About Caruso Law Offices · Albuquerque
Caruso Law Offices, P.C. is an Albuquerque, New Mexico personal injury law firm founded in 1987 by attorney Mark J. Caruso and his wife Judy Velarde. The firm exclusively handles personal injury and wrongful death claims arising from motor vehicle accidents — car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, box truck and commercial vehicle collisions — across New Mexico and beyond. Founder Mark Caruso, a former insurance-company defense lawyer, is admitted in California, New Mexico and Arizona, has tried major commercial-trucking cases to multi-million-dollar verdicts, and has built the practice into a tightly focused family-run firm.
Caruso Law Offices, P.C. was founded in 1987 by Mark J. Caruso and his wife Judy Velarde in Albuquerque, after Mark moved to New Mexico from Southern California in 1985 and fell in love with the Land of Enchantment. Mark had begun his legal career in 1982 representing insurance companies, but grew disillusioned with helping insurers minimize payouts to accident victims, and pivoted to representing the injured. The firm deliberately narrowed its entire practice to one area — personal injury and wrongful death from motor vehicle accidents — so that every attorney, paralegal and staff member focuses daily on the same category of case. Over nearly four decades the firm has grown into a multi-office operation with a main office in Albuquerque (4302 Carlisle Blvd NE), a Rio Rancho office (1005 21st Street SE, Suite #11), and a satellite office in Ontario, California (337 North Vineyard Ave, Suite 400). It is also a true family firm: Mark and Judy's three daughters — associate attorneys Giovanna Caruso and Jordana Troise and assistant office manager Shaina Caruso — all work there, along with Mark's son-in-law Nick Troise, a paralegal. The firm has been recognized as a Top 3 personal injury firm in Albuquerque and a Top 10 car and truck accident firm in New Mexico, is a member of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, holds a BBB A+ rating, and has secured recent verdicts and settlements of $5.5M, $7.8M, and two $12M trucking cases.
- In business
- Founded 1987 (37+ years); Mark Caruso licensed since 1982
- Owner
- Mark J. Caruso (Founder & Senior Attorney), with wife Judy Velarde Caruso as co-founder; family-run with daughters Giovanna Caruso and Jordana Troise (associate attorneys) and Shaina Caruso (assistant office manager), and son-in-law Nick Troise (paralegal)
- Serves
- Entire state of New Mexico (including Albuquerque metro — Northeast Heights, Westside, North Valley/Los Ranchos, Downtown, Old Town, Nob Hill, Uptown, University/Midtown, Barelas, South Valley, North Albuquerque Acres, Kirtland AFB, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas, Peralta, Placitas, Bernalillo, Edgewood — and New Mexico's pueblos and reservations); also handles cases in California via Ontario office
- Rating
- 4.7–4.8 out of 5 on Google (approximately 342 Google reviews as shown on Google Maps); 4.8 on TrustAnalytica (101 reviews)
About the Firm
Caruso Law Offices, P.C. is an Albuquerque-based personal injury and wrongful death firm that limits its entire practice to one category of case — motor vehicle accidents. Founded in 1987 by Mark J. Caruso and his wife Judy Velarde, the firm has grown into a multi-office practice with locations in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Ontario, California. The firm's philosophy is that accident victims deserve aggressive representation against insurance companies, and every attorney, paralegal and staff member focuses exclusively on vehicle-related injury and wrongful death claims.
- Founded 1987 by Mark and Judy Caruso
- Exclusively handles motor vehicle accident injury and wrongful death
- Family practice: founder plus three daughters and son-in-law
- Offices in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Ontario, CA
- BBB A+ rated; 4.7–4.8 stars on Google
Founder: Mark J. Caruso
Mark Caruso is the founder and senior attorney of Caruso Law Offices. Originally from the Los Angeles area, he attended Pepperdine University (B.S. magna cum laude, 1979) and Pepperdine University School of Law (J.D. cum laude, 1982), where he served on the Honor Board and won American Jurisprudence Awards in Administrative Law and Labor Law. He began his career representing insurance companies, but after seeing how insurers minimized payouts to accident victims, he switched sides. Mark is admitted in California (1982), New Mexico (1987) and Arizona (2023), and in numerous federal district and appellate courts. He served in the New Mexico Legislature from 1991 to 1995 (Republican, District 23) and has been named to multiple state boards by governors of both parties.
- Born-again Christian; attends Legacy Church in Albuquerque
- Former insurance defense attorney — now fights for injury victims
- Member, Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA)
- Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Has secured jury verdicts of $5.5M and $7.8M and two $12M settlements
- Frequently consulted by other attorneys on FMCSR and NM Motor Carrier Act
Practice Areas — Motor Vehicle Accident Focus
The firm works one type of case every day of the week — motor vehicle accidents. By narrowing the practice to this single category, the legal team develops deep familiarity with the specific statutes, insurance tactics, and litigation strategies that apply. Every case is prepared from day one as if it will go to trial, even though most claims resolve in settlement.
