$
0
Billion
Recovered in Verdicts and Settlements
Every worker deserves a safe jobsite. But across New Mexico, from oilfields in the Permian Basin to construction sites in Albuquerque, employers continue to take shortcuts that put people in danger. When those shortcuts result in life-changing injuries, the consequences are too severe to ignore.
Workplace accidents may seem unpredictable on the surface, but many are rooted in preventable negligence. And when that’s the case, workers aren’t limited to filing a workers’ compensation claim. You may be entitled to file a lawsuit and demand full accountability. At Nix Patterson, we help injured workers in New Mexico determine whether employer misconduct played a role—and if so, we build aggressive, trial-ready cases that fight for justice.
At Nix Patterson, we approach every workplace injury case with the expectation that it could end up in court. From the moment you hire us, we begin preserving evidence, identifying liable parties, and working with safety experts who can testify to what went wrong. Insurance companies and employers alike know which firms fold and which firms fight. We prepare like it matters—because it does.
We do not file or process workers’ compensation claims. That system has limits, and for workers dealing with catastrophic harm, those limits aren’t enough. Our focus is on cases involving serious, often permanent injuries caused by employer negligence. We step in when the safety failures are clear, the injuries are devastating, and the law allows for something more than a standard claim.
Workplace injury law changes from state to state. That’s why our strategies never rely on templates or assumptions. Whether your injury occurred in Carlsbad, Las Cruces, or Farmington, our team tailors each approach to the jurisdiction, court system, and state-specific liability rules that govern your case. We understand how New Mexico defines negligence, what its statutes require, and how to navigate the procedural nuances that can affect your recovery.
While our lawyers are licensed in multiple jurisdictions, we treat each state like its own battleground. That means deploying the full force of our national resources—investigators, paralegals, litigation staff, expert witnesses—into New Mexico-specific litigation strategies. Our infrastructure allows us to scale quickly, respond aggressively, and bring in exactly the right expertise to prove how your employer failed to keep you safe.
Navigating the aftermath of a workplace injury in New Mexico starts with understanding what the law allows—and what it doesn’t. Many injured workers assume that workers’ compensation is their only option. That’s not always the case.
In New Mexico, most employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This system provides limited benefits regardless of who caused the accident. If you’re hurt on the job, workers’ comp may cover your medical bills and partial wage replacement, but it does not provide compensation for pain, suffering, or long-term quality-of-life losses. It also generally prevents you from suing your employer, even if they were negligent.
However, not every case is locked into the workers’ comp system. And that’s where civil lawsuits become critical.
Certain exceptions allow workers to file a lawsuit directly against their employer or a responsible third party. These claims are fault-based, which means you must prove negligence, but they also open the door to full compensation, including damages for emotional distress, long-term disability, and future lost income.
You may have the right to file a civil lawsuit if your employer doesn’t carry workers’ compensation insurance, if a third party contributed to your injury, or if gross negligence played a role. At Nix Patterson, we help clients understand whether their injuries fall into one of these categories and if so, we build claims designed to hold those responsible fully accountable.
New Mexico law requires employers to provide a safe working environment. That includes properly maintaining equipment, enforcing safety procedures, offering adequate training, and complying with both state and federal safety regulations. When employers fail in these duties—and someone gets hurt as a result—that’s more than a policy violation. It’s legal negligence.
Our legal team investigates whether your employer lived up to those obligations. And when we find they didn’t, we take action.
Not every workplace injury is a lawsuit. But many are. When a preventable hazard causes serious harm, it’s not just an accident—it’s a legal failure. If you’re wondering whether negligence played a role in your injury, here are signs to watch for.
If you or your coworkers raised concerns about a dangerous condition and the employer failed to respond, that can be strong evidence of negligence. Employers have a legal duty to act on known risks. Ignoring warnings, especially after repeated reports, shows a pattern of disregard that can support a civil claim.
