Are you looking for a workers’ comp lawyer in Hobbs, NM?

At Davie & Valdez, P.C., we provide workers’ compensation representation grounded in over 35 years of work on behalf of clients in Hobbs, NM and the surrounding area.

If you’ve been injured on the job in Hobbs, an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help you pursue the benefits you’re owed. Medical bills, lost income, and disputes with insurance carriers are difficult to manage on your own, and the wrong step early in the process can cost you benefits down the road.

At Davie & Valdez, P.C., our Hobbs, NM workers’ comp lawyer has advocated for injured employees for more than 35 years across New Mexico and Texas. We offer free consultations and represent workers exclusively. Schedule a consultation today to discuss your claim and learn what options are available to you.

Workers’ Comp Lawyer Hobbs, NM

Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance that provides medical treatment and wage replacement to employees who are injured or become ill because of their work. In New Mexico, most employers are required to carry this coverage. The system operates on a no-fault basis, which means you do not need to prove that your employer was negligent in order to receive benefits. Your employer’s insurance carrier is responsible for covering approved medical treatment and a portion of your lost wages while you recover.

In 2024, New Mexico employers reported 13,400 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Another 38 workers died from job-related injuries statewide in 2023. Hobbs and Lea County, located at the center of the Permian Basin, see a disproportionate share of those injuries given the region’s concentration of oilfield, pipeline, and construction activity.

Types of Workers’ Compensation Cases We Handle in Hobbs

Workers’ compensation claims in southeastern New Mexico cover a wide range of injuries and occupational diseases. The industries that drive the economy in Hobbs and across Lea County also produce some of the most serious workplace hazards in the state. Our workers’ comp attorneys handle claims involving the following:

Oilfield accidents. Drilling rigs, well sites, and refineries throughout Lea County expose workers to blowouts, equipment failures, and hydrogen sulfide exposure. These cases often involve multiple contractors and subcontractors, which creates layered questions about who bears responsibility for the injury.
Construction injuries. Falls from elevation, struck-by incidents, and equipment rollovers are common on commercial and industrial job sites around Hobbs. Workers on multi-employer projects may have third-party claims beyond their workers’ comp benefits.
Burn injuries. Flash fires, chemical burns, and electrical contact injuries occur frequently in industrial and oilfield settings. Treatment often involves surgery, skin grafts, and months of rehabilitation, and workers with severe burns may face permanent limitations.
Falls and scaffolding accidents. Improperly assembled scaffolding, missing guardrails, and unstable platforms cause fractures, spinal cord damage, and brain injuries. Fall protection failures remain among the most cited OSHA violations nationwide.
Repetitive stress injuries. Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and chronic back conditions develop in workers who perform repetitive motions or sustained heavy lifting. These are compensable under New Mexico workers’ compensation law even without a single identifiable incident.
Occupational illnesses. Prolonged exposure to silica dust, hydrogen sulfide, asbestos, and other hazardous substances can cause respiratory disease and cancer. Oil and gas workers face significantly elevated risk.
Back and spinal injuries. Herniated discs, compression fractures, and soft tissue damage are among the most common types of work injuries filed in New Mexico. These injuries can limit mobility and often prevent a worker from returning to physically demanding employment.
Head and brain injuries. Concussions and traumatic brain injuries result from falls, struck-by incidents, and equipment malfunctions. Even a seemingly minor blow to the head can produce lasting cognitive effects that take months to fully surface.

Why Choose Davie & Valdez, P.C. as My Workers’ Comp Lawyer in Hobbs, NM?

Decades of Work Injury Experience in New Mexico

Roger Davie, founding attorney of Davie & Valdez, P.C., has practiced employment and work injury law since 1985. He is Board Certified in Employment Law by the State Bar of Texas, holds an AV Preeminent 5.0 rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and has been recognized by Super Lawyers for his work in labor and employment law. Both attorneys earned their law degrees from Texas Tech Law School.

John Valdez is Board Certified in Employment and Labor Law in New Mexico and has been named a Texas Super Lawyer multiple years running. He provides bilingual legal services in English and Spanish, which is particularly valuable for the workforce in Hobbs and across southeastern New Mexico.

Together, they have represented hundreds of injured employees in workers’ compensation disputes and employment cases throughout both states. Results for workers’ comp clients have included:

Compensation for medical treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation after serious workplace injuries
Wage replacement benefits for workers unable to return to their jobs during recovery
Permanent disability awards for employees left with lasting physical impairments
Successful resolution of denied claims where the insurance carrier refused to authorize treatment or pay benefits

Davie & Valdez, P.C. represents employees and injured workers exclusively. That is the only side we take. We offer free consultations for all workers’ compensation matters, and that dedication to the worker’s side of the case is exactly what you want from an employment lawyer in Hobbs, NM.

