Oil and Gas Truck Accidents in Hobbs New Mexico Oil Fields

The oilfield in Hobbs, New Mexico can be a dangerous working environment. Oilfield workers are subject to harsh conditions and a stressful job that leads to many accidents. When people think of oilfield accidents, they may picture a well blowout or an explosion or fire, but oil and gas truck accidents in Hobbs New Mexico oil fields are one of the most common types of accidents for oilfield workers.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an oil and gas truck accident, you need an oilfield accident lawyer in Hobbs, New Mexico to fight for you. Hobbs attorney James Shaw has dedicated nearly three decades of his life to serving victims of oil field accidents because he is passionate about helping those in need after suffering from someone else’s negligence.

Federal Law and Trucking Regulations

Truckers and trucking companies have to follow strict state and federal guidelines while doing their job. To prevent driver fatigue and other potential driving errors, The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has created a list of rules that all truck drivers must follow:

• The maximum amount of consecutive time a commercial driver (one who hauls property or goods) can be on the road is 11 hours.
• The truck driver is only allowed to drive for up to 11 hours after a 10 hour consecutive break.
• After 14 consecutive hours on the job, no driving is allowed to be done—even if those hours include work besides driving.
• The truck driver cannot drive after 60 consecutive hours (7 days) or 70 consecutive hours (8 days). The clock can be reset, however, by taking at least 34 consecutive hours off for a 168-hour week.

What makes oil and gas truck accidents in Hobbs New Mexico oil fields so prevalent and dangerous is that the FMCSA actually allows oil and gas trucks some exceptions to these rules, listed below:

1. They are able to log their wait time at an oil site as time off. For instance, if a truck driver arrives at an oil site and has to wait 3 hours before his truck is loaded, that wait time can be considered time off (even though they’re still on the job) and logged accordingly.
2. The clock can be reset with 24 hours off instead of 34 hours.
3. Instead of needing consecutive breaks, they’re allowed to split their break times if they are sleeping at the well site or in their sleeper berth. This exception means they can take shorter breaks over less time between driving hours.

If you were injured in an oilfield trucking accident, talk to a Hobbs oilfield injury lawyer.

Potential Damages

After an oilfield trucking accident, you and your attorney will want to fight to get you compensation. Depending on your circumstances, you can earn non-economic and economic damages, and—if the truck driver was grossly negligent—punitive damages as well. Below is a list of the damages your oilfield accident lawyer in Hobbs, New Mexico could help you win:

• Medical bills
• Property damage
• Lost income
• Past and future income
• Loss of consortium
• Pain and suffering
• Funerary costs

If you don’t have experience, it may be hard to know which of these damages apply to your case. Let a seasoned lawyer review your case to evaluate what kind of damages you could earn in your suit.

Earning Compensation After an Oil and Gas Trucking Accident

Truck accidents in the oilfield happen at an alarming rate. Sadly, most of the time these accidents could have been prevented. No one should have to suffer because of the negligence of another.

If you or a loved one has suffered from an oil and gas truck accident, you need a Hobbs oilfield injury lawyer on your side. Hobbs attorney James Shaw is passionate about helping victims of accidents get the compensation they rightly deserve. If you want justice, call today toll free at 1-800-555-0101 for a free consultation.

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