Tʼáá ałtso biniiyé tʼah doo ákótʼéego tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼgóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego chidí naaki yázhí bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí tʼah doo chidí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼááłáʼí átʼé. Dził Yázhí Bikéyahgóó naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí tʼááłáhjįʼ átʼéego chidí naaki yázhí bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼááłáhjįʼ átʼé. Áádóó tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí dóó chidí naaki yázhí bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da. Áádóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego chʼééh dadiitsʼaʼígíí, azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ, dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego naʼiiniʼígíí.

Tʼáá shił hózhǫ́ǫ́go Ojo Encino Chapter dóó McKinley County bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼááłáhjįʼ átʼé. Áádóó tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká company dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego azeeʼ bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́go bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼááłáhjįʼ átʼé. Áádóó Dził Yázhí Bikéyah tʼáá ałtso bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼááłáhjįʼ átʼéego tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́go tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ Bikááʼ Dah Siʼánígíí Bił Aghádeetʼááhígíí: Azeeʼ Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼígíí dóó Tʼáá Bítséedi Átʼéego Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼígíí

Tʼáá shił hózhǫ́ǫ́go tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego azeeʼ bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́. Azeeʼ bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da, dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼááłáhjįʼ átʼé.

Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼááłáhjįʼ átʼé – dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼááłáhjįʼ átʼé – tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká company dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé:

Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká well site
Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká company dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego
Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká hauling company
Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká equipment
Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká

Azeeʼ bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼááłáhjįʼ átʼé tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ:

Tʼáá ałtso azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí
Tʼáá ałtso naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí
Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ
Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ
Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ
Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ

Dził Yázhí Bikéyah tʼáá ałtso bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼááłáhjįʼ átʼéego tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ – tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ da, dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Áádóó “hedonic damages” wolyé, dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.

Naaltsoos Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼígíí Tʼáá Bítséedi Átʼéego Tʼáadoo Leʼé Tʼááłáʼí Átʼé Da

Federal dóó state laws tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká company tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego chidí bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́. Áádóó naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼááłáhjįʼ átʼé.

Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí, naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ:

Driver logs dóó electronic logging device (ELD) records: 6 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ (49 CFR § 395.8(k))
Post-accident drug dóó alcohol test results: Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ (49 CFR § 382.303)
Driver qualification files: Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí dóó 3 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ (49 CFR § 391.51)
Vehicle inspection dóó maintenance records: 1 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ dóó 6 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego chidí biká company bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ (49 CFR § 396.3(c))
Accident registers: 3 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ (49 CFR § 390.15)

Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí, drug dóó alcohol testing tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Áádóó naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼááłáhjįʼ átʼé.

Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ Bikááʼ Dah Siʼánígíí Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼígíí: Tʼáadoo Leʼé Tʼááłáʼí Átʼéego Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼ

Federal regulations tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego 11 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ, 14 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ, dóó 10 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Áádóó tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.

49 CFR § 395.1(d) tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí:

24 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ (34 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ)
“Waiting time” tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego 14 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da

Áádóó tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká company tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼááłáhjįʼ átʼé.

Tłʼah Hózhǫ́ǫ́go Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼígíí: Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ Bikááʼ Dah Siʼánígíí Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼígíí Biká Web of Liability

Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká company tʼááłáhjįʼ átʼé. Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí, tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé:

Lobo Trucking wolyé Dził Yázhí Bikéyah bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ (Hobbs bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́, 50 power units)
Triple S Trucking wolyé (Aztec bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́, San Juan Basin bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́)
Halliburton dóó Schlumberger wolyé tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká company
Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká owner-operator tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká carrier bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́

Federal leasing regulations (49 CFR § 376.12) tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí USDOT number dóó company wolyé bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká carrier tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká “statutory employer” – tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká carrier tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.