Machinery, vehicles, and tools must be regularly inspected and kept in safe working condition. When employers delay repairs, skip maintenance, or knowingly allow workers to use defective equipment, they create a dangerous environment. If faulty gear contributed to your injury, that failure may justify a lawsuit.
Putting workers on the job without proper instruction is one of the most common forms of employer negligence. If you were assigned tasks without being trained—or if you were told to work without the necessary safety gear—your employer may be liable. Training isn’t optional. It’s a legal requirement in many industries, especially high-risk ones like oilfield operations and construction.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) exists to enforce workplace safety. If your employer has a history of OSHA violations—or if your injury resulted from a hazard already flagged in a past inspection—that history may help prove liability. Multiple incidents or injuries in the same workplace can also point to systemic problems that go beyond simple mistakes.
Some jobs in New Mexico carry greater dangers than others. But when employers in these high-risk industries fail to follow safety protocols, the risk of catastrophic injury grows exponentially. At Nix Patterson, we’ve seen how systemic negligence in physically demanding environments leads to permanent harm and how those harms could have been prevented.
New Mexico’s oilfields are among the most hazardous workplaces in the country. Workers face exposure to high-pressure equipment, flammable materials, and confined spaces. When employers rush the job, ignore maintenance schedules, or fail to enforce safety measures, explosions, chemical burns, and crush injuries are often the result.
Falls, electrocutions, and equipment malfunctions are all too common on construction sites—especially when scaffolding is improperly installed or workers aren’t provided with adequate fall protection. In roofing, even a minor oversight can lead to a life-altering fall. These industries demand strict adherence to safety codes, and when employers cut corners, they put lives at risk.
Mining operations and other excavation work expose employees to unstable ground, cave-ins, and dangerous machinery. Poor supervision or defective equipment can quickly escalate into disaster. Heavy equipment operators are often injured when machines roll over, malfunction, or are used without proper training or safety checks.
From heat exhaustion to machinery hazards, agricultural and food processing jobs are physically grueling and inherently dangerous. Employers who push production over safety often skip essential precautions leading to amputations, repetitive strain injuries, and exposure to dangerous chemicals. When they do, they open the door to legal accountability.
When a workplace injury causes lasting harm, the impact reaches far beyond the physical. Some injuries carry permanent consequences, limiting mobility, ending careers, or claiming lives altogether. These are the types of cases Nix Patterson handles, because workers in these situations deserve more than minimal compensation.
Falls from scaffolding, struck-by incidents, and explosions can all lead to traumatic brain injuries (TBI). These injuries often result in memory loss, impaired cognition, personality changes, or reduced motor skills. When employer negligence causes this kind of trauma, a lawsuit may be the only way to recover the true cost of your future care.
Damage to the spinal cord can lead to partial or full paralysis, making everyday life a challenge. These injuries frequently require long-term rehabilitation, assistive devices, and home modifications. We help clients pursue compensation for the full scope of these needs when unsafe conditions contributed to the harm.
Burns caused by electrical faults, chemical exposure, or industrial fires can lead to extreme pain, disfigurement, and permanent loss of function. These cases often involve not just physical injury, but long-term psychological trauma as well. Our team works to ensure that all forms of suffering are accounted for in your claim.
Improperly guarded machinery, heavy equipment rollovers, and entrapment incidents frequently result in amputations or crushing damage. These are some of the most devastating injuries a worker can suffer. And when an employer’s negligence is to blame, civil action becomes a critical path to recovery.
When someone is killed on the job due to safety failures, the surviving family may be able to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. These claims allow families to seek compensation for lost income, funeral costs, emotional distress, and the loss of companionship that follows such a tragic, preventable loss.
Filing a lawsuit after a workplace injury isn’t just about assigning blame, it’s about securing the resources needed to rebuild your life. When workers suffer serious harm due to negligence, they may be entitled to far more than workers’ comp can offer.
Lawsuits can recover the full cost of your treatment, including surgeries, hospital stays, medications, and follow-up care. We also account for future expenses such as home health aides, physical therapy, and necessary home or vehicle modifications. These costs add up and your compensation should reflect that.
