Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorneys Remind Workers of Their Rights

Some workplaces are more dangerous than others are. In any workplace, there is a risk of injury or death. Workplace accidents can cause injuries ranging from cuts and broken bones to vision or hearing loss, loss of a limb, paralysis, and even death. Some workplace injuries, like respiratory difficulties or carpal tunnel syndrome, can happen after long term exposure or repetitive work. Fortunately, many workplace accidents are preventable. Proper training of employees and safe work habits can go a long way towards preventing accidents at work. However, even careful workers in safety-conscious workplaces can be hurt or killed on the job. If you are injured or if someone you love dies in a workplace accident, you have important rights that are protected by law. 

Shock and disbelief often follow a workplace injury or death. Whether you are the injured person, or someone in your household was hurt or killed at work, you may feel confused, in addition to the grief, hurt, and anger that you feel in connection with your injury or the injury or loss of your loved one.

Compensation for a work-related injury or death cannot restore your health, heal your family member, or account for the loss that you have experienced. However, it can help you and your family pay the medical bills associated with your injury or your family’s loss and possibly even replace some or all of the wages lost because of the accident. Injured individuals and their families could receive compensation for pain and suffering, disabilities, loss of earning capacity, and loss of quality of life, in addition to lost wages and medical bills. Most people who are injured at work or who lose a family member in a workplace accident can receive compensation. A workplace accident attorney can help you determine whether you can file a claim for compensation. They can also help you determine the potential value of your claim and assist you in deciding whether to accept or reject any possible settlement offers you receive.

It is critical that you not attempt to pursue compensation for your injury or loss on your own. There are multiple types of workplace accident claims, and you must file the correct type of claim within the proper amount of time to be eligible for compensation. For example, injuries caused by coworkers or supervisors and many injuries caused by items in your work environment give rise to workers’ compensation claims. However, in some instances, a third-party claim for compensation may be the more appropriate type of claim to file. For example, if your injury or your family’s loss was caused by someone who does not work at your workplace, such as a subcontractor or a service provider, your workplace accident attorney may choose to file a third-party claim.

If you were injured at work, or if a family member died in a workplace accident, do not attempt to file a workplace injury claim alone. A Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorneys can walk with you through the process of evaluating your workplace injury or loss claim and pursuing compensation. Call the Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC at 1 (800) 707-9577 to learn more.

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Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorney Talks About Struck-By Accidents

An employee at an Illinois workplace died earlier this month after he was struck by part of a machine. The man was an employee whose work consisted of traveling to various locations to provide repair and maintenance services for generators that were manufactured by his employer. OSHA is investigating the fatal accident.

Many types of workplaces contain struck-by hazards. Each day as they work, employees run the risk of being hit by one or more items as they go about their day. Struck-by accidents can injure people by breaking bones, causing head injuries, and even killing them instantly. While workplace accidents that are caused by being struck by a machine or object can sometimes look similar to workplace accidents where an employee becomes caught in machinery, they are not the same. Struck-by injuries are a different type of workplace hazard than caught-in injuries. In a struck-by workplace accident, the victim’s injury is caused solely by the impact of the object or machine that hit them. In a caught-in accident, the injury occurs when the victim is crushed between objects, or between an object and a surface. Struck-by accidents account for approximately ten percent of American workplace fatalities.

There are several ways that struck-by accidents can happen. For example, the object that strikes the accident victim could fly through the air before hitting them. For instance, sometimes, parts of tools or machines break off during use and fly through the air. Alternatively, it could fall on them from above, potentially pinning them to the floor or crushing them completely. Swinging objects can strike employees, especially when equipment like mechanical lifts or cranes are in use in the workplace. Workers can also be hit by objects that roll, like vehicles.

While each workplace that contains a struck-by hazard is unique, there are some safe work practices that employees can follow to reduce the chance that an object or a machine will strike them while they are on the job. For example, workers must use caution when working with compressed air tools, using them only after they have received training, and always operating them with guards in place. The same rule applies to hand tools. Additionally, some struck-by accidents can be prevented by regular inspection of air and hand tools – look at your tools before you work. If parts of the tool are loose or broken or do not look right, do not use them. If you are working at a height, secure all tools and materials in your work area so that they do not fall. When using equipment that swings, block off the work area to provide a safe space for the operation of the machinery. Use personal protective equipment like hard hats, eye and hearing protection with any tools or equipment that require it.