Áádóó tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká company tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí “independent contractors” wolyé. Dził Yázhí Bikéyah tʼáá ałtso bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ Bikááʼ Dah Siʼánígíí Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼígíí Biká Tʼáadoo Leʼé Tʼááłáʼí Átʼéego Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼ

Journal of Forensic Sciences wolyé tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼ 2008 dóó 2018 tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego 73 tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká oil dóó gas worker bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́. Naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego:

Vehicle crashes tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ, 36% tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ
Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego 37 per 100,000 workers – tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ
Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí 23% tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego seat belts tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da
Alcohol 18% tʼáá bítséedi átʼéedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ, drugs 19%, dóó methamphetamine 10%

Dził Yázhí Bikéyah tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Áádóó tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ Bikááʼ Dah Siʼánígíí Bił Aghádeetʼááhígíí Tʼáá Bítséedi Átʼéego 72 Náhástʼéí

Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ:

Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego azeeʼ yiltłʼoh – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ (traumatic brain injuries dóó internal bleeding) tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da. Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéedi átʼéego azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego work-related vehicle crash wolyé.
Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼ – Dził Yázhí Bikéyah tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego 15 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼ, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da. Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go supervisor dóó foreman tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego company tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.
Naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da, tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego chidí bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego chidí tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.
Recorded statements tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da – Insurance adjusters tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego attorney wolyé.
Tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ – Company dóó insurance carrier tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego medical authorizations, settlement offers, dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Attorney wolyé tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.
Attorney wolyé tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ – Naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da. Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.

Tłʼah Hózhǫ́ǫ́go Tʼáá Bítséedi Átʼéego Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼígíí

Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego, company dóó insurance carriers tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ:

Setting low reserves – Adjuster tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.
Conducting surveillance – Insurance companies tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego private investigators tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.
Monitoring your social media – Facebook, Instagram, dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego platform bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.
Sending you to their doctors – Company tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.
Pressuring you to return to work – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.
Offering quick settlements – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego settlement offer tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Dził Yázhí Bikéyah tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Section 59A-16-20 tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego:

Misrepresent policy provisions
Fail to acknowledge dóó act promptly on communications
Fail to adopt reasonable standards for prompt investigation
Compel insureds to institute litigation by offering substantially less than what’s ultimately recovered

Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ Bikááʼ Dah Siʼánígíí Bił Aghádeetʼááhígíí Tʼáá Bítséedi Átʼéego Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼ

Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ:

Immediate evidence preservation – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.
Vehicle inspections – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego chidí bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.
Record collection – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ:
- Driver qualification files
- Hours of service logs
- Vehicle maintenance records
- Training records
- Safety policies dóó procedures
- Accident registers
- Drug dóó alcohol testing records
Expert analysis – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego accident reconstruction experts, medical experts, vocational experts, dóó economists tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.
Depositions – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego company representatives, safety directors, dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.
Negotiation or trial – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego insurance companies dóó, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da, McKinley County bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ jury wolyé.

Naaltsoos Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼígíí: Tʼáá Bítséedi Átʼéego Tʼáadoo Leʼé Tʼááłáʼí Átʼéego Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼ

Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí:

Dził Yázhí Bikéyah minimum coverage – $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
Federal minimum for interstate carriers – $750,000
Typical commercial policies – $1 million to $5 million or more
Additional layers – Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí biká company tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego excess dóó umbrella policies tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.
Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist coverage – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego auto policy tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.

Azeeʼ Yiltłʼohígíí: Dził Yázhí Bikéyah Bikáaʼgi Hólǫ́ǫ́

Ojo Encino Chapter dóó McKinley County bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da. Dził Yázhí Bikéyah tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego Level I trauma center – UNM Hospital Albuquerque bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́. Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí, patients helicopter wolyé:

UNM Hospital Albuquerque bikáaʼgi (Dził Yázhí Bikéyah tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego Level I trauma center)
University Medical Center Lubbock, Texas bikáaʼgi (Level I trauma center eastern New Mexico bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́)

Áádóó tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ:

Delayed definitive care – Helicopter wolyé tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.
Air medical costs – Helicopter transport tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tens of thousands of dollars tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.
Long-term rehabilitation – Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go azeeʼ yiltłʼoh, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.
Life care planning – Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go azeeʼ yiltłʼoh, life care planners tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Delgado Exception: Tłʼah Hózhǫ́ǫ́go Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼígíí Tʼáá Bítséedi Átʼéego Tʼáadoo Leʼé Tʼááłáʼí Átʼé Da

Dził Yázhí Bikéyah workers’ compensation system tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Áádóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego exception tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Delgado v. Phelps Dodge Chino, Inc. wolyé, New Mexico Supreme Court tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go employer “intentionally inflicts dóó willfully causes a worker to suffer an injury,” employer workers’ comp immunity tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da. Willfulness tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego:

Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da
Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ
Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ

Áádóó tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go employer tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego unsafe vehicle, untrained driver, dóó impossible scheduling pressures wolyé, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.

