When a Helicopter Crash Changes Everything, We Fight for Your Recovery
A helicopter accident can destroy lives in seconds. If you suffered catastrophic injuries or lost someone you love in a helicopter crash, you're facing overwhelming challenges: devastating injuries, mounting medical bills, and questions about what happens next. At Arnold & Itkin, our New Mexico helicopter accident attorneys understand what you're going through. We've spent more than two decades helping families recover from aviation accidents and other disasters.
Helicopter crash cases are extraordinarily complex. They involve federal aviation regulations, multiple parties who may be legally responsible, and well-funded companies with teams of defense lawyers working to minimize what they pay you. You need attorneys who know how to investigate these crashes, identify every responsible party, and fight major corporations in court. That's exactly what we do. We've won over $20 billion for clients nationwide.
Call (505) 499-4859 for a free consultation with our New Mexico helicopter accident lawyers. We can answer your questions and discuss your next steps.
The actions you take immediately after a helicopter accident can impact your rights and ability to recover compensation. Here's what you need to know:
Get Medical Care Immediately, Even If You Feel Okay
Adrenaline can mask serious injuries. You might feel fine immediately after a crash even though you're suffering from internal bleeding, brain injuries, or spinal cord damage. Get examined right away. In the Albuquerque area, University of New Mexico Hospital operates New Mexico's only Level I trauma center and has extensive experience treating aviation accident injuries. Presbyterian Hospital and Lovelace Medical Center are two other major facilities nearby.
Even if you're treated at the scene and released, follow up with your doctor within 24 hours. Delaying medical treatment gives insurance companies arguments that your injuries aren't serious or weren't caused by the crash.
Preserve Evidence If You Can
If you're physically able, documenting evidence can strengthen your case:
Take photos of the crash site, wreckage, and your injuries.
Get contact information from witnesses.
Save any personal belongings damaged in the crash.
Write down what happened while the details are fresh.
Keep all medical records, bills, and communications about the accident.
Don't worry if you can't do this yourself. That's why you need an attorney immediately. We can start investigating and preserving evidence while you focus on recovery.
Report the Accident, But Watch What You Say
Helicopter crashes in New Mexico trigger multiple investigations. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) typically investigates serious accidents, while the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examines regulatory compliance. Local law enforcement, such as the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department in Albuquerque or New Mexico State Police in other regions of the state, may also investigate.
Cooperate with investigators, but stick to the facts. Don't speculate about causes, don't admit fault, and don't downplay your injuries. It's perfectly acceptable to say you need to speak with an attorney before providing detailed statements.
Don't Talk to Insurance Companies Without a Lawyer
After a helicopter crash, you'll likely hear from insurance adjusters—sometimes within hours. They may represent the helicopter operator, a maintenance company, the aircraft owner, or your own insurance carrier. These adjusters are trained to get you to say things that hurt your case or to accept quick, lowball settlements before you understand the full extent of your injuries. Do not give recorded statements to any insurance company without legal representation. Politely decline and refer them to your attorney. You have that right, and exercising it protects your interests.
Contact a New Mexico Helicopter Accident Attorney Immediately
Helicopter crash cases move quickly. Evidence disappears, wreckage gets moved or destroyed, and companies begin building their defense immediately. The sooner you contact an experienced aviation attorney, the better your chances of a successful outcome. New Mexico's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident. For wrongful death claims, the deadline is also generally three years from the date of death.
While three years might seem like plenty of time, waiting is dangerous:
Physical evidence gets lost, destroyed, or degraded.
Witnesses' memories fade or witnesses become unavailable.
Maintenance records can "disappear."
Companies have more time to build defenses against your claim.
Critical investigation deadlines may pass.
We recommend contacting an attorney within days of the accident, not months or years later.
Why People Choose Arnold & Itkin After Helicopter Disasters
We've Won Over $20 Billion for Catastrophic Injury Victims Our track record includes multi-billion-dollar verdicts against some of the largest corporations in America. We've taken on helicopter operators, aircraft manufacturers, maintenance companies, and aviation giants—and won. Organizations including Best Lawyers in America, Inner Circle of Advocates, Super Lawyers, and Lawdragon have recognized our work, but what matters most is the results we deliver for clients.
You Pay Nothing Unless We Win We handle all helicopter accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs, no hourly fees, and no surprise bills. We advance every expense—expert witnesses, investigators, court costs—and only get paid if we recover compensation for you. If we don't win, you owe us nothing.
We Prepare Every Case for Trial Insurance companies and corporations respond differently when they know you have trial lawyers, not settlement attorneys. We prepare every case as if it's going to trial from day one. That approach gets results. Companies take you seriously when they see we're ready to put them in front of a jury.
Our Clients Become Like Family We limit the number of cases we take so every client gets personal attention. You'll have direct access to your attorneys, regular updates on your case, and answers to your questions whenever you need them. Many clients tell us they felt supported like family, not treated like a case number. That's exactly the experience we work to provide.
