When it comes to car accident claims, New Mexico is a fault state, which means the motorists who are liable for collisions must cover the damages. Although these laws can provide some peace of mind for those who always follow the rules of the road, there can still be financial repercussions if you are involved in a crash that you did not cause.

Drivers in New Mexico are required by law to carry auto insurance that meets the 25/50/10 minimum liability limits; however, that does not necessarily mean everyone purchases or maintains an active policy. If you are in a wreck with an uninsured motorist, you could still end up covering the damages out of pocket even if you were not at fault.

Unfortunately, even in cases where the liable party has adequate coverage, accident victims can still face financial consequences. In most states, for example, drivers can expect their own insurance premiums to increase after an accident no matter who was at fault.

If you were hurt in a collision with a drunk, distracted, or reckless driver and you’re concerned about covering all the resulting costs, turn to The Law Office of Brian K. Branch, PC. Our primary areas of focus include serious personal injury, premises liability, products liability, oilfield accidents, wrongful death, and insurance bad faith. Call 505-207-4401 to schedule a free case evaluation with a back injury attorney in Albuquerque.

Could My Car Insurance Rates Increase If I’m Hit by a Drunk Driver in New Mexico?

According to PennyGeeks, two states explicitly prohibit insurance providers from issuing a surcharge following a crash for which the policyholder was not at fault. Unfortunately, New Mexico is not one of them.

This may seem unfair, but many states do have restrictions on raising premiums in certain scenarios. For example, in most states, the legislative bodies that regulate insurance prohibit providers from increasing rates if the policyholder files a claim under comprehensive coverage following an incident for which he or she was not at fault; however, charging a surcharge in general is not expressly prohibited in these states.

That means if you are hit by a drunk driver in New Mexico, your insurance rates could increase. Whether they actually do depends on a variety of factors, including the terms of your coverage, the company in question, and your claims history.

Some insurance providers are committed to keeping their customers’ rates low after a not-at-fault wreck, while others tack on a surcharge following every claim regardless of liability. For this reason, it is wise to shop around when buying auto insurance. In general, you can probably expect much better service from a company that values your continued loyalty than from one that increases your premium at every opportunity.

Of course, you have no control over whom the motorists around you purchase insurance from, so even if you perform due diligence when buying coverage, there is no guarantee you will receive quality service when filing a third-party claim. If you sustained injuries in an accident that was not your fault and the insurance adjuster is refusing to offer a fair settlement, contact The Law Office of Brian K. Branch, PC today.

Call 505-207-4401 to schedule a free consultation with a back injury lawyer in Albuquerque. You can learn more about collision claims in New Mexico by visiting USAttorneys.com.