Tʼáá Bítséedi Átʼéego Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼ: Dził Yázhí Bikéyah Tʼáá Bítséedi Átʼéego Tʼáadoo Leʼé Tʼááłáʼí Átʼéego Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼ

1994, New Mexico Supreme Court Romero v. Byers wolyé tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ:

Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ Dził Yázhí Bikéyah wrongful death statute wolyé
Surviving spouse tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego loss of consortium wolyé

Áádóó Dził Yázhí Bikéyah, jury tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ – tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ da, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.

Tʼáá Bítséedi Átʼéego Tʼáadoo Leʼé Tʼááłáʼí Átʼé Da

Dził Yázhí Bikéyah tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego 3 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego personal injury lawsuit wolyé. Wrongful death claims wolyé, 3 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Áádóó government vehicle dóó entity wolyé, 90 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼ, dóó 2 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego lawsuit wolyé.

Áádóó naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da – 6 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Tłʼah Hózhǫ́ǫ́go Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼígíí: Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ Bikááʼ Dah Siʼánígíí Bił Aghádeetʼááhígíí Tʼáá Bítséedi Átʼéego Tʼáadoo Leʼé Tʼááłáʼí Átʼé Da

Ojo Encino Chapter dóó McKinley County bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da:

The roads – US Highway 491 (formerly US 666) McKinley County bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí, Gallup dóó Four Corners region bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí. Áádóó highway tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego chidí bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááh.
The industry – San Juan Basin northwestern New Mexico bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego natural gas fields. Áádóó truck traffic tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego local roads.
The courts – Ojo Encino Chapter wolyé cases 11th Judicial District Court wolyé, McKinley dóó San Juan Counties bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́. Courthouse Gallup bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́, dóó juries local community wolyé.
The culture – Oilfield work Dził Yázhí Bikéyah bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da. Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go jurors tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego friends dóó family members tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí.
The distances – Rural New Mexico bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego emergency response times dóó azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ Bikááʼ Dah Siʼánígíí Bił Aghádeetʼááhígíí Tʼáá Bítséedi Átʼéego Naaltsoos Bee Naʼashchʼąąʼ

Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da?
Tʼáá, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da. Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego company tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego third-party lawsuit wolyé.

Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da?
Workers’ compensation tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí dóó partial wage replacement (tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego 2/3 tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego average weekly wage). Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego company tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go company tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ wolyé?
Dził Yázhí Bikéyah “pure comparative fault” rule wolyé. Áádóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego 30% tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ, 70% tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.

Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go job safety analysis (JSA) wolyé?
JSAs tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da. Companies tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego safe workplace wolyé. Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go company tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da?
Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego:

Azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego
Azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí (past dóó future)
Naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí dóó diminished earning capacity
Pain dóó suffering
Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da

Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da?
Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go 12-24 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da. Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Attorney wolyé tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da?
Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go attorney wolyé, tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da. Insurance companies tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego lawyers tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go attorney wolyé tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da?
Contingency fee basis wolyé, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da. Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Insurance adjuster wolyé tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da?
Attorney wolyé tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da. Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da. Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego settlement offers wolyé.

Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go trucking company tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego driver “independent contractor” wolyé?
Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go oilfield trucking companies tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego drivers “independent contractors” wolyé. Federal leasing regulations dóó Dził Yázhí Bikéyah tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Dził Yázhí Bikéyah Trial Team

Ralph Manginello dóó Lupe Peña The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC wolyé. Houston bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́, Dził Yázhí Bikéyah bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ injured workers dóó families wolyé, Ojo Encino Chapter dóó McKinley County bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́.