Workplace accidents can bring unexpected and sudden injury or loss. If your family lost a loved one or if you were injured in a struck-by accident at work, call the Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorney at Barrett Law PLLC today, at 1 (800) 707-9577.

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Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorney Discusses Workplace Accidents Involving Electricity

Most workplaces use electricity. From the electrical systems that power office buildings where employees use computers and other electronic devices to do their work to large manufacturing facilities that power massive machines with large amounts of electricity, electricity flows around most of us for much of our workday. Unfortunately, electricity can hurt and even kill workers who come into contact with it.

A man recently died from an electrical accident that happened while he was at work. The fifty-two-year-old man received an electrical injury to his hands, and he went into cardiac arrest shortly afterward. Some of the man’s co-workers tried to revive him, but neither they nor the first responders who reported to the accident scene were able to do so.

At the time of the accident, the man was working at a facility that produces electrical meters. He was a skilled and experienced worker who served his employer for over nine years before his death. Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Organization (OSHA) are investigating the fatal workplace accident.

There are three main types of workplace accidents that involve electricity. Employees can receive an electrical shock, they can be burned by electricity, or an electrical fire can injure them. Electrical shocks happen when an electrical current comes into contact with parts of a person’s body, such as a hand or a foot. Our bodies contain so much water that they conduct electricity very well. Electric shock injuries range from mild to severe and even fatal. A mild electric shock leaves the injured person with a tingly feeling in the area where the injury occurred. Moderate electric shocks can cause muscles to clench and tighten. A severe electrical shock sends so much electricity into the injured person’s body that their heart or lungs may fail. 

Severe electrical shocks cause electrical burns. Some electrical burns are external and can be seen on the outside of the injured person’s body. Electricity can also burn people internally if it travels through bones and into deep tissues. When there is an electrical fire, people can get hurt or killed if they try to extinguish the fire with water, and the water comes into contact with the electricity.

When electricity flows throughout the workplace as it should, it is useful for many kinds of work. Unfortunately, there are many ways that electricity can move outside of the systems that are designed to contain it. For example, electrical wiring does not last forever, nor is it maintenance free. Old wires can become brittle and crack or break, allowing electricity to escape. Routine examination of the electrical systems in a workplace could prevent at least some of the electrical accidents that occur. Electrical outlets have undergone many safety improvements over time, and many older outlets do not have the safety devices like ground-fault control interrupters (GFCI’s) or three-pronged plugs that could prevent some electrical injuries or deaths.

Electrical connections and components on machinery must be examined regularly for wear and tear and repaired as needed. Employees who repair equipment must do so carefully, taking steps to avoid all contact with electricity. Safe work practices such as lockout/tag-out protocols can help prevent accidental contact with electricity during repairs and maintenance.

If your family lost a loved one or if you were injured in an electrical accident at work, call the Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC today, at 1 (800) 707-9577.

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Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorneys Discuss Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can change lives in an instant. If you are in a workplace accident and you suffer a bump or blow to the head or any other type of head injury, it is critical that you seek medical attention immediately. Head injuries of all kinds are incredibly dangerous, and prompt treatment increases the chance of survival and the chance of recovery. If you suffer a head injury or if you witness an accident where someone receives a head injury, do not delay in seeking medical care or in calling for help for the accident victim. Head injuries do not always produce immediate pain or other symptoms, and dangerous, potentially deadly injuries like bleeding of the brain may not be visible to the eye.

Traumatic brain injuries disrupt the normal function of the brain. The impact of TBIs ranges from mild to severe, and they affect the way the injured person thinks, feels, acts, and moves. Traumatic brain injuries are a frequent cause sof disability and death in America. While automobile accidents are the most frequent cause of traumatic brain injuries, they can happen on the job, whether you are riding in a vehicle or not. For example, in any workplace where there is a fall hazard or the danger of being struck by an object, there is the risk of traumatic brain injury should you fall and hit your head or be struck int eh head by an object.

