Ruidoso Oil Field Accident

The Southwestern United States has been experiencing a tremendous oil and gas boom in recent years, leading to increased wages and productivity in areas such as Texas and New Mexico, including Ruidoso. But with this development and industry also comes increased dangers, as accidents in oil fields are common and very dangerous. The risk is high, and if you or a loved one has been involved in an oilfield accident in Ruidoso and you’re not sure what to do next, the New Mexico oilfield injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw are here to help.

This first thing you need to know is that handling an oilfield accident claim in Ruidoso is complex and laborious, so you should certainly consider meeting with an attorney right away. Because no matter how much attention is paid to safety on the job, oil and gas workers are still sometimes tragically killed or injured in explosions, accidents with machinery, fires, exposure to harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide, methane, and hydrogen sulfide, among other compounds, or myriad other problems that may arise on an oilfield.

There are steps, however, you must take before calling a personal injury attorney in Ruidoso:

• Notify your supervisor about the situation
• Seek medical treatment immediately. This is extremely important to handling an oilfield accident claim in Ruidoso, because your injuries must be documented as soon as possible after the accident in order to maximize your claim.
• Research and contact a personal injury attorney in Ruidoso who has experience with oilfield accidents specifically.

After you’ve taken these steps, it is time to start thinking about calling a lawyer. A civil lawsuit against your employer or a third party (in the event you are injured by someone other than your employer) will help you recover money damages to cover:

• Recent medical treatment
• Future medical expenses
• Other losses, including pain and suffering and mental anguish or loss of consortium
• Lost wages

Keep in mind that even if you’ve been in an oilfield accident in Ruidoso and are receiving worker’s compensation, you can and should still contact a New Mexico oilfield injury attorney to file a legal claim. They will help you claim lost wages in addition to future damages related to the inability to continue work, as well as investigating if you can file a claim against the lease owner or a third party.

An accident of this magnitude will almost assuredly turn your life upside down, and it may take a long time to feel “normal” again. And due to the complex nature of these types of accidents, your claim or lawsuit may take a year or more to resolve, depending on the situation and the extent of your injuries. Though you might want to move quickly, your attorney will need to conduct thorough research to understand what happened and how it will affect you throughout your life, and will therefore encourage you not to rush the process.

That being said, New Mexico has a three-year statute of limitations on these types of accidents (meaning you have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim), so it’s important to contact a lawyer without delay. Your attorney will then be able to help you manage deadlines, gather materials, and evaluate your claim. Note that if you miss your deadline, you risk having your case dismissed.

If you or a loved one has been injured in Ruidoso, Carabin Shaw is here to help you. We’ve won over $500 million for our clients, and our lawyers offer a no cost, no obligation consultation, and we never charge a fee unless we win. Call 915-779-2301 to speak with a New Mexico oilfield injury attorney today—you have nothing to lose.