When severe weather strikes New Mexico, travelers are at the mercy of Mother Nature. But that doesn’t mean they are powerless to prevent major accidents.

On June 8, 2014, New Mexico was battered by rain, hail and even tornadoes to various parts of the state. Not surprisingly, several auto accidents occurred shortly thereafter, some resulting in injury.

According to the New Mexico Department of Transportation, hail covered a stretch of Interstate 25 immediately north of Las Vegas. Meanwhile, two tornadoes touched down briefly in the Clovis area. Wind speeds were reported as high as 78 miles per hour, while three-quarters of an inch of rain fell.

That was enough to keep law-enforcement officials busy for much of the day.

Around 4:05 a.m., officers with the Clovis Police Department responded to an accident with injury near the corner of Brady and Hull. Another wreck was reported around 8:30 a.m., in the 1100 block of North Davis Street.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in an 11 a.m. accident near the corner of West Seventh Street and 14th Street. Police also responded to a an accident that obstructed traffic at Manana and LaFonda.

If you’ve been injured in an accident -- even if whether was a factor – it is important to talk to an attorney. Liability can emerge when drivers don’t take proper precautions.

Oftentimes, accidents occur because motorists are driving too fast for conditions. In other situations, vehicles are left in the roadway, creating a hazard.

WHAT TO DO WHEN SEVERE WEATHER STRIKES

The first step to safety is avoiding an accident.

Unless travel in inclement whether is absolutely necessary, stay home. You can’t get injured if you’re not behind the wheel.

Use your car radio to stay abreast of all weather developments. Should conditions change, you’ll need to know about it.

In thunderstorms…

  • Use your headlights and allow a greater following distance in case the vehicle in front of you needs to stop suddenly.
  • Watch out for deep water, where your tires might lose traction and cause your vehicle to hydroplane.
  • Be on the lookout for flash flooding. Rivers and streams can overflow their banks in a matter of minutes.

In a tornado…

  • Never attempt to outrun a tornado
  • Park your vehicle immediately, staying clear of any trees that could fall, and activate your emergency flashers. If flooding does occur, abandon your vehicle immediately and move to high ground.
  • Take shelter in a nearby structure.

In a hailstorm…

  • Beware of broken glass caused by falling hail
  • Inspect tires and windshield wipers to ensure that they are in proper working order
  • Avoid downed power lines

VICTIMS OF WEATHER-REALATED ACCIDENTS

Have you been injured in a weather-related accident?

Severe weather collisions can cause serious injury and can even result in death. In both cases, victims can benefit from consulting with an attorney.

  1. Insurance companies are quick to get involved in accident claims in order to limit their exposure, the amount they must pay out. A qualified New Mexico injury attorney can help make sure you receive the maximum compensation.
  2. Weather-related accidents often involved multiple vehicles – such as chain-reaction pileups. That means the insurance company will be conducting an investigation; an investigation should also be done on your behalf.
  3. Commercial vehicles, such as semis, are also frequently involved in weather-related accidents. Trucking companies and other businesses often take out insurance policies worth $1 million or more. An experienced attorney will review the policy closely, accounting for all applicable coverage.

The New Mexico injury attorneys of Keller & Keller offer our Zero Fee Guarantee to victims of weather-related accidents. As a result, we only get paid when we make a recovery and our clients never pay anything for a consultation or up front.

Call 1-800-253-5537 to speak to a personal injury attorney at our Albuquerque, New Mexico office. You can also fill out our free contact form below and tell us about your accident.

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