The numbers behind injury cases in the Four Corners, in one place: crashes by county from the state's own reports, every Indian Health Service facility with the deadline that applies to it, the courts, the clocks, and the coverage. Compiled by Keeler & Keeler in Gallup and updated when the state publishes new data.
The crashes.
Injury crashes per year, 2020 to 2024, with fatal crashes marked in gold. Source: New Mexico Department of Transportation community reports, prepared by the University of New Mexico Traffic Research Unit (gps.unm.edu/tru), 2024 editions.
McKinley County, home to Gallup and the Interstate 40 and US 491 junction, has averaged 24 fatal crashes and about 340 injury crashes a year over the decade. San Juan County, with Farmington and Shiprock, averages 25 fatal and 610 injury crashes. Cibola County, with Grants and the I-40 corridor to Albuquerque, averages 12 fatal and 127 injury crashes. In a civil case alcohol matters twice: a drunk driver's conduct can support punitive damages, and a bar or store that overserved can be a second responsible party.
See the full table, 2020 to 2024+
Fatal crashes / injury crashes / all reported crashes.
| County | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKinley | 20 / 237 / 1,025 | 25 / 355 / 1,343 | 33 / 396 / 1,213 | 26 / 379 / 1,195 | 17 / 352 / 1,213 |
| San Juan | 22 / 474 / 1,671 | 30 / 583 / 2,078 | 18 / 580 / 2,067 | 19 / 600 / 2,100 | 21 / 669 / 2,178 |
| Cibola | 14 / 132 / 502 | 17 / 149 / 540 | 13 / 133 / 417 | 14 / 107 / 353 | 7 / 134 / 476 |
The hospitals.
Medical negligence at any of these is a claim against the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act: an administrative claim within two years, then federal court in Albuquerque. How the claim works.
- Gallup Indian Medical CenterGallup, NM · IHS hospitalFTCA2 years to present
- Northern Navajo Medical CenterShiprock, NM · IHS hospitalFTCA2 years to present
- Crownpoint Health Care FacilityCrownpoint, NM · IHS hospitalFTCA2 years to present
- Zuni Comprehensive Community Health CenterZuni, NM · IHS hospitalFTCA2 years to present
- Acoma-Canoncito-Laguna Service UnitAcoma, NM · IHSFTCA2 years to present
- Chinle Comprehensive Health Care FacilityChinle, AZ · IHS hospitalFTCA2 years to present
- Kayenta Health CenterKayenta, AZ · IHSFTCA2 years to present
- Tséhootsooí Medical CenterFort Defiance, AZ · Tribally operated (638)Usually FTCA2 years to present
- Tuba City Regional Health CareTuba City, AZ · Tribally operated (638)Usually FTCA2 years to present
The courts.
Three court systems hear Four Corners injury cases. Which one depends on where it happened and who was involved.
- Eleventh Judicial DistrictGallup and Aztec, for McKinley and San Juan counties
- Thirteenth Judicial DistrictGrants, for Cibola County
- Second Judicial DistrictAlbuquerque, for Bernalillo County
- District CourtsWindow Rock, Crownpoint, Shiprock, Chinle, Kayenta, Tuba City, Dilkon, Aneth, Ramah, Alamo and To'hajiilee
- Supreme CourtWindow Rock; hears appeals from the district courts
- United States District Court, District of New MexicoAlbuquerque; Federal Tort Claims Act cases, including IHS malpractice
The clocks.
Every deadline that can end a case before it starts, laid out on one line.
Claims against the Navajo Nation government run under the Navajo Sovereign Immunity Act, with a notice period measured in months. Full detail in the deadlines guide.
The coverage.
What New Mexico requires a driver to carry under NMSA 66-5-215, and why it is rarely enough.
A helicopter flight to Albuquerque exceeds the per-person minimum. Insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage equal to your liability limits under NMSA 66-5-301, and a rejection has to be in writing. In a serious crash, that coverage on your own policy is usually what pays. Why the minimum policy is a problem.
The distances.
Approximate driving distance from our office at 235 W Historic Highway 66 in Gallup, where Interstate 40 meets US 491.
We handle cases across all of the counties and courts above, and we come to clients who cannot travel. Call (505) 722-5608 for a free consultation.
Crash figures are reproduced from NMDOT community reports and may differ from federal FARS data. Facility and court lists are for orientation; confirm the correct forum and deadline for your own case with a lawyer.