A serious injury often means time away from work or an end to the career path you once had. We pursue damages for lost wages, missed opportunities, and diminished future earnings. This includes accounting for retirement contributions, bonuses, and benefits you may no longer receive.
Physical pain is only part of the equation. Many workers also deal with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and a loss of independence after being injured. These non-economic damages are real, and they matter. Our goal is to ensure your suffering is fully recognized in the outcome of your case.
In situations where an employer’s behavior was especially reckless—such as knowingly violating OSHA rules or forcing employees to work in clearly unsafe conditions—we may seek punitive damages. These are meant to punish misconduct and deter future harm. While not available in every case, they can make a meaningful difference when warranted.
The actions you take in the hours and days after a serious injury can determine whether your legal claim succeeds. Preserving evidence, protecting your credibility, and avoiding common pitfalls are all essential if you want to hold your employer accountable.
Getting medical care right away protects your health and creates a critical record of the injury. Even if your symptoms seem manageable, internal trauma or delayed effects can worsen quickly. A doctor’s evaluation also links your condition to the workplace event—something insurers will later try to dispute.
If you’re able, take photos or video of the area where the injury occurred. Show the equipment, any warning signs (or lack of them), lighting conditions, or environmental hazards. If you can’t gather this yourself, ask a coworker to help. These images can become vital in proving your case.
Tell your employer what happened, and do it in writing. Include details about when and where the injury occurred, what caused it, and who was present. Keep a copy for your own records. If your employer discourages you from reporting it formally, that may be a red flag worth discussing with an attorney.
Insurance adjusters and HR departments may act helpful at first, but their job is to minimize the claim. Do not give a recorded statement, sign any documents, or accept any settlement offers without speaking to a lawyer. Once you sign away your rights, you may not be able to reopen your case.
You don’t need to figure this out alone. If you suffered a serious injury at work—and believe unsafe conditions or employer negligence played a role—our team at Nix Patterson is ready to help. We represent injured workers across New Mexico in cases where employers failed to uphold their basic duty to keep people safe.
We don’t file workers’ comp claims. Instead, we pursue high-stakes lawsuits that demand real accountability. We work with medical experts, safety engineers, and industry consultants to uncover what went wrong, and build a case that holds the right parties responsible.
We cover all litigation costs up front, from investigations and filings to expert witness fees and trial preparation. You pay nothing unless we win.
Contact Nix Patterson today for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll help you understand your legal options and determine whether a civil lawsuit is the right path forward.
Nix Patterson only works on a contingency fee basis. Our clients pay us nothing unless we win. Schedule a free consultation today. Call 512.328.5333 or complete the form below.
"*" indicates required fields
The information on this site is for informational purposes only. Though it deals with legal issues, it should not be taken as legal advice for any specific case or situation. The law changes rapidly, and we make no warranty or guarantee about the accuracy or reliability of the content or links on this site. Every case and legal issue is different. Speak with a lawyer for specific advice.
This site is not intended to create, and viewing it does not create, an attorney-client relationship. The verdicts and settlements shown on this site are intended to be representative of cases Nix Patterson handles. These listings are not a guarantee or prediction of the outcome of any other cases or claim. Results in litigation can never be guaranteed.
La información contenida en este sitio tiene únicamente fines informativos. Aunque trata de cuestiones jurídicas, no debe tomarse como asesoramiento jurídico para ningún caso o situación específicos. La legislación cambia rápidamente y no garantizamos la exactitud o fiabilidad de los contenidos o enlaces de este sitio. Cada caso y asunto jurídico es diferente. Hable con un abogado para obtener asesoramiento específico.
Este sitio no pretende crear, y su consulta no crea, una relación abogado-cliente. Los veredictos y acuerdos mostrados en este sitio pretenden ser representativos de los casos que maneja Nix Patterson. Estos listados no son una garantía o predicción del resultado de cualquier otro caso o reclamación. Los resultados en litigios nunca pueden ser garantizados.