The worst mistake people make is assuming Uber or the other driver's insurer will start paying hospital bills right away. They usually do not. In New Mexico, bills often land on you first, then get sorted out through health insurance, MedPay, and any later settlement.

In the next 24 hours: Figure out which insurance layer applies. If you were logged out of the app, it is usually your own auto policy and the at-fault driver's liability coverage. If you were logged in waiting for a ride, rideshare companies usually provide contingent coverage only after your own policy is tapped first. If you had accepted a ride or had a passenger, Uber's larger liability coverage may apply.

Also ask every auto insurer involved whether there is Medical Payments coverage (MedPay). New Mexico policies often include it unless rejected in writing. MedPay can pay medical bills fast, no fault required.

Use your health insurance for treatment now. Do not hold bills waiting for a settlement. If you end up transferred to UNM Hospital in Albuquerque, the state's only Level I trauma center, those charges can get large fast.

In the next week: Get the crash report from the Las Cruces Police Department or New Mexico State Police if they handled it. If the crash involved a flooded arroyo or a road with "Do Not Cross When Flooded" warnings, expect insurers to argue fault hard.

Collect every bill and balance from EMS, ER, imaging, physical therapy, and pharmacy. Ask providers whether they filed with health insurance and whether any account is heading to collections. If you do gig work, remember: workers' comp usually does not cover you.

In the next month: Watch for liens and deductions. A settlement is not all yours. Health insurers may seek reimbursement. Medical providers may assert balances. Case costs, lost income proof issues, and policy limits matter more than online "average settlement" numbers.

Check the at-fault driver's limits too. New Mexico's minimum liability is only $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash, which often does not cover a serious injury. New Mexico's general deadline to sue for personal injury is 3 years, so do not let end-of-year renewal pressure push you into a cheap release.