empathy and Accessibility: From the moment you contact us, we’re here to listen, answer your questions, and keep you informed every step of the way. You’ll never feel like just another case file with our team.
- Tenacious Representation: Whether we’re fighting insurance companies or presenting your case in court, we don’t stop until justice is served. We’re known for our fearless advocacy and dedication to our clients.
- No Financial Risk: You deserve justice without financial worry. We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay no up-front fees or out-of-pocket costs. Our fees come as an agreed-upon percentage of your recovery once we resolve your case. If we don’t win, you owe nothing for our services.
At Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C., we’re not just here to represent you—we’re here to fight for your future. Let us handle the legal challenges so you can focus on your recovery. Call us today and take the first step toward justice.
Contact a Los Lunas Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If someone else’s negligence caused you or a loved one harm, don’t delay in seeking legal representation. Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C. offers free consultations to evaluate your case and outline the next steps. Call us at (505) 226-0009 or complete our online contact form to schedule your free consultation today.
Let us handle the legal challenges while you focus on healing and recovery. We’re here to fight for the compensation and justice you deserve.