We have a saying that goes "When you hire the Kemmy Law Firm, you don't just hire one lawyer, you hire a team of lawyers." Tom Kemmy is an award-winning and board certified personal injury lawyer who has been practicing injury law since 1986. His sons are experienced personal injury lawyers and former prosecutors that represented the State of Texas against murderers, thieves, drug traffickers, and violent criminals. We put our combined experience and knowledge in the pursuit of one goal, to win and obtain maximum justice for our client.
Serving Two States Across One of the Busiest Energy Regions in the World
The Permian Basin spans more than 75,000 square miles across West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, encompassing the Midland Basin and Delaware Basin sub-regions. It is one of the most productive oil and gas basins on the planet, and that production depends on a workforce that spends long hours around drilling rigs, pipelines, heavy trucks, and pressurized equipment — often on remote roads far from the nearest hospital.
Kemmy Law Firm, P.C. has represented injured workers and families throughout this region for decades, from Midland and Odessa to Carlsbad, Hobbs, Andrews, Seminole, Pecos, Big Spring, Lamesa, Loving, and Jal. Because the Basin straddles a state line, our attorneys regularly handle cases that involve Texas law, New Mexico law, or both at once — a level of cross-border experience that many general-practice firms simply don't have.
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$20 MILLION Oil and gas case involving significant economic harm
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$4 MILLION Oil royalty payments recovered after they were paid out to the wrong party
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$2.5 MILLION Wyoming oil field worker suffers catastrophic harm after fall from oil rig
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$2.5 MILLION West Texas oil field worker suffers finger amputations
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$2.2 MILLION Oil refinery injury ends Louisiana man's career
All of our clients have families of their own. They are decent, hardworking people, and come to us with complex business issues or because their lives have been changed by a catastrophic injury.
Oilfield Explosions Across the Basin
Explosions remain one of the most catastrophic risks facing anyone who works in or lives near an active oil and gas operation. Across both the Midland and Delaware Basins, our attorneys have handled cases arising from:
- Well blowouts: A blowout occurs when pressure from oil, gas, or drilling fluid overwhelms the wellbore's containment systems. Once control is lost, the release can ignite instantly, destroy the derrick and surrounding equipment, and endanger every worker on location. Blowouts are most often linked to a failed blowout preventer (BOP), inadequate pressure monitoring, or a poorly supervised drilling crew.
- Rig fires: Flammable gases and drilling fluids on an active rig floor can ignite from a stray spark, a hot engine component, or faulty electrical equipment, and fires can spread through a site within seconds.
- Pipeline and gathering line explosions: The Permian Basin's dense network of pipelines and gathering lines carries pressurized oil, gas, and produced water across long, often unmonitored stretches of land. Corrosion, faulty welds, and inadequate inspection can all lead to ruptures and explosions.
- Refinery and processing plant explosions: Beyond the wellhead, processing facilities and refineries throughout the region use pressurized vessels and volatile chemicals that carry their own explosion risk when maintenance or safety protocols are neglected.
- Toxic gas releases: Explosions and blowouts frequently release hydrogen sulfide (H2S), methane, and other toxic gases, compounding the danger to workers and, in some cases, nearby residents and first responders.
These incidents routinely cause severe burns, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, and fatalities. Because Texas does not require employers to carry workers' compensation insurance, and because New Mexico's system has its own separate rules, an injured worker's path to compensation often depends heavily on their employer's coverage status and on identifying every third party — operator, contractor, equipment manufacturer, or maintenance provider — that may share liability. Our attorneys conduct independent investigations quickly, working with engineers and industry experts to secure evidence before it is lost, altered, or repaired at an active worksite.
Why Rural Representation Matters
Nearly one-fifth of the U.S. population lives in a rural area, yet only a small fraction of practicing attorneys are based in rural communities or small towns. That gap is especially real in the Permian Basin, where injury victims are often hours from the nearest major city and unsure where to find an attorney who understands both the oil and gas industry and the local courts. Kemmy Law Firm, P.C. maintains a permanent, staffed presence in the region — not a satellite office or a call center — so clients throughout the Basin have direct access to their legal team from the first phone call through trial, if trial becomes necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions about Personal Injury Cases in the Permian Basin
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How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?
The answer depends on where the accident occurred. You usually have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim in Texas, while in New Mexico, you typically get three years from the date of the accident to take legal action. If the applicable statute of limitations expires, you lose your opportunity to file a claim against the at-fault party.
You have 30 days to notify your Texas employer if you suffered a work-related injury. In New Mexico, you only get 15 days to notify your employer of a job-related injury. Missing the relevant deadline will generally prevent you from successfully filing a workers’ compensation claim.
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Will I Have to Go to Court for My Personal Injury Case?While there is always a possibility that your case could go to trial, many personal injury claims are settled out of court through negotiations between your attorney and the insurance company. In these instances, both parties agree on compensation without ever seeing a judge. However, if a fair settlement can’t be reached or if liability is disputed, your case may proceed to court. We will be transparent if we believe going to court is the best path forward in your case.
