Albuquerque Personal Injury Law Blog

As the weather warms up, more and more cyclists will take to the roads to enjoy the warmer climate and get some exercise in. People of all ages bicycle for recreation and exercise without realizing the danger they are exposing themselves to. Unfortunately, the roads in this country are built with motorists in mind, not cyclists. This means that cyclists have to share the road with motorists who often fail to see them.

Albuquerque is the most dangerous city in the U.S. for cyclists. The city accounts for 200 to 300 bicycle injuries a year and, in 2015, there were five fatalities. This equated to 8.9 fatalities for a million residents.

Distracted Driving Awareness month is the best time to point out the fact that distracted driving is still responsible for hundreds of deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries across the country annually. In 2016 alone, approximately 3,500 people died and 391,000 were seriously injured in car accidents involving distracted drivers, according to researchers. While there are a number of distractions that take a driver's eyes off the road, the most common these days is texting and driving.

Research has shown time and time again that taking one's eyes off the road for even a few seconds drastically raises the chances of being involved in a crash. Even though most drivers are aware of these risks, it does not prevent them from looking down at their phone and endangering the lives of everyone nearby. One way states have attempted to curb the menace is by banning texting while driving, as New Mexico has done.

There are many dangers on the road in New Mexico from drivers who are under the influence, distracted or are otherwise negligent. Another risk is when people decide to drag race. Often, they involve those who are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. With a collision, there can be serious injury and death. For people who have been affected by an auto accident of this kind, having legal advice is necessary.

A 39-year-old woman died when she was hit by a car that was apparently involved in a drag race. According to the investigation, the woman was walking home when she was hit. There were two vehicles that were believed to be taking part in a drag race. One hit the woman when she crossed the street and then hit a nearby group of apartments. Those in the vehicle that hit her were airmen from a nearby Air Force base. Three of the four passengers were hospitalized. The investigation into the incident is continuing.

Like most of the other states in the country, New Mexico has a law that prohibits drivers from texting and driving. New Mexico's law is fairly broad and applies to every motorist, not just to inexperienced drivers. Moreover, unlike the provisions of some other states, the law specifically prohibits texting and driving, even when a motorist is stopped temporarily on the road, such as at a traffic light. If a person wants to read a text or send one, then they must pull off the road to do so legally.

A recent study suggests that these laws have had some positive effects on the number of accidents. Any form of ban on texting and driving seemed to be helpful, as even those states with weaker prohibitions saw a four percent drop in the number of emergency room visits after a car crash.