Ralph 27 náhástʼéí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego cases wolyé. Journalist wolyé – tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Championship point guard wolyé, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Courtroom wolyé, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.

Lupe national insurance defense firm wolyé, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego adjusters dóó software wolyé. Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego playbook wolyé – dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego injured workers dóó families wolyé. Lupe Spanish fluent dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.

Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego, $50 million tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego clients wolyé 1998 tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego. BP Texas City refinery explosion litigation wolyé. Áádóó tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go corporations wolyé – dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Tłʼah Hózhǫ́ǫ́go Call Us

Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí:

Free, confidential consultation – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.
Immediate case assessment – Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.
Evidence preservation – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.
Medical care coordination – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.
Investigation – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.
Negotiation – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego insurance companies dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.
Litigation, if necessary – Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da, 11th Judicial District Court Gallup bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́.

Tʼáá Bítséedi Átʼéego Naashchʼąąʼ

Ojo Encino Chapter dóó McKinley County bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí, tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da:

Azeeʼ yiltłʼoh tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da, dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.
Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼ tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.
Naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ – Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego chidí bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.
Recorded statements tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da insurance adjusters.
Tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ attorney wolyé tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.
Attorney wolyé tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ – Naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Nihimá Nahółtʼá

Tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Azeeʼ yiltłʼohígíí, naaltsoos bee naʼashchʼąąʼígíí, dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ. Tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ.

Nihimá tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da. Tłʼah hózhǫ́ǫ́go families tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼéego bee naʼashchʼąąʼ, dóó tʼáá bítséedi átʼéego tʼáadoo leʼé tʼááłáʼí átʼé da.

Ojo Encino Chapter dóó Dził Yázhí Bikéyah bikáaʼgi hólǫ́ǫ́ tłʼóoʼdį́į́ʼ bikááʼ dah siʼánígíí bił aghádeetʼááhígíí, 1-888-ATTY-911 wolyé. Nihimá nahółtʼá dóó nihimá nahółtʼá.

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ENGLISH

New Mexico Oilfield Accidents: Your Rights After a Crash in Ojo Encino Chapter

We know the roads around Ojo Encino Chapter carry more than just pickup trucks these days. The oil and gas boom has transformed McKinley County’s highways into arteries pumping with water haulers, sand trucks, and crude oil tankers – vehicles that dwarf the family cars sharing the same two-lane roads. When one of these commercial giants collides with a smaller vehicle, the aftermath isn’t just measured in bent metal. It’s measured in shattered lives, mounting medical bills, and families left wondering how they’ll make ends meet while a loved one recovers – or worse, while they grieve.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an oilfield-related crash in Ojo Encino Chapter or anywhere in McKinley County, you’re facing a legal landscape as complex as the oil patch itself. The companies that operate these trucks have entire teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters working to minimize their responsibility. But New Mexico law provides powerful protections for injured workers and their families – protections that most people never learn about until it’s too late.

The Two Roads After an Oilfield Crash: Workers’ Comp vs. Third-Party Lawsuits

Here’s the first truth you need to understand: after an oilfield accident, you actually have two potential paths to compensation, not just one. Most injured workers only know about workers’ compensation – the system that provides medical benefits and partial wage replacement regardless of who was at fault. But workers’ comp has strict limits, and it won’t cover everything you’ve lost.

The second path – and often the more valuable one – is a third-party personal injury lawsuit against the companies whose negligence caused the crash. This could include:

The operator of the well site where the accident occurred
Other contractors working on the same pad
The hauling company whose truck caused the collision
The manufacturer of defective equipment
Even your own employer, in certain circumstances

Unlike workers’ comp, a third-party lawsuit can recover the full value of your losses, including:

All past and future medical expenses
Full lost wages and diminished earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
In wrongful death cases, the value of your loved one’s life itself

New Mexico is one of the few states where a jury can award compensation for the value of a life lost – not just the financial support that person provided, but the intrinsic value of their existence. This is called “hedonic damages,” and it’s a powerful protection for families who’ve lost someone in an oilfield crash.

The Evidence Clock Is Already Ticking

Federal and state laws require oilfield trucking companies to maintain detailed records about their operations, drivers, and vehicles. But these records don’t last forever. Some of the most critical evidence in your case could disappear in as little as six months if proper steps aren’t taken to preserve it.

