New Mexico Statutes Chapter 63. Railroads and Communications § 63-3-23. Injury to employees from defective equipment; report of defects; contributory negligence

It shall be unlawful for any railroad corporation knowingly and willfully to use or operate any car or locomotive that is defective, or any car or locomotive upon which the machinery or attachments thereto belonging are in any manner defective, or shops or machinery and attachments thereof which are in any manner defective, which defects might have been previously ascertained by ordinary care and diligence by said corporation.

If the employee of any such corporation shall receive any injury by reason of such defect in any car or locomotive or machinery or attachments thereto belonging, or shops or machinery and attachments thereof, owned and operated, or being run and operated by such corporation, through no fault of his own, such corporation shall be liable for such injury, and upon proof of the same in an action brought by such employee or his legal representatives, in any court of proper jurisdiction, against such railroad corporation for damages on account of such injury so received, shall be entitled to recover against such corporation any sum commensurate with the injuries sustained: provided, that it shall be the duty of all the employees of railroad corporations to promptly report all defects coming to their knowledge in any such car or locomotive or shops or machinery and attachments thereof to the proper officer or agent of such corporation and after such report the doctrine of contributory negligence shall not apply to such employee.