Two gas pipeline explosions in New Mexico have highlighted the serious risks faced by workers in the oil and gas industry. One explosion in Lea County resulted in two deaths, while a second explosion in San Juan County caused power outages but no reported injuries.
According to reports, the Lea County explosion occurred shortly after 1 p.m. in an oilfield near Highway 176. The Lea County Sheriff’s Office described the incident as an industrial accident. Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion.
The second pipeline explosion occurred later that afternoon in San Juan County. Flames reportedly reached approximately 100 feet into the air. Although there were no reported injuries from that incident, the explosion caused power outages for several hours.
When a pipeline or oilfield explosion occurs, the consequences can be devastating for workers and their families. Even when an accident does not result in a fatality, workers can suffer serious or catastrophic injuries that affect their health, ability to work and quality of life.
Pipeline Explosions Can Cause Catastrophic Injuries
Pipeline and oilfield workers face a variety of hazards, including fires, explosions, heavy equipment accidents and exposure to hazardous materials. A pipeline explosion can produce extreme heat, flying debris, pressure waves and other dangerous conditions within seconds.
Potential injuries from an explosion can include:
- Severe burns and disfigurement
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken bones and other orthopedic injuries
- Internal injuries
- Hearing and vision damage
- Respiratory injuries
- Traumatic amputations
- Permanent disabilities
Some injuries may require extensive hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation and ongoing medical treatment. In the most serious cases, an injured worker may be unable to return to the same occupation or work at all.
The financial impact can extend well beyond the initial medical bills. An injured worker and their family may face lost wages, reduced future earning capacity, long-term medical expenses and the need for ongoing assistance with everyday activities.
Can an Injured Pipeline Worker Receive Workers’ Compensation?
Workers injured in a pipeline or oilfield accident may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, depending on the circumstances of the accident and the worker’s employment.
Workers’ compensation can potentially provide benefits for necessary medical treatment and a portion of lost wages when a worker suffers a qualifying workplace injury. Depending on the severity and circumstances of an injury, additional benefits may also be available.
Catastrophic injury cases can be particularly complicated. A serious injury may affect a worker's ability to perform their current job, their future earning capacity and their need for ongoing medical care.
If you have been injured in a workplace explosion, do not assume that the workers’ compensation process will automatically provide everything you and your family need. An attorney can review your situation, explain your rights and help determine what benefits or other legal claims may be available.
Could Someone Other Than Your Employer Be Responsible?
Workers’ compensation is not necessarily the only potential source of compensation following a workplace accident.
In some situations, a workplace injury may involve the actions or negligence of a third party. For example, an accident could potentially involve a contractor, equipment manufacturer, property owner or another company that was not the injured worker’s employer.
Whether a separate personal injury claim may be available depends on the specific facts and circumstances of the accident.
Because the causes of the recent New Mexico pipeline explosions remain under investigation, it is too early to determine who may ultimately be responsible. Investigators are expected to examine potential factors involving the pipeline, its structural integrity, inspections and other circumstances surrounding the explosions.
An experienced New Mexico injury attorney can investigate the circumstances surrounding an accident and determine whether additional legal options may exist beyond a workers’ compensation claim.
Families of Workers Killed in Pipeline Explosions May Have Legal Options
The loss of a loved one in an industrial accident can be devastating, particularly when the person was a primary source of income for the family.
When a worker dies in a workplace accident, surviving family members may be entitled to workers’ compensation death benefits. Depending on the circumstances, there may also be potential claims against responsible third parties.
These cases can involve significant financial and legal issues in addition to the emotional loss experienced by the family. If your family has lost a loved one in a workplace explosion or other industrial accident, you do not have to navigate these issues alone. The Crow Law Firm can review the circumstances surrounding the accident, explain your legal rights and help you understand what options may be available to your family.
Injured in a New Mexico Pipeline or Oilfield Accident? Contact The Crow Law Firm
The recent explosions in Lea County and San Juan County are a reminder of how quickly an industrial accident can become life-changing.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pipeline explosion, oilfield accident or other workplace accident in New Mexico, contact The Crow Law Firm for a consultation.
You may have important rights involving workers’ compensation, medical expenses, lost wages and, depending on the circumstances, a potential claim against another responsible party. The sooner your case is reviewed, the sooner you can understand your options and take steps to protect your rights.
You should not have to deal with a catastrophic workplace injury or the loss of a family member on your own. Contact The Crow Law Firm today to discuss your case with an experienced New Mexico injury attorney.