What Is Important to Understand About Workers’ Compensation Cases?

Benefits and Compensation for Workers’ Comp Cases in New Mexico

New Mexico’s workers’ compensation system provides several categories of benefits to injured employees. The type and amount depends on the severity of the injury and its impact on your ability to work.

Medical benefits. All reasonable and necessary treatment related to the work injury is covered, including surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions, and durable medical equipment.
Temporary total disability. Workers who cannot perform any work while recovering may receive two-thirds of their average weekly wage, subject to state-imposed maximums.
Temporary partial disability. If you return to work at reduced capacity and lower pay, you may receive partial wage replacement during that transitional period.
Permanent partial disability. Once a worker reaches maximum medical improvement with lasting physical limitations, benefits are calculated based on the impairment rating assigned by the treating physician.
Permanent total disability. Catastrophic injuries that prevent any form of gainful employment may qualify for lifetime benefits under the statute.
Death benefits. When a workplace accident results in a fatality, surviving dependents may be entitled to compensation for lost income and funeral expenses.

The employer’s insurance carrier pays these benefits. Workers do not contribute to their employer’s coverage or pay premiums out of their own wages.

What Are Important Aspects of a Workers’ Comp Case?

Several factors influence the trajectory and outcome of a workers’ compensation claim. Getting these details right early on can substantially affect the benefits you receive.

Timely reporting. New Mexico law requires injured workers to provide written notice to their employer within 15 days of the accident. Missing this window can jeopardize your entire claim.
Medical documentation. Your treating physician must connect your injury or condition to your job duties. Gaps in your treatment history or inconsistencies in your medical records give the insurance carrier ammunition to dispute your claim.
Insurer tactics. Carriers may dispute that your injury is work-related, deny recommended procedures, or request independent medical exams designed to minimize your impairment rating. The physician conducting that exam works for the insurer, not for you.
Third-party liability. If someone other than your employer contributed to your injury, you may have a separate legal claim for damages. This arises frequently in Hobbs, where multiple contractors share worksites on rigs and pipelines.

What Is the Workers’ Comp Case Timeline?

The length of a workers’ compensation case depends on the injury, the complexity of the medical treatment, and whether the claim is contested. A general timeline in New Mexico follows this progression:

Day of injury. Report the incident to your supervisor and seek medical treatment immediately. Document exactly what happened, including the conditions and any witnesses.
Within 15 days. Provide your employer with written notice of the accident.
30 to 60 days. The insurance carrier investigates and either begins paying benefits or issues a denial.
If disputed. Mediation through the Workers’ Compensation Administration is typically the first step. If mediation is unsuccessful, a Workers’ Compensation Judge will conduct a formal hearing.
Maximum medical improvement. Once your condition stabilizes, your physician assigns an impairment rating. That rating determines your permanent disability benefits.

Straightforward claims can resolve within a few months. Contested cases involving permanent disability or complex issues like mental health injuries may take a year or longer.

What Should You Bring to Your Workers’ Comp Consultation?

Having the right documents ready allows us to evaluate your case efficiently and provide informed guidance from the start.

Written accident reports or incident documentation filed with your employer
Medical records, treatment notes, and imaging studies related to the injury
Pay stubs or wage records from the period before and after your injury
Any correspondence from the insurance carrier, including denial letters or benefit statements
Contact information for witnesses who saw the accident occur

We will review the details of your injury, explain the benefits available under New Mexico law, and outline the next steps for your claim. If you were recently hurt at work and aren’t sure where to begin, a consultation is the right first move.

Hobbs and Lea County Workers’ Compensation Resources

Workers’ compensation disputes in the Hobbs area are handled by the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration, which conducts mediations and formal hearings for contested claims. The WCA is headquartered in Albuquerque, but hearings are scheduled statewide as needed.

Hobbs falls within the Fifth Judicial District, which covers Lea, Eddy, and Chaves Counties. The Lea County District Court is located at 100 N. Love Street in Lovington, and the Hobbs Magistrate Court sits at 2110 North Alto Drive. Workers in Hobbs can also report unsafe workplace conditions to the New Mexico Environment Department’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau, which administers state OSHA enforcement.

Reach Out to Davie & Valdez, P.C. to Schedule a Consultation

If you’ve been injured at work in Hobbs, NM, or anywhere in southeastern New Mexico, our workers’ comp attorneys are ready to review your case. We offer free consultations and represent injured employees exclusively. You will speak with an attorney about your injury, your benefits, and what comes next. Contact us to schedule your consultation. Acting early gives us the best opportunity to protect your claim and pursue the full benefits you’re owed.

Hobbs Workers Comp Lawyer