There are many types of head injuries, including skull fractures, concussions, contusions, and intracranial hematomas. Prompt medical attention after a head injury is the best way to obtain an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment as soon as possible. Treatment for traumatic brain injuries often starts at a hospital or trauma center and then progresses to a rehabilitation facility that specializes in helping patients recover from TBIs. As rehabilitation progresses, TBI patients may be able to work with their treatment providers and employers to make a plan to return for work. In some cases, a job change may be necessary, and additional training and support may become part of the patient’s rehabilitation plan.

Traumatic brain injuries can vary significantly in the amount of recovery time required to resume many activities, including work. The highly complex nature of the brain and the ways that brain injuries affect the victim’s entire being can make it difficult for care providers to assess a patient’s progress through recovery. It also makes it difficult for care providers to develop reliable timelines for when a patient might be able to resume things like walking, talking, writing, driving, and so on.

Traumatic brain injury workplace accident cases can lead to complicated worker’s compensation claims. You and your family do not need to face the challenge of filing a workplace injury claim alone. A workplace accident attorney can help you and your family navigate your workplace accident claim while you focus on your recovery. Call the Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC at 1 (800) 707-9577 to learn more.

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Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorneys Discuss Heavy Equipment Accidents

Road construction is dangerous work. Work zone injuries and fatalities have many causes, including distracted drivers, weather, and the machinery and tools that workers use every day. A recent workplace fatality in New Bern, NC is an example of a fatal workplace accident involving road construction machinery.

A man died when a construction roller tipped over. Initial reports of the fatal accident did not state whether the man was operating the roller when it overturned, or whether he was working near the roller when the accident happened. Either scenario could have resulted in a fatal accident. Construction rollers can tip easily, and there are often uneven surfaces in construction areas that can cause them to tip over, crushing the operator and possibly other workers nearby. Also, some rollers have seatbelts and rollover protection devices, but some do not. Even when a roller has seatbelts and other safety equipment, workers sometimes do not use the seatbelts and other safety features, thus increasing their accident risk.

The State Department of Labor is investigating the accident, and other agencies may join in the investigation. When workplace accidents, especially fatalities, are investigated, surprising things often come to light regarding the circumstances surrounding the injury or death that help others understand more about workplace accidents. For example, people who do not work with heavy machinery might think that workers who operate heavy machinery are always qualified to do so and always follow proper safety procedures because their work is so dangerous.

Unfortunately, the operation of heavy machinery is not always carried out with the appropriate degree of care and concern. While not every heavy machinery violation it finds during its workplace inspections leads to an injury or a fatality, many OSHA workplace violations involve heavy machinery. Heavy machinery accidents are one of the top four causes of construction worker deaths, along with falls, electrocution, and getting hit by an object.

Operating heavy machinery is a dangerous job. However, employers and employees can work together to decrease the risk of injury or death in areas where heavy machinery is used. For example, employers can inspect their equipment and maintain it in a safe condition. They can provide personal safety equipment for employees who will be operating the equipment, and they can train their employees on the safe operation of heavy equipment. Employees can also inspect the machinery they are using and alert their employers if it needs repair before it can be operated safely. Employees must use safety equipment that is provided to them, and they must follow the safe operating procedures that they learn while they are receiving the training that enables them to operate heavy machinery.

A workplace accident attorney can help you with the work of pursuing a claim for damages after a heavy machinery workplace accident so that you can focus on healing from your injuries. If your family lost someone in a heavy machinery workplace accident, a workplace accident attorney could take on the task of pursuing a claim for damages while you and your family focus on recovering from your loss. Call the Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC at 1 (800) 707-9577 to learn more.

 

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Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorney Says Pressures at Work Contribute to Workplace Accidents

Every job has a unique set of pressures and stresses that comes along with it. When people get together and talk about work, workplace stress, and the demands of their jobs are often topics of conversation which everyone can weigh in on. While some workplace stresses are unique to particular jobs, many people can relate to a specific type of corporate culture that is unfortunately very common in today’s workplaces. The pressure to work faster and longer is pervasive in American workplaces. Aside from being stressful for employees, this type of workplace culture is proving to be dangerous.

It is this pressure to work at a fast pace for long hours that is turning jobs that do not appear from the outside to be overly stressful or demanding into occupations with a high risk of injury, illness or death from workplace accidents. If you’re a health care worker, hotel housekeeper, restaurant server, delivery driver, or even someone who works lots of extra hours at the office, you know what we’re talking about. Overwork is no joke, and when you and your coworkers talk about the stresses of your workplaces and the demands that wear you thin, you’re not merely griping. You’re acknowledging a dangerous trend in American workplaces where companies are trying to get more out of their employees each hour that they work while simultaneously asking them to clock more and more time on the job.

