The Many Explosion Dangers in New Mexico
New Mexico plays a major role in the nation’s oil and gas industry. Workers spend their days at drilling sites, gas plants, refineries, and compressor stations. Many of these facilities are located in remote areas, and they often involve high pressures, volatile hydrocarbons, and complex equipment. When companies cut corners on safety, the result can be an explosion that devastates workers and nearby communities.
Across the state, people also live with risks from gas distribution lines and residential systems. A leak in a home, apartment, or neighborhood line can lead to a sudden blast that destroys property and causes serious burn injuries. In both industrial and residential settings, companies have a duty to design, maintain, and monitor their systems in a way that helps protect people.
After an explosion, investigations may involve federal and state safety rules that apply to oil and gas operations, industrial plants, and utility lines. Companies often control much of the physical evidence at the site, including equipment, valves, and control systems. This makes it especially important to have an explosion accident lawyer in New Mexico who understands how these operations work and how to secure proof before it disappears.
What to Do After an Explosion
The hours and days after an explosion are overwhelming. You may be in the hospital or at home trying to make sense of what happened. While every situation is different, there are practical steps that can help protect your health and your rights.
Here are important steps to consider after an explosion:
- Get immediate medical care and follow doctors’ instructions, even if some injuries seem minor at first, because blast and inhalation injuries can worsen over time.
- Keep copies of all medical records, discharge papers, and bills, and save clothing, boots, or equipment that was damaged or burned during the incident.
- When possible, have someone you trust take photos of the scene, your injuries, and any visible damage to equipment or buildings before conditions change.
- Do not sign releases or detailed statements for company representatives, insurers, or investigators until you have spoken with an attorney who is looking out for you.
- Contact an explosion lawyer in New Mexico so that key evidence, such as incident reports, maintenance records, and witness statements, can be requested and preserved quickly.
Company investigators and insurance adjusters may seem helpful, but their job is often to limit what the company pays. Speaking with a lawyer early can help you avoid mistakes that might weaken your claim. Our team can step in to handle communications and begin the work of finding out what really happened.
Who May Be Responsible for an Explosion
Explosions almost never happen by chance. They are usually the result of multiple failures by companies and individuals who had a duty to keep people safe. Understanding who may be responsible is an important step in protecting your rights and holding the right parties accountable.
Potentially liable parties can include:
- The owners and operators of refineries, gas plants, and industrial facilities
- Contractors that perform maintenance, construction, or specialized services, especially when work is rushed or performed without proper safeguards
- Manufacturers of valves, piping, control systems, and other equipment if faulty products contributed to a blast
- Pipeline or gas utility companies that ignored warning signs, failed to respond to reports of leaks, or neglected essential inspections
- Employers or site managers who pushed crews to keep working around known hazards or skipped lockout procedures to save time
Companies often deny fault or try to blame the very people who were hurt, especially in high-profile disasters. An explosion injury lawyer in New Mexico can help identify each of these failures so the burden is not placed on injured workers or their families. Our firm has built a reputation for standing up to large corporate defendants and bringing the truth to light. We are prepared to pursue accountability from every party that played a part in causing an explosion.
How Our Explosion Injury Lawyers Help
When you hire us after an explosion, we start by listening to you and your family. We want to understand how the blast happened from your perspective, what injuries you are dealing with, and what you are worried about most. From there, we build a plan to investigate the incident and pursue the compensation you need for the long term.
We work with appropriate consultants to analyze the scene, equipment, and safety systems. Our attorneys review company policies, training records, maintenance logs, and any prior incidents to see where rules may have been broken. We look for every party that may be responsible, including operators, contractors, and manufacturers. This approach helps us pursue all available sources of financial recovery.
In a typical explosion case, compensation may include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Future earning capacity
- Damages for pain, suffering, and physical limitations
When a loved one is lost, families may also pursue wrongful death damages. In both explosion injury and wrongful death cases, we work to recover amounts that reflect not only what you have already faced, but also what you will need in the years ahead.
Why Families Turn To Our Firm
Explosion cases are among the most complex and hard-fought injury cases in the country. Companies move quickly to protect themselves, and they often have teams of lawyers and investigators on site within hours. When families are looking for legal help, they need a firm that is prepared for a serious battle from day one.
Our attorneys have secured more than $20 billion in verdicts and settlements, including multi-billion dollar results. These recoveries include record-setting verdicts against some of the largest corporations in the United States. This history shows that we are prepared to handle high-stakes litigation where the future of a family is on the line.
At the same time, we treat our clients like family. People come to us after fires, explosions, and losses that have turned their world upside down. We listen, we explain the process in plain language, and we help them get connected with the medical care they need. When you hire our team, you get trial lawyers who are all in for you, no matter what.
FAQs, Answered by a New Mexico Explosion Attorney
How Much Does It Cost to Hire Your Firm?
We handle explosion cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you don't pay any upfront fees, and you won't owe us anything for our time or litigation expenses unless we win a verdict or settlement for you. Our goal is to remove financial barriers to getting legal help.
What Should I Do If the Company Is Pressuring Me?
If a company or insurer is pushing you for statements or quick settlements, you can tell them you want to speak with a lawyer first. Then contact us. We can take over communications, help you understand your options, and work to protect you from tactics designed to limit your claim.
How Long Will an Explosion Case Usually Take?
The length of an explosion case depends on factors such as the severity of injuries, the number of companies involved, and how hard they fight liability. Some cases can resolve in negotiations, while others go through trial. Our explosion attorneys can keep you informed throughout and work to move your case forward efficiently.
Do I Need a Local Lawyer If Your Firm Is in Houston?
Our firm is based in Houston, but we handle serious cases across the country, including New Mexico. We are comfortable working in courts outside our home state and traveling to meet clients and investigate incidents. What matters most in a major explosion case is trial strength and resources, not just office location.
Talk To Our New Mexico Explosion Accident Lawyers
An explosion can leave you facing burns, surgeries, grief, and a future that feels uncertain. You should not also have to fight powerful companies and insurers alone. If you are considering an explosion attorney in New Mexico, we are ready to listen, answer your questions, and explain your options.
At Arnold & Itkin, our trial lawyers have recovered billions of dollars for people after life-changing accidents, and we bring that same drive to every explosion case we handle. We work on a contingency fee basis, front the costs of building your case, and are committed to fighting for you, no matter what.
To talk with our team in a free, confidential consultation, call (505) 499-4859 today.