“Arnold & Itkin, they really do care about their clients. I really can tell because we feel a bond with them. They are my brothers and sisters from here on out.”
In New Mexico, helicopter operators face specific risks:
High-Altitude Operations: Albuquerque sits at over 5,000 feet, and high elevation affects helicopter performance. Thin air reduces engine power and rotor efficiency, requiring careful weight calculations and limiting payload capacity. When operators overload aircraft or fail to account for density altitude, crashes become more likely.
Mountain Flying Challenges: The Sandia Mountains, Sacramento Mountains, and other ranges throughout New Mexico create dangerous downdrafts, unpredictable wind patterns, and limited emergency landing options. Mountain flying requires specialized training and experience that not all pilots possess.
Tourism & Sightseeing Flights: New Mexico's stunning landscapes attract tourists who book scenic helicopter tours over places like Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands, and the Rio Grande Gorge. These operators sometimes prioritize profits over safety, using older aircraft or pushing pilots to fly in marginal weather conditions.
Medical Evacuations: Rural areas across New Mexico rely on air ambulance services. These companies face constant pressure to respond quickly, sometimes launching flights in poor weather or when aircraft have maintenance issues. When medevac helicopters crash, patients, medical crews, and pilots all face the consequences.
Oil & Gas Operations: The Permian Basin and other energy production areas may use helicopters to transport workers, conduct pipeline inspections, and access remote sites. Oil and gas helicopter operations often involve flights over rugged terrain with few safe landing areas.
Military & Government Operations: With military installations like Kirtland Air Force Base, Holloman Air Force Base, and White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico sees significant military helicopter activity. Military crashes involve different legal processes, but civilian contractors and personnel injured in these incidents may have legal claims.
It is important to note that these risks are well-known and recognized. Operators, manufacturers, and pilots must take reasonable measures to address risks posed by New Mexico's terrain, altitude, and weather. That includes holding flights in poor conditions, conducting proper maintenance, and taking other steps to ensure the safety of every aircraft. As helicopter accident lawyers in New Mexico, we fight to hold all responsible parties to the appropriate standard.
Compensation Available in New Mexico Helicopter Accident Cases
The compensation you can recover depends on the severity of your injuries, who was at fault, and how the crash has impacted your life. Our attorneys fight to secure complete compensation that take into account the long-term (and often lifelong) impact that a serious helicopter accident may have on a victim or family.
Economic Damages
The first category of compensation is economic damages. These are tangible, quantifiable losses related to medical expenses, lost income and earning capacity, and other financial losses:
Medical Expenses
Emergency room treatment and hospitalization
Surgeries and medical procedures
Medications and medical equipment
Physical therapy and rehabilitation
Future medical care for permanent injuries
Home health care or nursing services
Modifications to your home for disabilities
Lost Income & Earning Capacity
Wages lost while recovering from injuries
Lost earning capacity if you can't return to your previous job
Loss of benefits like health insurance, retirement contributions, and bonuses
Retraining costs if you need to learn a new profession due to disabilities
Other Financial Losses
Property damage (personal belongings destroyed in the crash)
Travel expenses for medical treatment
Costs of hiring help for tasks you can no longer perform
Non-Economic Damages
Beyond the financial costs, helicopter crashes inflict profound personal suffering that deserves compensation. Known as non-economic damages, this may include: pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of quality of life, disfigurement, scarring, and loss of consortium. These damages may be harder to quantify, but they are just as important as economic losses. The emotional trauma that crash survivors and victims' families endure must be addressed.
Wrongful Death Damages
When a New Mexico helicopter crash takes a loved one's life, surviving family members may seek and recover financial compensation for the losses they have experienced. Under New Mexico law, wrongful death claims can be brought by the deceased's personal representative on behalf of surviving family members.
Wrongful death damages may include:
Funeral and burial expenses
Loss of financial support the deceased would have provided
Loss of services, guidance, and companionship
Mental anguish and emotional suffering
Punitive Damages
In cases involving particularly egregious conduct—such as knowingly flying defective aircraft, falsifying maintenance records, or recklessly endangering passengers—New Mexico law allows punitive damages designed to punish defendants and deter similar conduct. These damages can significantly increase your total recovery.
New Mexico Resources for Helicopter Accident Victims
Medical Facilities
University of New Mexico Hospital (Albuquerque) 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 As New Mexico's only Level I trauma center, UNM Hospital treats the most serious injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe burns, and multiple trauma. https://unmhealth.org/locations/unm-hospital/
Presbyterian Hospital (Albuquerque) 1100 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 Major medical center with comprehensive emergency and trauma services. https://www.phs.org/presbyterian-hospital
Lovelace Medical Center (Albuquerque) 601 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 Full-service hospital with emergency department and specialized care. https://lovelace.com/location/entity3622/
Investigation & Regulatory Agencies
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) The NTSB investigates all civil aviation accidents and many public-use aircraft accidents. Their reports provide crucial information about crash causes, and technical findings may be admissible in court in certain circumstances.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) The FAA's Albuquerque Flight Standards District Office oversees aviation safety in New Mexico, including helicopter operator certifications, pilot licensing, and aircraft airworthiness.
