Common Santa Fe Work Accidents
According to the Bureau of Labor & Statistics, there were 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2019. Santa Fe’s unique economy creates specific workplace injury risks across various industries. Some of the most common types of Santa Fe work accidents are:
Government and Public Sector Accidents
As New Mexico’s capital city, government is the largest employer in Santa Fe. Government workers may face:
- Office-related injuries (slip-and-falls, repetitive stress)
- Vehicle accidents while on official duty
- Security-related incidents at government facilities
- Maintenance and facilities accidents
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Related Accidents
With approximately 2,900 LANL employees residing in Santa Fe County, specialized workplace injuries include:
- Radiation exposure incidents
- Chemical exposure and contamination
- Laboratory equipment accidents
- Commuter vehicle accidents on dangerous routes like the “Truck Route” (NM 501)
- Security and classified materials handling incidents
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Accidents
Santa Fe’s 1.6 million annual visitors support a large hospitality sector with common injuries including:
- Hotel and restaurant slip-and-fall accidents
- Kitchen and food service injuries
- Housekeeping and maintenance accidents
- Tour guide and outdoor recreation injuries
- Event setup and breakdown accidents
Healthcare Industry Accidents
Major healthcare employers like Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center see injuries such as:
- Patient lifting and handling injuries
- Needle stick and exposure incidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents in medical facilities
- Equipment-related injuries
Construction and Development Accidents
Santa Fe’s ongoing development creates construction injury risks:
- Falls from heights
- Equipment and machinery accidents
- Electrocution incidents
- Struck-by-object injuries
- Trenching and excavation accidents
Arts and Cultural Sector Accidents
Santa Fe’s thriving arts community faces unique workplace risks:
- Gallery and museum setup injuries
- Art installation and transportation accidents
- Chemical exposure from art materials
- Performance-related injuries at venues like Santa Fe Opera
Other Common Santa Fe Work Accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents (delivery drivers, commuters)
- Retail and shopping center accidents
- Educational institution injuries (St. John’s College, Santa Fe Community College)
- Transportation and logistics accidents
- Technology sector workplace injuries
Workers Comp & Work Injury Claims
After suffering an on-the-job injury, you may be inclined to file a workers comp claim. However, there is a big difference between workers’ comp benefits and the injury settlement you could receive if you chose to pursue a work injury claim.
Most employers in New Mexico are required to provide their employees with workers’ comp coverage. That way, whenever an employee is injured at work, they can be awarded certain benefits regardless of fault.
This is a key difference between workers’ comp benefits and work injury claims. In a work injury claim, someone else is responsible for causing the victim’s injuries. And the only way that the victim can be awarded compensation for their suffering is by pursuing a work injury claim.
You might be entitled to both workers’ comp benefits and an injury settlement in some cases. The best way to find out is to contact a Santa Fe County work injury lawyer.
Santa Fe-Specific Work Injury Considerations
Federal Employment and Contractor Issues
Many Santa Fe area workers are employed by or contract with federal agencies, creating unique legal considerations:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory: Specialized safety protocols and federal oversight
- Federal government employees: Different workers’ compensation systems (FECA)
- Security clearance issues: Confidentiality requirements in injury investigations
- Multi-jurisdictional coverage: Federal vs. state law applications
Commuter-Related Injuries
Santa Fe’s position as a regional employment hub creates significant commuter traffic:
- LANL commuters: Daily travel on dangerous routes to Los Alamos
- Government workers: Commuting to various state facilities
- Regional employees: Workers traveling from surrounding counties
- During work travel: Official business trips and site visits
Seasonal and Tourism-Related Factors
Santa Fe’s tourism economy creates seasonal workplace injury patterns:
- Peak season stress: Increased workload during tourist season
- Temporary workers: Seasonal employees with limited training
- Event-related injuries: Special events and festivals
- Weather-related accidents: High elevation conditions affecting outdoor work
Who Can You Sue for a Work Injury?
There could be any number of parties responsible for your work injury. For your work injury lawsuit to be successful, your attorney will need to be able to show that someone else’s negligence or misconduct was the cause of your injuries. Some of the different parties who could be named as liable in a Santa Fe work injury claim include:
- Your colleagues
- Your supervisor
- Your boss
- The company you work for
- Equipment producers
- Equipment designers
- Equipment distributors
- Government contractors and subcontractors
- Federal agencies and their contractors
- Third-party service providers
- Property owners and managers
- Other staff employed with your company
- Other third parties
Santa Fe Federal and Government Contractor Liability
Given the significant federal presence in Santa Fe, work injury cases may involve:
- Government contractor liability: Private companies working on federal contracts
- Federal agency responsibility: Direct government employment injuries
- Multi-contractor coordination: Complex projects with multiple responsible parties
- Security and classified material handling: Specialized injury scenarios
Essentially, anyone, whether they work for your employer or not, could have contributed to your injuries, depending on the details. For this reason, your attorney must be able to analyze what happened thoroughly. In doing so, we will determine who is at fault and gather the evidence to support your case. Some of these types of evidence might include:
- Photos of the accident
- Photos of your injuries
- Medical records
- Witness statements
- Police reports
- Safety reports and compliance records
- Expert testimony
- Video footage and security recordings
- Federal safety inspection reports
- Training and certification records
- Equipment maintenance logs
Work Injury Damages
Your Worker’s Comp benefits will likely provide coverage for your injury-related medical expenses and a portion of your lost income. But they won’t cover all of the income that you are losing by being unable to work. This is when it can be a good idea to move forward with your civil claim. When you pursue a work injury claim in Santa Fe, you can seek compensation for a wide variety of damages. Some of the economic and non-economic damages you could recover are:
- Remaining lost wages
- Diminished earning potential
- Future injury-related medical expenses
- Specialized medical treatment costs
- Nuisance
- Lost quality of life
- Loss of closeness and love
- Loss of society and support
- Damage to your reputation
- Property damage, where applicable
- Emotional distress
- Physical pain
- Suffering
- Childcare expenses
- Costs of household maintenance
- Other household service losses
- Scarring
- Security clearance and career impact losses
- Relocation expenses (if job change required)
There may be other losses that you could recover in your claim as well. For example, if the liable party’s actions were found to be grossly negligent, you could be awarded punitive damages. While rare in a work injury claim, your lawyer will be able to tell you how much you could expect to be awarded after taking a closer look at your case.
Why Choose Law Giant for Your Santa Fe Work Injury Case
Our Santa Fe work injury attorneys have extensive experience with the unique aspects of workplace injury cases in northern New Mexico, including:
Federal and Government Contractor Experience
- Los Alamos National Laboratory-related injuries
- Federal employment injury procedures (FECA claims)
- Government contractor liability issues
- Security clearance and confidentiality considerations
- Multi-jurisdictional legal requirements
Local Industry Knowledge
- State government workplace injuries
- Tourism and hospitality sector accidents
- Healthcare facility injuries
- Arts and cultural workplace incidents
- Educational institution accidents
Specialized Expertise
- Radiation and chemical exposure cases
- High-security workplace accidents
- Commuter injury claims
- Seasonal employment issues
- Complex federal contractor liability
We understand the local employment landscape, have relationships with area medical experts and safety professionals, and know how to navigate the specific challenges that Santa Fe work injury cases present. Our comprehensive approach ensures you receive the support you need while we aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been injured at work in Santa Fe, don’t let the complexity of federal regulations, government contractor issues, or specialized workplace environments prevent you from getting the compensation you deserve. Contact Law Giant Injury Lawyers today for a free, confidential consultation about your work injury case.