Here’s what the companies are required to keep – and how quickly it can vanish:

Driver logs and electronic logging device (ELD) records: Must be kept for 6 months (49 CFR § 395.8(k))
Post-accident drug and alcohol test results: Must be conducted within hours of a fatal crash or serious injury (49 CFR § 382.303)
Driver qualification files: Must be maintained for the duration of employment plus 3 years (49 CFR § 391.51)
Vehicle inspection and maintenance records: Must be kept for 1 year at the maintenance facility and 6 months after the vehicle leaves the company’s control (49 CFR § 396.3(c))
Accident registers: Must be maintained for 3 years (49 CFR § 390.15)

If the company fails to conduct required drug and alcohol testing after a crash, they must document why – creating a paper trail that could help your case. But if you wait too long to demand these records, they could be legally destroyed.

The Oilfield Hours-of-Service Exception: A Dangerous Loophole

Federal regulations normally limit commercial truck drivers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour work window, after 10 consecutive hours off duty. But oilfield trucking operates under a special exception that allows much longer hours.

Under 49 CFR § 395.1(d), oilfield drivers can:

Reset their weekly hours with just 24 consecutive hours off duty (instead of the standard 34 hours)
Exclude “waiting time” at well sites from their 14-hour driving window

This exception exists to keep the oil patch moving, but it creates dangerous fatigue risks. When drivers are paid by the mile and pressured to meet tight delivery windows, the temptation to push beyond safe limits becomes overwhelming.

The law acknowledges these risks – which is why investigating the company’s scheduling practices, driver logs, and actual hours worked is so critical to building a strong case.

Who’s Really Responsible? The Web of Liability in Oilfield Crashes

Oilfield operations involve multiple companies working together on the same well pad. When a crash occurs, determining who’s responsible can be complex. The truck that hit you might be operated by:

A local New Mexico hauler like Lobo Trucking (based in Hobbs, with 50 power units)
A regional operator like Triple S Trucking (based in Aztec, serving the San Juan Basin)
A national oilfield services company like Halliburton or Schlumberger
An independent owner-operator leased to a larger carrier

Under federal leasing regulations (49 CFR § 376.12), when a truck displays a carrier’s name and USDOT number, that carrier is considered the “statutory employer” of the driver – meaning their negligence can be imputed to the carrier regardless of the driver’s official employment status.

This is crucial because many oilfield trucking companies try to avoid liability by claiming their drivers are “independent contractors.” In most cases, this defense doesn’t hold water under New Mexico law.

The Most Dangerous Part of the Rig Is the Road to It

A landmark study published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences examined 73 oil and gas worker deaths in New Mexico between 2008 and 2018. The findings were stark:

Vehicle crashes were the #1 cause of death, accounting for 36% of all fatalities
The average annual mortality rate was 37 per 100,000 workers – among the highest in the nation
Only 23% of workers killed in vehicle crashes were wearing seat belts
Alcohol was present in 18% of investigated deaths, drugs in 19%, and methamphetamine in 10%

New Mexico’s fatality rate for oil and gas workers is consistently among the highest in the country. And the most dangerous part of the job isn’t the drilling rig or the well control – it’s the drive between locations.

What to Do in the First 72 Hours After an Oilfield Crash

The actions you take – or don’t take – in the immediate aftermath of a crash can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation. Here’s what you need to know:

Seek medical attention immediately – Even if you feel fine, some injuries (like traumatic brain injuries or internal bleeding) may not show symptoms right away. Tell every medical provider that your injuries resulted from a work-related vehicle crash.
Report the accident to your employer – New Mexico law requires you to provide written notice of a work-related injury within 15 days, but there are exceptions if you were prevented from reporting by your injuries or other circumstances beyond your control. If your supervisor or foreman witnessed the accident, the law considers the company to have actual knowledge even without a formal report.
Preserve evidence – If possible, take photos of the scene, the vehicles involved, and your injuries. Get contact information from any witnesses. Don’t let anyone move the vehicles until law enforcement arrives.
Don’t give recorded statements – Insurance adjusters may contact you quickly, asking to “just get your side of the story.” These statements are designed to be used against you later. Politely decline and tell them you’ll be represented by an attorney.
Don’t sign anything – The company or its insurance carrier may try to get you to sign medical authorizations, settlement offers, or other documents. Don’t sign anything without having it reviewed by an attorney.
Contact an attorney immediately – The evidence preservation clock starts ticking the moment the crash occurs. The sooner we can send preservation letters to the companies involved, the better we can protect critical evidence.

