Best pedasterian Lawyers in New Mexico
Jeffrey S. Trespel
Accident Lawyer
Jeffrey S. Trespel earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Buffalo (SUNY) in 1981, did post-graduate work in finance at Florida Atlantic University, and secured his law degree from Florida State University in 2000.
He spent 15 years in the insurance industry before entering law school. Since joining Will Ferguson & Associates in 2004, he has represented injured people in claims involving serious personal injuries, wrongful death, dram-shop actions against liquor purveyors, big-rig trucking crashes, and cases in which children are injured through institutional negligence. When he is not in court or in the office, Jeffrey is playing music with his alt-rock band “Thursday Spin,” hiking, gardening, or traveling the globe.
Since leaving from defense work in 2001, Bob has worked exclusively as a plaintiff’s personal injury lawyer at Will Ferguson & Associates. He represents injured persons and their families in claims for wrongful death or personal injury arising out of motor vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical negligence, oil field accidents, accidents at businesses and legal malpractice.
BERTRAND PARNALL
Accident Lawyer
The experiences I have had throughout my life have always brought me back to the law and shaped type of law firm I wanted to create. When I launched the Parnall Law Firm in 2009, my focus was to make lives better for people who have been injured through no fault of their own.
When I was born, my father, Theodore, was a law professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law and then became a resident legal advisor in more than ten countries, many of them impoverished. When I was young, living in such far-flung locales as Senegal, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Tunisia provided valuable early experience that helped to create the lawyer I am today. This early exposure to extreme poverty and hunger influenced me to want to make things fairer for people.
I greatly admired my father (who later became Dean of the law school, and now emeritus law professor) and wanted to follow in his footsteps, but I also envisioned myself being a writer. While pursuing a major in history and French at Rice University in the early 1990s, I spent a year studying at La Sorbonne in Paris in 1991. I received my B.A. from Rice University in 1993 and continued to focus on writing — mostly fiction and plays — for a year before entering New Mexico University School of Law.
Sam Fadduol
Accident Lawyer
Sam was born in Canutillo, Texas and attended public schools in the state of New Mexico. Sam is the son of hard-working immigrants. He spent virtually every summer of his childhood in his mother’s hometown of Chihuahua, Mexico and as a consequence, is fluent in Spanish. Remarkably, Sam’s fourth-grade teacher strongly urged him to pursue a career practicing law. Once that seed was planted, Sam dedicated all of his efforts to that single goal.
Sam completed his undergraduate degree in three years, graduating with high honors from Texas Tech in 1978. The next week, Sam started law school at Texas Tech University School of Law, where he graduated as the youngest member of his class. While in his third year of law school, Sam worked full time for a local attorney, Patrick Abeyta. Sam graduated from Texas Tech Law School in 1981. After Pat’s death in 1984, Sam took over the firm at age 27 and was charged with overseeing 13 employees. Almost immediately, Sam converted the law firm from a general practice to one focused exclusively on representing those injured at work or through others’ negligence.
Sam has been married for 31 years and has been blessed with three children. Sam believes that, with all things important in life, loyalty and commitment is a foundation to success. Sam has often been quoted to say: “there are three things in life that you do not change; you do not change your political party, your religion, or your wife”. Sam’s first and true love has been the pleasure he derives from helping those who have suffered from serious injury or death of a family member. Sam believes that the value of a law firm is found in a combination of its honesty and competency. These qualities make up FCHC’s culture–and they always will.
Glen Lerner
Accident Lawyer
Personal Injury Attorney Glen Lerner is a founding partner of Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys and Lerner and Rowe Law Group. Attorney Glen Lerner is only licensed to practice personal injury law in the State of Nevada and has been doing so since 1991. He has successfully built not just a local name, but a national reputation. Glen Lerner deals with a large network of attorneys all over America to provide legal services in cases of personal injury, medical malpractice, hazardous products, and more.
Glen prides himself in fighting for the “little guy” against big insurance companies and large corporations. “I grew up fighting every day of my life against bullies and I was the one who the other kids turned to. Now I do it as a grownup, and I get paid for doing what I love to do… fight!”
Lerner attended Dartmouth College for one year and graduated from Duke University in 1987 with a major in Religious Studies. Glen also prides himself on being a member of Duke’s 1986 NCAA Division I Men’s National Championship soccer team.
Glen Lerner is a 1990 graduate of Tulane Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana.