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How Long Will My Personal Injury Case Take?
The duration of a personal injury case can vary greatly depending on numerous factors. Initially, cases that are resolved through negotiation and settlement typically move faster, sometimes concluding within a few months. However, if your case proceeds to litigation, the timeline extends significantly. Litigation involves several stages, including filing a lawsuit, discovery, pre-trial motions, and, potentially, a trial. Each phase can introduce its own delays, influenced by court schedules, the complexity of the case, and the negotiation process between parties.
Additionally, if your case involves serious injuries or substantial damages, it may require more time to gather comprehensive medical evaluations and evidence, which can further lengthen the process. While we cannot promise a precise timeline, we can assess your unique circumstances and help set realistic expectations.
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How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?Law firms use many different methods to bill their clients, which might include upfront costs. However, many personal injury firms, including ours, use a contingency fee pay structure. This means you pay no upfront costs, and our firm takes a percentage of your final settlement or court award. In other words, you owe nothing unless we win.
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Do You Have to Accept an Insurance Settlement?
When you receive an insurance settlement offer in a personal injury case, you are not obligated to accept it. It is in your best interest to thoroughly assess whether the proposed amount adequately covers your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages you may have suffered.
Insurance companies often aim to settle claims quickly and for as little money as possible. Therefore, you should consider consulting with a personal injury attorney before making any decisions.
Our team can help evaluate the adequacy of the offer and, if necessary, negotiate for a better settlement that truly reflects the full extent of your losses. Remember, accepting a settlement generally means relinquishing the right to pursue further legal action related to the injury, so making an informed decision is extremely important.
A Multi-Generational Family Firm
Kemmy Law Firm, P.C. was founded in 1986 and has grown into a team of trial attorneys spanning multiple generations of the same family, several of whom previously served as prosecutors for the State of Texas. Collectively, our attorneys have recovered more than $200 million for clients across Texas and New Mexico, including multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements in oilfield injury, trucking, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury cases throughout the Permian Basin. That combination of trial experience, industry knowledge, and local presence is what allows us to take on large operators, national trucking companies, and their insurers — and win.
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"They made a significant recovery for me."
My husband was injured in a workplace accident in 2022. The first law firm he went to looked at his case and turned it down. he had all but decided to give up when he called the Kemmy's. They took his case and ran with it. In the end, they made a significant recovery for me. I highly recommend the Kemmy Law Firm.
- Anna O. -
"I would recommend the Kemmy Law Firm 100 times out of 100."
We could not be more satisfied with Kemmy Law Firm. They represented us, and especially my father with respect and efficiency and earned every bit of what the law allowed. This helped my mother more than I can articulate. I would recommend the Kemmy Law Firm 100 times out of 100.
- Iaz P. -
"I wholeheartedly endorse Kemmy Law without reservation."
Working with Tom and Nick Kemmy on my case was a far better experience than I expected going in. They were thoughtful and listened to what I had to say. It was also gratifying that Kemmy Law Firm is truly a family affair with the Dad, Thomas, four sons and a daughter in law, Nick's wife, working together. If you're looking for legal representation, I wholeheartedly endorse Kemmy Law without reservation.- Jerry G. -
"Not only were they my lawyers they became like family."
I honestly got to say Tom and Danny got to be two of the best attorneys in the state of Texas I was injured in the oilfield accident about 3 years ago and they fought for me in my case like some sharks hands down best attorneys out there not only were they my lawyers they became like family thanks Kemmy law firm- Jeremiah L. -
"Showed a deep understanding of my personal situation and demonstrated empathy."
Ben Kemmy and his awesome staff showed a deep understanding of my personal situation and demonstrated empathy throughout the legal process. This helped me a great deal to get through this difficult time. I recommend Kemmy Law Firm to all who need the services .
- Jim P. -
"Nick was very open and transparent."
Mr. Kemmy comes from good stock and was referred to us by one of the best. And if he's good enough for him to lay his reputation on the line, he's good enough for me. Nick was very open and transparent, and shared some of our frustrations. We were very please with him representing us. Thanks again Nick.
- Richard G. -
"They were so patient and explained everything in detail."
Everyone we worked with was amazing. They were so patient and explained everything in detail. They worked with my mom and then when she passed away the game plan changed and they made sure to explain everything. We were blessed to have them on our team. I would highly recommend them.
- Dora M. -
"Very easy to talk to, sincerely cared about my situation."
I was involved in an accident and was injurred. My co-worker recommended Seamus from Kemmy Law. I am so greatful that I followed through with the recommendation. He was very easy to talk to, sincerely cared about my situation, and kept me informed with the process, just all around amazing! Thank you Seamus!!!- Holly O.
