New Mexico Oil Field Accident Attorneys

Oil field accidents can produce injuries with lasting physical, cognitive, and financial consequences. The most commonly reported injuries in these cases include:

• Burn Injuries: Flammable materials are present throughout oil field operations. Burns range from minor to severe third-degree injuries requiring extensive treatment and rehabilitation.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Falls, being struck by falling objects, or the force of an explosion can all cause TBIs. Even injuries that seem manageable at first can produce long-term cognitive and neurological impairments.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Heavy machinery accidents can cause significant spinal damage, sometimes resulting in paralysis or chronic pain that affects a worker’s ability to return to the field.
• Fractures: The weight of equipment and the hazardous conditions of oil field work frequently result in broken bones that require surgery and extended recovery.
• Chemical Burns and Respiratory Problems: Prolonged or acute exposure to toxic chemicals can burn the skin or eyes and cause serious respiratory damage from inhaling harmful fumes.

Third-Party Claims & Contractor Liability in New Mexico Oilfields

A single oilfield site in the Permian Basin typically involves multiple companies working simultaneously: well operators, drilling contractors, equipment suppliers, transport companies, and subcontractors. When a party other than your direct employer contributed to the accident, whether through defective equipment, unsafe work practices, or inadequate oversight, you may be able to pursue a separate personal injury claim alongside a workers’ compensation claim. Those third-party claims open the door to damages workers’ comp doesn’t cover, including pain and suffering, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.

New Mexico’s Oilfield Anti-Indemnity Act (NMSA § 56-7-2) voids contract clauses that would allow one company to shift responsibility for its own negligence onto a contractor or subcontractor in oilfield drilling and service operations. In plain terms, the company actually at fault can’t use a contract to escape liability. Our attorneys have sat on the other side of these disputes, having previously represented major oil companies, and we bring that inside-out knowledge to every case we handle for injured workers. Joel Simon has recovered millions for clients in oil field and catastrophic injury cases, including $17,000,000 in an oilfield explosion case.

What Oil Companies Do After an Accident & How to Protect Yourself

After a serious oilfield accident, companies and their insurers move quickly. Workers may be pressured to give recorded statements, directed to company-hired doctors, or face challenges to the severity of their injuries. Blame can be redirected toward the worker before a full picture of the incident has been established. Our attorneys know these tactics firsthand from their time representing oil companies.

There are concrete steps you can take to protect your claim:

• Seek medical attention immediately.
• Report the injury to your employer in writing. Under NMSA § 52-1-29, written notice is generally required within 15 days of knowing the injury is job-related.
• Document the scene and your injuries as thoroughly as possible.
• Don’t give any recorded statement before speaking with an attorney.
• Act quickly to preserve evidence. Equipment logs, maintenance records, safety inspection reports, and witness accounts can be altered or lost if action is delayed.

Our attorneys are reachable 24/7 on their personal cell numbers, so you can get guidance at any hour.