He worked odd jobs throughout his life including being a Teamster and a garbage man to better understand many of the people he would someday represent. “I was number one in my class and got accepted at Harvard, Dartmouth, Stanford, and Duke.”
“How could I ever represent people and really know how they feel if I have never had to work hard like them? Most of the people we represent are hardworking people and so many people that are privileged to get the education I have received never learn what it is like to really work and get their hands dirty,” says Glen Lerner.
“I wanted to work hard jobs to be able to appreciate what I have and show that appreciation when I am with my clients.”
Glen Lerner is married and also has four beautiful children. He enjoys working out, martial arts, and relaxing at home. As a native of Boston, he loves anything to do with the Red Sox and Patriots.
David C. Chavez
Accident Lawyer
David C. Chavez is recognized nationally as a Top 10 Personal Injury Lawyer, Top 100 Trial Lawyers Lifetime Achievement Award, and the prestigious Super Lawyer Award. David has over 40 years of experience as a personal injury attorney. Born and raised in Belen, New Mexico, David knows New Mexico culture and has served on a number of boards, committees and task forces locally and throughout New Mexico.
David C. Chavez has recovered millions for those injured without a voice. David has the team, experience and resources to commit to your case. His firm is committed to helping his clients get back on the “Road to Recovery.”
FAMILY
- David’s father, the late Judge Tibo J. Chavez started the practice in 1939. He was one of the Thirteenth Judicial District Court Judges in Valencia County; served as New Mexico State Senator for Valencia County; served as State Senate Majority Leader; and Lieutenant Governor for the State of New Mexico. The late Judge Tibo J. Chavez was also a member of the UNM Board of Regents; President of the Museum of New Mexico Board of Regents; Member of the State Police Board and Author of Historic Preservation Legislation. David’s family history In New Mexico dates back to Nicholas Duran y Chavez in 1714 during Spanish control 10 generations ago.
- David’s mother, the late Betty Chavez was described as a walking encyclopedia of New Mexico history. She was raised in Portales, New Mexico. She became immersed in New Mexico history. Betty’s love for history and the state of New Mexico was demonstrated by her commitment to various state and local organizations. The late Betty Chavez was a member of the Daughter’s of the Confederate as well as the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Bar Admissions
- New Mexico
- U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
- Colorado
Education
- Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa
- University of New Mexico School of Law, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Juris Doctorate – 1983
Professional Associations and Memberships
- New Mexico Bar Association
- American Bar Association, Member
- Colorado Bar Association, Member
- New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association
Andras Szantho
Accident Lawyer
Born in a town called Debrecen in eastern Hungary, Andras Szantho is the son of a world-class runner and an elite gymnast. The Szantho family left Hungary in the early 1980s and immigrated to the United States, settling in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
In Santa Fe, Mr. Szantho attended EJ Martinez Elementary School, DeVargas Junior High School and Santa Fe High School. After graduating from Santa Fe, he attended the University of New Mexico on an activity scholarship, studying history and political science. Following in his mother’s footsteps, he was a member of the University’s men’s gymnastics team, which was ranked first in the United States during his freshman and sophomore years.
Mr. Szantho was accepted to the University of New Mexico School of Law via the early admissions program and started his legal studies immediately after finishing his bachelor’s degree. Following a lifelong interest in the drama of the courtroom, Mr. Szantho focused his studies on litigation and courtroom practice. After graduation, he gained three years of courtroom experience working for the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office, prosecuting cases ranging from DWI to attempted murder, in three counties: Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Rio Arriba.
In 2007, Mr. Szantho founded his own law firm, the Szantho Law Firm, P.C. Since then, he has helped hundreds of clients with a myriad of legal issues, focusing on car accidents and personal injury law. Mr. Szantho represents each client with the discipline and toughness he gained as a collegiate athlete as well as the courtroom confidence he perfected during his time as a prosecutor. He takes great pride in helping people through some of the most difficult times in their lives. Contact us today to learn how we can help you. We offer a free case evaluation to all potential clients.
James Tawney
Accident Lawyer
James Tawney is a native of the Southwest dedicated to serving his community. He was born and raised in Arizona, where he attended Northern Arizona University and graduated summa cum laude. After receiving his undergraduate degree, he attended Texas Tech University School of Law in Lubbock, Texas. During this time, he received multiple awards for academic excellence and was actively involved in the trial advocacy program.