Injuries, deaths, and illnesses caused by overwork often go unnoticed because the connection between the injuries, deaths, and diseases and the individual’s workplace is not always acknowledged. The employees who get sick, hurt, and killed by overwork don’t often fall ill, get injured, or die at work. Less than fourteen percent of work-related deaths occur at work. The stresses of overwork often manifest as long-term physical and mental health problems that cause the individuals affected by them a great deal of pain and suffering before they die.

One of the ways that the do more, faster, and more often workplace culture raises the risk of injury, illness, and death is by creating work schedules that are not compatible with a healthy work-life balance. Humans are not designed to work around the clock like machines, producing hour after hour, day after day. We are created to live in relationship with others, to care for and enjoy time with friends and family. When we must work long hours at an exhausting pace to secure basic needs for ourselves and our families, our health, as well as our relationships, suffer. The same happens when we choose to work more hours so that we have more money to spend on things that we want that are not necessities. The stress caused by difficulties in managing the tension between life at work and life outside of work can contribute to sickness, injury, and even death.

If overwork or stress has contributed to a workplace injury or illness in your life, you may be able to pursue a workplace accident claim. To learn more about how to pursue a workplace accident claim, call the Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorney at Barrett Law PLLC today, at 1 (800) 707-9577.

 

 

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Experienced Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorney Discusses Workers’ Comp Insurance for “Handymen” and Independent Contractors

While all employers in Mississippi are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees, many “handymen” or other sole proprietor independent contractors do not take out this sort of insurance to protect themselves in the event that they are injured while providing their services for a homeowner or business. This oversight results in many problems for the injured worker, the most obvious problem being that medical bills go unpaid, and a loss of income causes catastrophic problems for the injured worker’s family. Independent contractors must carry workers’ compensation insurance for themselves. It is inexpensive and can mean the difference between having your bills covered while you heal and bankruptcy.

If you or a loved one was injured on the job, you will need to have experienced workers’ compensation counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for your injury, loss of work, and recovery. Barrett Law has the experience to help you—contact us now at (800) 707-9577.

Why Handymen and Independent Contractors Need Workers’ Compensation Insurance

People who employ employees are required by Mississippi law to have workers’ compensation insurance. While this is a business expense, it also serves as a safety net for employees who are injured on the job, even if the injury is a result of their negligence or recklessness. While businesses must have workers’ compensation insurance, many handymen, independent contractors, and sole proprietors fail to carry this relatively inexpensive insurance. That is a significant mistake, as if they are injured on the job and can no longer work, it can devastate them financially.

Workers’ compensation insurance covers a wide range of injuries, including travel to and from job sites. It also includes workers who are injured by the third parties that employee them. If you are a handyman that is injured in either of these two situations, you can sue the person who injured you. However, this is likely to be a long, drawn-out process, and it is not guaranteed that you will receive any compensation. That is the beauty of workers’ compensation insurance; it pays out quickly and does not require filing any legal action to collect.

The annual premiums for workers’ compensation insurance will vary depending on the type of work you perform. Regardless of the premium rate, however, the amount is far less than having to pay out of pocket for a severe workplace injury.

What Should You Do If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured While on the Job?

If you or a loved one suffered an injury in the workplace, you must contact a workers’ compensation attorney immediately. Being out of work and the ensuing loss of income can devastate a family and lead to bankruptcy and divorce. Avoid those tragic outcomes by carrying workers’ compensation insurance and attaining the assistance of an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation attorney immediately following your workplace injury.

If you were injured as a result of a workplace accident or during your commute to the workplace, you will need the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney to gather your medical records, attain expert opinions regarding how your third party employer caused your injuries, and take depositions of the medical professionals that provided your care, not to mention fighting the other side’s attorneys. These are not tasks that you can accomplish alone. You will need an expert on your side.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if you have been injured as a result of medical malpractice. Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.