New Mexico State Police New Mexico State Police often respond to helicopter crashes and conduct parallel investigations, particularly when accidents occur outside of Albuquerque.
Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department Handles investigations for crashes in Bernalillo County, including many areas around Albuquerque.
Helicopter Accident Cases Are Different
Helicopter accident cases aren't like car crashes, slip and fall accidents, or other personal injury lawsuits. They involve federal aviation regulations, highly technical evidence, and powerful defendants with sophisticated legal teams working to avoid liability from the moment a crash occurs. Most New Mexico personal injury attorneys have never handled a helicopter accident case and lack the specific knowledge these claims require.
Arnold & Itkin's Approach to New Mexico Helicopter Accident Cases
When you hire us, we act immediately. We send investigators to secure the crash site, document evidence before it disappears, and put all potentially liable parties on notice that evidence must be preserved. This rapid response can make the difference between a strong case and a weak one.
Our team examines:
NTSB and FAA investigation reports and findings
Helicopter maintenance records and inspection reports
Pilot training, experience, and compliance with duty time regulations
Weather conditions and forecasts at the time of the crash
Flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder information (if available)
Component part histories and manufacturer safety bulletins
Similar accidents involving the same operator, helicopter model, or component
Corporate safety cultures and whether companies prioritized profits over safety
Our Albuquerque helicopter accident lawyers work with the nation's leading aviation experts who can analyze complex technical evidence, identify causes, and testify credibly in court. Our expert witnesses have testified in hundreds of cases and know how to explain complicated concepts clearly to juries.
Insurance companies and corporations know our reputation and our results. They know we're prepared to take cases to trial. This often results in better settlement offers. But when settlement negotiations fail to produce fair compensation, we're always ready and willing to go to court.
Contact Our New Mexico Helicopter Accident Lawyers Today
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a New Mexico helicopter crash, you don't have to face this alone. Our attorneys are ready to fight for your rights and your recovery. You can also contact us online to schedule a confidential case evaluation. We'll review what happened, explain your legal options, and answer every question you have. There's no obligation and no cost unless we recover compensation for you.
Serving clients throughout New Mexico and nationwide, including in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho, Roswell, Farmington, Clovis, Hobbs, Carlsbad, and the surrounding areas.
CommonQuestions
How Long Do I Have to File a Helicopter Accident Lawsuit in New Mexico?
New Mexico's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident. For wrongful death claims, family members typically have three years from the date of death to file. However, claims against government entities have much shorter deadlines—you must provide notice within 90 days and file within two years. Don't assume you have plenty of time. Evidence disappears quickly after a helicopter crash. Wreckage gets moved, maintenance records can vanish, and witnesses' memories fade. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better we can preserve critical evidence and build the strongest possible case for your recovery.
Does New Mexico's High Altitude Affect Helicopter Safety?
New Mexico's elevation—Albuquerque sits above 5,000 feet—significantly impacts helicopter performance. Thin air at high altitudes reduces engine power and rotor efficiency, requiring careful weight calculations and limiting payload capacity. Mountains throughout New Mexico create dangerous downdrafts and unpredictable wind patterns. When operators overload aircraft, fail to account for density altitude, or pilots lack proper high-altitude training, accidents become more likely. Our Albuquerque helicopter accident attorneys work with aviation experts who understand how New Mexico's unique geography contributes to crashes and can prove when operators or pilots failed to account for these hazards properly.
Can I Sue If My Loved One Died in a New Mexico Helicopter Crash?
When a helicopter crash causes death, surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim to recover compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support your loved one would have provided, and loss of companionship and guidance. Under New Mexico law, the deceased person's personal representative brings the wrongful death claim on behalf of surviving family members. Our attorneys handle these cases with compassion while fighting aggressively for justice. We understand that no amount of money can replace your loved one, but fair compensation provides financial security and holds negligent parties accountable for their actions.
What If I Was Injured While Working on an Oil Rig or at a Remote Worksite?
You likely have multiple avenues for compensation. While New Mexico workers' compensation may cover some expenses, you can also sue third parties whose negligence caused the crash—including the helicopter operator, maintenance companies, or aircraft manufacturers. If your work involves interstate commerce or you're classified as a maritime worker, federal laws like the Jones Act may allow you to sue your employer directly for negligence. These cases are complex, and determining which laws apply requires experienced attorneys. We can evaluate your specific situation, identify all potentially liable parties, and pursue every available source of compensation to ensure you receive maximum recovery.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire Arnold & Itkin for a Helicopter Accident Case?
Nothing upfront. We handle all helicopter accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. We advance all case expenses (like expert witnesses, investigators, and court costs) and only get paid if we win. If we don't recover money for you, you owe us nothing. This arrangement allows you to have experienced trial lawyers fighting for you without worrying about legal bills while dealing with medical expenses and lost income. During your free consultation, we'll explain our fee structure clearly and answer any questions about costs.