He served as the lead articles editor for the Estate Planning & Community Property Law Journal, for which he was also a published author. He graduated from law school magna cum laude. After law school, James began his professional legal career at an El Paso-based plaintiff’s personal injury law firm. His practice included representing multiple injury victims and their families throughout New Mexico and Texas. In 2016, he, along with fellow plaintiff’s attorneys Connie Flores and Alejandro Acosta, founded Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C. with offices located in Las Cruces, Carlsbad, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas.
New Mexico’s Pedestrian Peril: A Comprehensive Analysis, Legal Solutions, and the Role of Expert Lawyers
The “Land of Enchantment,” New Mexico, boasts breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant communities. However, for pedestrians navigating its streets, the enchanting beauty can be overshadowed by the harsh reality of pedestrian accidents. New Mexico consistently ranks above the national average in pedestrian fatalities, making it crucial to understand the risks, available legal solutions, and why retaining an expert lawyer is essential after an accident.
A Multifaceted Threat: Understanding Pedestrian Accidents in New Mexico
- Alarming Statistics: Data from the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) paints a concerning picture. New Mexico consistently ranks higher than the national average in pedestrian fatalities per capita. These statistics highlight the urgent need for improved pedestrian safety measures.
- Contributing Factors: Several factors contribute to this alarming trend, including:
- Distracted Driving: Drivers using cell phones, texting, or engaging in other distracting activities pose a significant threat to pedestrians.
- Speeding: Excessive speed limits a driver’s reaction time and significantly increases the severity of an accident, especially for pedestrians.
- Impaired Driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs further compromises a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely.
- Poor Road Design: Inadequate crosswalks, missing sidewalks, and poorly lit areas can create dangerous situations for pedestrians, especially at night.
- Pedestrian Behavior: While driver negligence is a major factor, some pedestrian behaviors like jaywalking or using electronic devices while walking can also contribute to accidents.
Government Initiatives and Community Efforts:
- NMDOT Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program: Recognizing the severity of the issue, the NMDOT has implemented a dedicated program to improve pedestrian safety. This program focuses on public awareness campaigns, promoting responsible driving habits, and encouraging pedestrian safety education.
- Vision Zero New Mexico: Building on national momentum, New Mexico has adopted Vision Zero, a global movement aiming to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. This initiative pushes for safer road designs, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, and improved data collection to identify and address high-risk areas.
- Complete Streets Initiatives: Several New Mexico cities are implementing Complete Streets programs, prioritizing the needs of all users of the road, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. This involves creating safer infrastructure, improving crosswalk visibility, and reducing traffic speeds in high-pedestrian areas.
- Community Advocacy Groups: Pedestrian safety advocacy groups are working to raise awareness and advocate for legislation that improves pedestrian safety measures in New Mexico. These groups can be a valuable resource for information and support.
Why You Need an Expert Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in New Mexico:
The aftermath of a pedestrian accident can be overwhelming, leaving you with physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial burdens. This is where a skilled pedestrian accident lawyer becomes your strongest advocate. Here’s how they can help:
- Understanding New Mexico’s Legal Landscape: New Mexico has specific laws pertaining to pedestrian accidents, shared liability statutes, and comparative negligence principles. A lawyer well-versed in these laws can navigate the complexities of your case and ensure your rights are protected under New Mexico law.
- Building a Compelling Case: Building a strong case requires meticulous evidence collection. Your lawyer will gather police reports, medical records, witness testimonies, and accident scene analysis to present a comprehensive picture of the accident and establish liability.
- Expert Negotiation with Insurance Companies: Insurance companies are notorious for offering low settlements. A skilled lawyer with experience in New Mexico pedestrian accident cases can negotiate aggressively on your behalf to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and potential future medical needs.
Empowering Recovery: The Long-Term Impact of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents can have lasting physical and emotional consequences. Your lawyer can play a crucial role in your recovery by:
- Securing Maximum Compensation: Beyond immediate medical expenses, your lawyer can help you secure compensation for long-term care needs, lost earning potential due to permanent disabilities, and the emotional impact of the accident.
- Connecting with Medical Specialists: Your lawyer can connect you with medical professionals specializing in treating pedestrian accident injuries, ensuring you receive the best possible care.
- Guiding You Through Rehabilitation: The rehabilitation journey can be complex. Your lawyer can help you navigate this process and ensure you have the resources needed for a full recovery.