The Playbook They’re Already Running Against You

Within hours of your crash, the companies involved and their insurance carriers are already implementing their playbook – a set of tactics designed to minimize their financial exposure. Here’s what they’re doing right now:

Setting low reserves – The adjuster assigned to your case has likely already set a reserve amount – the maximum they expect to pay. This number is often set before all the facts are known, before your injuries are fully diagnosed, and before the full extent of your damages is clear.
Conducting surveillance – Insurance companies routinely hire private investigators to conduct video surveillance of injured claimants. They’re looking for any evidence that might contradict your injury claims.
Monitoring your social media – Anything you post on Facebook, Instagram, or other platforms can be used against you. Even innocent posts can be taken out of context to suggest you’re not as injured as you claim.
Sending you to their doctors – The company may try to direct you to specific medical providers who have a history of minimizing injuries and returning workers to duty quickly.
Pressuring you to return to work – They may try to get you back on the job before you’re fully recovered, which can jeopardize your health and your legal rights.
Offering quick settlements – You may receive a settlement offer very early in the process, before the full extent of your injuries is known. These offers are almost always far below what your case is actually worth.

New Mexico law specifically prohibits many of these tactics. Section 59A-16-20 of the New Mexico Statutes makes it illegal for insurance companies to:

Misrepresent policy provisions
Fail to acknowledge and act promptly on communications
Fail to adopt reasonable standards for prompt investigation
Compel insureds to institute litigation by offering substantially less than what’s ultimately recovered

How Oilfield Crash Cases Are Actually Won

Here’s how we build strong cases for our clients:

Immediate evidence preservation – We send preservation letters to all potentially responsible parties, demanding they maintain all relevant records, videos, and physical evidence.
Vehicle inspections – We arrange for inspections of all vehicles involved, including downloads of electronic control modules (ECMs) and event data recorders (EDRs) that capture critical data about speed, braking, and other factors in the moments before impact.
Record collection – We demand all relevant records from the companies involved, including:
- Driver qualification files
- Hours of service logs
- Vehicle maintenance records
- Training records
- Safety policies and procedures
- Accident registers
- Drug and alcohol testing records
Expert analysis – We work with accident reconstruction experts, medical experts, vocational experts, and economists to build a comprehensive picture of what happened and what your case is worth.
Depositions – We take sworn testimony from company representatives, safety directors, and other key witnesses to establish what the companies knew and when they knew it.
Negotiation or trial – We present our case to the insurance companies and, if necessary, to a jury of your peers in McKinley County.

The Money Ladder: Understanding Your Potential Recovery

The amount of compensation available in your case depends on several factors:

New Mexico minimum coverage – $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
Federal minimum for interstate carriers – $750,000
Typical commercial policies – $1 million to $5 million or more
Additional layers – Many companies carry excess or umbrella policies that provide additional coverage above their primary limits
Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist coverage – Your own auto policy may provide additional protection if the at-fault party doesn’t have enough insurance

In oilfield crash cases, we’re often dealing with multiple layers of coverage from different companies. The key is identifying all potential sources of recovery and pursuing them strategically.

The Trauma Void: Medical Care in Rural New Mexico

One of the harsh realities of oilfield crashes in Ojo Encino Chapter and McKinley County is the distance to advanced medical care. New Mexico has only one Level I trauma center – UNM Hospital in Albuquerque. For serious injuries, patients are often flown by helicopter to:

UNM Hospital in Albuquerque (the state’s only Level I trauma center)
University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas (a Level I trauma center serving eastern New Mexico)

This distance matters for your case in several ways:

Delayed definitive care – The time it takes to transport you to a trauma center can affect your outcome and your damages.
Air medical costs – Helicopter transport can cost tens of thousands of dollars, adding to your medical expenses.
Long-term rehabilitation – After initial treatment, you may need to travel significant distances for follow-up care and rehabilitation.
Life care planning – For catastrophic injuries, we work with life care planners to document all your future medical needs, including the costs of transportation to and from medical appointments.