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents / tractor-trailers / 18-wheelers
- Commercial vehicle and box truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) accidents
- Amazon delivery vehicle accidents
- Wrongful death from any of the above
Commercial Trucking & Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
A signature specialty of the firm is commercial-vehicle and tractor-trailer litigation under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) and the New Mexico Motor Carrier Act (NMCA). Mark Caruso is recognized as one of the foremost New Mexico attorneys on commercial-vehicle cases, regularly accepting co-counsel positions from out-of-state attorneys and routinely receiving referrals from in-state lawyers, health-care professionals, body shops, and insurance agents.
- ATAA member — prestigious national truck-accident lawyer group
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation expertise
- New Mexico Motor Carrier Act expertise
- Notable verdicts: $5.4M and $7.8M in U.S. District Court
- Two $12M settlements in U.S. District Court and NM District Court
- On-call expert witnesses available to prove trucking cases
How the Firm Works — Contingency Fees & Free Consultations
Caruso Law Offices operates on a contingency fee basis: clients pay nothing up front and owe no attorney fee unless the firm recovers compensation. Free case reviews are offered by phone or in person, and the firm can meet prospective clients at their home, workplace, church, or local coffee shop. The firm emphasizes continuous communication and personal relationships, and Google reviews frequently mention paralegals by name (Nick Troise, Kelly, Martha, Kellie, Christian Cano, Cristen Eagan) for responsiveness and attention to detail.
- Contingency fee — no recovery, no fee
- Free telephone and in-person case review
- Available meetings at home, work, church, or coffee shop
- Claims-rated Google score ~4.7–4.8 across ~340+ reviews
- Bilingual service for Spanish-speaking clients
- Referrals to Christian health-care providers for uninsured clients (per firm profile)
Areas Served Across New Mexico
From its Albuquerque headquarters and Rio Rancho satellite, Caruso Law Offices represents injury victims throughout New Mexico, including in the state's pueblos and reservations. The firm lists specific Albuquerque neighborhoods and nearby communities it serves.
- Northeast Heights, Westside, North Valley/Los Ranchos
- Downtown, Old Town, Nob Hill, Uptown, University/Midtown
- Barelas, South Valley, North Albuquerque Acres
- Kirtland AFB, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas, Peralta
- Placitas, Bernalillo, Edgewood
- New Mexico pueblos and reservations
Awards, Rankings & Professional Affiliations
Mark Caruso and the firm have received dozens of recognitions from national and state organizations. The firm is consistently named among the top personal injury and trucking practices in New Mexico, and Mark is a finalist for the National Trial Lawyers Association's top truck accident lawyer in the country.
- Top 3 Personal Injury Law Firm in Albuquerque
- Top 10 Truck Accident Attorney in New Mexico
- Top 10 Car Accident Attorney in New Mexico
- National Trial Lawyers — Top 100 (finalist, truck accident)
- Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association — Top 100 Lawyers
- National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys — Top 10
- American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys — Client Satisfaction Award
- AVVO Client Distinction Award
- Martindale-Hubbell BV rated
- BBB A+ rated
- Lead Counsel Verified in Personal Injury (since 2013)
Team — A Family Practice
Caruso Law Offices is genuinely a family-run firm. Mark and his wife Judy co-founded the practice in 1987; their three daughters all work there, along with Mark's son-in-law. The associate attorneys, paralegals, and support staff form the team that handles the firm's caseload of motor vehicle injury and wrongful death claims.
- Mark J. Caruso — Founder & Senior Attorney
- Giovanna Caruso — Associate Attorney (daughter)
- Jordana Troise — Associate Attorney (daughter)
- Shaina Caruso — Assistant Office Manager (daughter)
- Nick Troise — Paralegal (son-in-law)
- Judy Velarde Caruso — Co-founder, community figure (former Albuquerque High Homecoming Queen)
Media, Community & Public Service
Mark Caruso has appeared on KOB-TV, KRQE-TV, KOAT-TV and in the Albuquerque Journal and national media to discuss commercial-vehicle accident representation. He has served on the New Mexico Legislature (1991–1995), chaired the New Mexico Municipal Boundary Commission, and sits on advisory committees including MADD and the New Mexico Massage Therapy Board.
- Media: KOB-TV, KRQE-TV, KOAT-TV, Albuquerque Journal
- Former NM State Representative, District 23 (1991–1995)
- Chairman, NM Municipal Boundary Commission (1988–1991)
- Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (NM) — Attorney Advisory Committee
- Better Business Bureau of the Southwest
- Founder, NM for Term Limits
- Legacy Church community involvement
Contact & Office Locations
Free case consultations are available by phone or online. The firm has three physical offices and can also travel to meet clients at their home, work, church, or coffee shop.
- Albuquerque (main): 4302 Carlisle Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107 — (505) 883-5000
- Fax: (505) 883-5012
- Rio Rancho: 1005 21st Street SE, Suite #11, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
- Ontario, CA: 337 North Vineyard Ave, Suite 400, Ontario, CA 91764 — (909) 937-4480
- Web: https://www.carusolaw.com/