 

 

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Experienced Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorney Explains How Workplace Pollutants Can Cause Sarcoidosis

When people hear the words “workers’ compensation,” they often think of people straining their backs lifting heavy objects, suffering from industrial burns, or developing carpal tunnel syndrome because of poor ergonomics. While all of those injuries are common in workplaces here in Mississippi, there is are also a large class of injuries that are not painful, have few or no external symptoms, and do not develop after a single incident.  Sarcoidosis is one of these conditions. It is an inflammatory condition that attacks multiple organs, usually focusing on the lymph glands and lungs.  In sarcoidosis, granulomas form around the body’s organs.  Granulomas are masses of cells. While many people can lead healthy lives while suffering from sarcoidosis, it granulomas can cause scarring on the heart, lungs, and other organs, which over time decreases the person’s quality of life and can even result in death. In this blog post, I will explore the workplace causes of sarcoidosis and what you should do if you are diagnosed with this disease.

If you or a loved one was injured at work, including a diagnosis of sarcoidosis, you will need to have experienced workers’ compensations counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for your decrease in health and time away from work. Barrett Law has the experience to help you if you.  Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.

Causes of Sarcoidosis

Work environments result in a significant percentage of sarcoidosis cases.  A recent journal article indicated that about a third of cases stem from the employee’s workplace.  Specifically, exposure to ambient dust and gases over time results in not only sarcoidial masses—granulomas—growing on workers organs, particularly their heart and lungs.  While these masses may not affect employees’ health at first, over time, they cause scarring on the organs that weaken the body and can even result in death.  Many people suffering from sarcoidosis also develop other better-known workplace breathing ailments such as asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Sarcoidosis is particularly an issue for firefighters, welders, farmworkers, and those working in industrial workplaces such as the petrochemical industry.  All of these workplaces are common in Mississippi. Negative health conditions like these can be exacerbated if workers are subjected to constant workplace dust and gasses without either sufficient ventilation or breathing filtration.

What Should You Do if You Were Diagnosed with Sarcoidosis?

If you receive a diagnosis of sarcoidosis, you have every right to file a workers’ compensation claim. You should be compensated for medical costs, loss of work, and damages related to your exposure to dust and vapor at work.  The first step of any workers’ compensation case is to report a claim with your employer.  Make sure that your report is timely, meaning it is filed as soon as you are aware of your condition.  Also, make sure that it is in writing and follows all of your employer’s injury reporting guidelines.  Next, contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to begin preparing the necessary documentation to support your claim. Let experienced counsel take care of preserving medical records, documenting the accident, attaining expert opinions, and dealing with your employer’s attorneys. These are essential tasks that only a workers’ compensation attorney can handle for you. If your claim is ever challenged, you will want to have detailed medical records and expenses related to your condition—your employer will not just take your word for it.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation law firm, to represent you if you have suffered an injury in the workplace or suffered retaliation as a result of your report. Contact our Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorney today at (800) 707-9577.

 

 

 

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Experienced Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorney Explains Back Injuries and Medical Professionals

Nationwide, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of medical professionals—doctors, nurses, CNA’s, physician’s assistants—that are suffering back injuries.  This is rapidly becoming the most common on-the-job injury for those working in the medical profession, and I have written the following blog post to provide answers to commonly asked questions regarding back injuries. Several factors are currently converging here in Mississippi to exacerbate this problem, which I will describe in detail below. I will also explain the steps you should take if you sustain a back injury while on the job.

If you or a loved one is a medical professional that sustained an injury at work, you will need to have experienced workers’ compensations counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for your injury, loss of income, recovery, and other harms. Barrett Law has the experience to help you.  Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.

Why are there an Increasing Number of Back Injuries in the Medical Profession?

Several factors are converging to create a dangerous situation for Mississippi medical professionals.  First, the medical professional population is aging. The baby boomers are beginning to age out of the workforce, but because pensions have given way to less reliable 401k-type retirement plans, many remain in the workforce longer than their bodies will allow. As a result, this demographic is more susceptible to injuries of all types.  Second, medical facilities have cut back on staffing, often relying on fewer workers to work longer hours and perform more work. Working in the medical field usually requires lifting and moving patients; with fewer workers, the remaining staff must engage in that many more lifts per shift. Third, there is an increasing number of immobile patients in medical centers due to the obesity epidemic and an aging population.  As a result, occupational injuries related to lifting are on the rise.