The Delgado Exception: When You Can Sue Your Own Employer

New Mexico’s workers’ compensation system generally prevents you from suing your own employer for work-related injuries. But there’s a critical exception that could apply in your case.

In Delgado v. Phelps Dodge Chino, Inc., the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled that when an employer “intentionally inflicts or willfully causes a worker to suffer an injury,” the employer loses its workers’ comp immunity. To prove willfulness, we must show:

You faced a danger that your employer knew or should have known made injury or death a virtual certainty
Your employer sent you into that danger anyway
Your injury resulted from that danger

This is a high bar, but it’s not insurmountable. If your employer knowingly sent you out with an unsafe vehicle, an untrained driver, or under impossible scheduling pressures, we may be able to pursue a claim against them directly.

The Value of a Life: New Mexico’s Unique Protection for Families

In 1994, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Romero v. Byers that established a powerful protection for families who’ve lost loved ones in tragic accidents. The court held that:

The value of a person’s life itself is compensable under New Mexico’s wrongful death statute
A surviving spouse has a separate claim for loss of consortium

This means that in New Mexico, a jury can award compensation not just for the financial support a deceased person would have provided, but for the intrinsic value of their life – the camping trips, the Sunday dinners, the guidance and companionship they provided.

This is a critical protection for families in Ojo Encino Chapter and across New Mexico, where many oilfield workers are the backbone of their communities.

The Deadline You Can’t Afford to Miss

New Mexico law gives you three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. For wrongful death claims, the three-year clock starts running from the date of death.

But there’s a critical exception when a government vehicle or entity is involved. In those cases, you must file a written notice of claim within 90 days of the accident, and you have only two years to file a lawsuit.

These deadlines are strict, and missing them could mean losing your right to compensation forever. But the evidence preservation deadlines we discussed earlier are even shorter – some critical evidence could be legally destroyed in as little as six months.

Why Local Knowledge Matters in Oilfield Crash Cases

Oilfield crashes in Ojo Encino Chapter and McKinley County present unique challenges that require local knowledge and experience:

The roads – US Highway 491 (formerly US 666) runs through McKinley County, connecting Gallup to the Four Corners region. This highway has a history of serious crashes, particularly involving commercial vehicles.
The industry – The San Juan Basin in northwestern New Mexico is one of the most productive natural gas fields in the country. The truck traffic generated by this industry puts enormous pressure on local roads.
The courts – Cases from Ojo Encino Chapter would be filed in the 11th Judicial District Court, which serves McKinley and San Juan Counties. The courthouse is located in Gallup, and juries would be drawn from the local community.
The culture – Oilfield work is a way of life in this part of New Mexico. Many jurors will have friends or family members who work in the industry, which can affect how they view these cases.
The distances – The vast distances in rural New Mexico affect everything from emergency response times to the availability of medical care to the logistics of building your case.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oilfield Crash Cases

Can I sue if I was hurt on the job?
Yes, but your options depend on who was at fault. If another company’s negligence caused your injuries, you can pursue a third-party lawsuit against them while still receiving workers’ compensation benefits from your employer.

Who pays my bills while I can’t work?
Workers’ compensation should provide medical benefits and partial wage replacement (typically about 2/3 of your average weekly wage). If another company is at fault, their insurance may also be responsible for your lost wages.

What if my company says it was my fault?
New Mexico follows a “pure comparative fault” rule. This means you can still recover compensation even if you were partly at fault, though your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found to be 30% at fault, you can still recover 70% of your damages.

What if the company says I signed a job safety analysis (JSA) accepting the risks?
JSAs are not waivers of your legal rights. Companies cannot contract away their responsibility to provide a safe workplace. Even if you signed a JSA, you may still have a valid claim if the company’s negligence caused your injuries.

How much is my case worth?
The value of your case depends on many factors, including:

The severity of your injuries
Your medical expenses (past and future)
Your lost wages and diminished earning capacity
Your pain and suffering
The strength of the evidence against the responsible parties
The available insurance coverage

Every case is unique, and we can’t provide an accurate estimate without reviewing the specific facts of your situation.

How long will my case take?
Most cases settle within 12-24 months, but complex cases or those that go to trial can take longer. We work to resolve cases as efficiently as possible while ensuring you receive full and fair compensation.

Do I need a lawyer to handle my case?
While you’re not required to have an attorney, oilfield crash cases are complex and involve powerful opponents. Insurance companies have teams of lawyers working to minimize their exposure. Having experienced legal representation levels the playing field and significantly improves your chances of receiving full compensation.

What if I can’t afford a lawyer?
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay anything upfront. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you. Our fee is a percentage of your recovery, so our interests are aligned with yours.

What should I not say to the insurance adjuster?
Don’t give recorded statements without consulting an attorney first. Don’t speculate about what happened or admit any fault. Don’t sign medical authorizations that give the insurance company unlimited access to your medical history. And don’t accept any settlement offers without having them reviewed by an attorney.

What if the trucking company says their driver was an independent contractor?
Many oilfield trucking companies try to avoid liability by classifying their drivers as independent contractors. But under federal leasing regulations and New Mexico law, this defense often fails. We know how to investigate these relationships and hold the responsible parties accountable.

Our New Mexico Trial Team

We’re Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña from The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC. While our main office is in Houston, we’re committed to serving injured workers and families across New Mexico, including Ojo Encino Chapter and McKinley County.

Ralph has been trying cases for over 27 years. Before becoming a lawyer, he was a journalist – which means he knows how to tell a compelling story. He’s also a former championship point guard who understands what it means to fight for a team. When he steps into a courtroom, he brings that same competitive spirit and strategic thinking to every case.

Lupe spent years working for a national insurance defense firm, where he saw firsthand how adjusters and their software decide how to deny, delay, and devalue claims. He knows the playbook because he used to run it – and now he uses that knowledge to fight for injured workers and their families. Lupe is fluent in Spanish and can serve your family fully in your preferred language.

Together, we’ve recovered more than $50 million for our clients since 1998. We’ve fought in some of the largest personal injury cases in Texas history, including the BP Texas City refinery explosion litigation. And we’ve taken on some of the biggest corporations in the world – and won.

What Happens When You Call Us

When you contact our firm about your oilfield crash case, here’s what you can expect:

A free, confidential consultation – We’ll listen to your story and answer your questions. There’s no obligation, and the call is completely confidential.
An immediate case assessment – We’ll evaluate the facts of your case and explain your legal options.
Evidence preservation – If we believe you have a case, we’ll immediately send preservation letters to all potentially responsible parties to protect critical evidence.
Medical care coordination – We can help you get the medical treatment you need, even if you don’t have health insurance.
Investigation – We’ll gather all the evidence needed to build a strong case, including accident reports, witness statements, medical records, and company safety records.
Negotiation – We’ll present your case to the insurance companies and negotiate aggressively for full and fair compensation.
Litigation, if necessary – If we can’t reach a fair settlement, we’re prepared to take your case to trial in the 11th Judicial District Court in Gallup.

Throughout the process, we’ll keep you informed about what’s happening with your case and what to expect next. We’ll answer your questions promptly and honestly. And we’ll fight tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.

The Next Steps

If you or a loved one has been injured in an oilfield crash in Ojo Encino Chapter or anywhere in McKinley County, time is of the essence. Critical evidence is already at risk of being lost or destroyed. The companies involved are already building their defenses. And the clock is ticking on your legal rights.

Here’s what you should do right now:

Seek medical attention if you haven’t already, and follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
Report the accident to your employer in writing if you haven’t already.
Preserve evidence – Keep any photos, videos, or other documentation of the accident and your injuries.
Don’t give recorded statements to insurance adjusters.
Don’t sign anything without having it reviewed by an attorney.
Contact our office for a free, confidential consultation. We’re available 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Remember, the consultation is free, and you don’t pay anything unless we recover compensation for you. There’s no risk in calling us to learn about your rights.