What Should You Do if You Experience a Back Injury While at Work

You have a right to file a workers’ compensation claim for any injury incurred at work or because of work.  This is true even if your own mistake, negligence, or recklessness played into your injury.  Employers pay into workers’ compensation insurance for all injuries, regardless of their cause.

If you are injured at work, be sure to follow your employer’s reporting guidelines explicitly. Regardless of the guidelines, be sure to report your injury immediately and in writing. If you fail to put your report in writing, it can be “forgotten,” and your claim can be denied if it is not timely.  Worse, even if your report is timely, your employer can claim that some outside of work injury was the real cause of your injury, leading to a denial.

Once you have reported your injury, seek medical attention immediately. Attaining an unbiased, medical professional’s assessment of your injury is essential to recovering your fair share of compensation.  This is true even if you “feel OK” after an injury. Back injuries usually take days or weeks to develop, and you want to attain a baseline assessment of your health immediately after an accident.  Finally, once you have notified your employer of your injury and attained medical help, contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney immediately.

What Should You Do if You Were Injured at Work?

If you are a medical professional and sustained an injury while at work, regardless of fault, you have every right to file a workers’ compensation claim. You should be compensated for medical costs, loss of work, and damages related to the retaliation such as back pay and loss of future earnings.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation law firm, to represent you if you are a medical professional that suffered an injury in the workplace. Contact us now at (800) 707-9577. Our Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorney looks forward to making a difference for you.

 

 

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Experienced Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorney Explains—Signs that Your Workers’ Compensation Case May Be High Value

All employers here in Mississippi have a legal duty to pay into the workers’ compensation system.  The point of workers’ compensation is simple: employers pay into the system so that workers’ injuries are paid for in the event of a workplace injury.  Employees are covered by workers’ compensation even if the injury was the result of their negligence. One of the most challenging things to judge, however, is the value of a workers’ compensation claim.  Even if an employer pays a claim, it is difficult to assess whether the employee is accepting a fair deal or a fraction of what he or she should be receiving. I have counseled countless employees here in Mississippi about their workers’ compensation claims’ values and can do the same for you or a loved one that has been injured.  Because I so often receive questions about workers’ compensation claim values, I have written the following blog post to provide an overview.

If you or a loved one was injured at work, you will need to have experienced workers’ compensations counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for his or her injury, recovery, and harm. Barrett Law has the experience to help you if you.  Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.

Factors Influencing the Value of Your Workers’ Compensation Case

It is essential that you not settle your workers’ compensation claim for less than it is worth.  The following are factors that usually increase the value of your claim.

You Have Missed a Significant Amount of Work

Missing a few days or weeks of work is not uncommon after a workplace accident. However, if you have lost more than a month of work, you should see that absence as an indicator that your claim may be worth a significant amount of compensation.  This is particularly true if you have been out of work so long that your work skills and knowledge have deteriorated as a result of the absence.

You Will Have to Change Careers

If your injury was so significant that it prevents you from continuing in the same career, it is a high-value claim.  If you require extensive retraining or moving costs to remain in a new job, those costs can be included in your workers’ compensation claim.

The Injury is Catastrophic

If your injury resulted in a permanent injury or loss of a limb or other body part, you should definitely not settle your workers’ compensation claim without the assistance of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.  These are catastrophic injuries, and the compensation that you are due from this sort of life-altering event does not fit neatly into traditional compensation categories.

You Required Extensive Medical Care

Many people injured in the workplace only need to rest for a few days before they can return to work. On the other hand, it is easy to rack up hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills if your injury required an extended hospital stay or surgery.  If your medical bills are extensive, you should seek assistance from a workers’ compensation attorney to help you gauge what a fair settlement of your claim should be.

What Should You Do if You Were Injured at Work?

If you were injured at work, regardless of fault, you have every right to file a workers’ compensation claim.  It is illegal for your employer to take any action against you in retaliation for filing that claim. You should be compensated for medical costs, loss of work, and damages related to the retaliation such as back pay and loss of future earnings.  Let experienced counsel take care of preserving medical records, documenting the accident, attaining expert opinions, and dealing with your employer’s attorneys. These are essential tasks that only a workers’ compensation attorney can handle for you.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation law firm, to represent you if you have suffered an injury in the workplace or suffered retaliation as a result of your report. Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.

 

 

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