The majority of workplace acts are caused by slip, trip, and falls.  These accidents account for some 15 percent of all accidental deaths and come in second to only automobile accidents as a cause of accidental deaths.  Even trip and falls on the jobsite that seem to be minor can have serious consequences, leading to head injury, back or neck injury, sprained muscles, and broken bones.  Unfortunately, all of these injuries keep the employee from being able to perform his or her work tasks, costing the employee money and placing their job potentially at risk.

Mississippi employees who are injured in slip, trip, and fall accidents while at work may have a valid workers’ compensation claim.  Under the state workers’ compensation system, employees injured in the course and scope of employment will receive benefits for their medical expenses, time off work, and more.  Employees must report their injury in a timely manner and must suffer an injury that requires they miss time from work or receive medical treatment.

Slip and fall victims can receive workers’ compensation benefits to cover their medical bills, prescription drug costs, mileage reimbursements, weekly wage replacement, and payment for vocational rehabilitation.  Employees that sustain partial or permanent disability as a result of the slip and fall, such that they cannot return to work, will be eligible for more benefits.

Types of Slip, Trip, and Falls

Workplace falls can generally be divided into two subgroups: same level falls and elevated falls.

Same Level Falls

More than half of all workplace falls are caused by falls from same level walking surfaces.  Common causes of these falls include:

• Slippery surfaces:  Spills of liquid or other slippery substances occur across American workplaces.  Slippery surface falls can lead to fractures, traumatic brain injury, sprains, and more.  Employers have a duty to keep the workplace free of such dangers, but accidents still result and workers’ compensation can provide financial compensation for these injured workers.
• Ice or rain:  Employers are often injured while walking to or from their cars to work.  Employers are required to keep the parking lots and walkways clear so that employees can safely reach the workplace.  Injured workers can seek workers’ compensation for injuries sustained on the jobsite, at times even if the employee has not yet clocked in.
• Trips:  Workplace trips can result from misplaced items or walking on uneven surfaces.  Employers should take care to fix such surfaces and keep the workplace clear of clutter, but when accidents do result injured workers should receive workers’ compensation.

Elevated Falls

Elevated falls are falls that occur from any sort of height.  These falls happen most often in the construction industry, but can also occur in forestry, mining, agriculture, and other like fields.  Elevated falls hold the potential for severe and even life threatening injuries.  Any employer who requires their employees work from a height must provide employees with proper safety equipment, thorough training, and supervision in order to prevent falls.

Barrett Law PLLC:  Helping Mississippi Employees to Obtain Workers’ Compensation Coverage for Their Jobsite Slip, Trip, and Falls 

The Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC represent injured employees across the state.  Our clients include nurses, school teachers, clerical workers, construction workers, truck drivers, and many others.  At Barrett Law PLLC, we recognize the difficulties that many employees face in obtaining full coverage for their work related injuries.  As such, we dedicatedly strive to assist you through the complex workers’ compensation web towards a full recovery.  Call the exceptional workers’ compensation attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free consultation.

Mississippi’s workers’ compensation system is complex and difficult for most employees to navigate.  If you are preparing to file or have recently filed a claim, you will likely have questions about the process.  Here is a look at some of the most frequently asked questions by injured Mississippi employees:

What injuries and illnesses are covered under workers’ compensation?

Most injuries and illnesses that are caused by a work related accident or a work related condition will be covered under Mississippi’s workers’ compensation.  You should qualify for workers’ compensation even if the accident was your fault.  Repetitive motion injuries should also be covered.

There are a few injuries and illnesses that may be excluded, including those that are intentionally self-inflicted, injuries caused by your intoxication, injuries that result when a co-worker attacks you for personal reasons, and more.  Your attorney can review your injuries to assess whether they will fall under workers’ compensation.

Are all workers covered under Mississippi’s workers’ compensation?

Most full time or part time employees will be covered by Mississippi’s workers’ compensation program.  Almost all employers are required to provide this covered and there exist few exceptions.  Those that are self-employed will generally not be covered.

Can I sue my employer or a co-worker for causing injuries or illness?

Not usually.  Workers’ compensation is the sole remedy available to most employees injured on the jobsite.  You can seek coverage for medical expenses and lost wages under the workers’ compensation system.  You will not be paid for pain and suffering stemming from the injury.  There are two main exceptions.  If your injury is caused by a defective product, you may be able to pursue a case against the manufacturer.  Further, if your injury was caused by an assault by a co-worker for personal reasons, you may be able to seek a civil or criminal suit.

I was injured in a car accident while traveling for my job that requires travel, will workers’ compensation cover my injury?

If you are required to travel for work, you will generally be covered in the event of an accident so long as you were on the road for a work purpose and considered to be on the clock.  If you have no fixed place of work and were traveling for the job, you should also be covered.

I was injured while on a break, will my injury be covered?

You may not be covered.  Generally, personal time taken during the work day will not be covered under Mississippi’s workers’ compensation.

Can my employer fire me for filing a workers’ compensation claim?

No.  Your employer cannot legally fire you for filing a workers’ compensation claim and doing would be against the law.  Your employer can, however, fire you for a variety of other reasons, such as extended absence from work.  If you have been terminated and believe your workers’ compensation claim played a role, consult with a qualified Mississippi workers’ compensation attorney immediately.

Barrett Law PLLC:  Assisting Injured Workers Across the State in Obtaining the Compensation They Deserve

If you have been injured on the job, it is imperative you receive the full workers’ compensation benefits for which you are eligible.  Unfortunately, the complex workers’ compensation system makes it difficult to do so.  For those confused by the process or whose claims have been denied or minimized, the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC are here to help.  We are a team of skilled and dedicated workers’ compensation.  Call Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free consultation with one of our exemplary workers’ compensation attorneys.

A man from Brookhaven, Mississippi recently died in a work-related accident on an oil rig in Lincoln County.  The accident occurred on Monday, October 6, 2014.  The County Coroner reports that the 22 year old employee was working on an oil rig when he was hit by a pipe at about 9:30 p.m.  The rig was located two miles northeast of Brookhaven.

The seriously injured worker was transported by private vehicle to a medical center in Brookhaven, but sadly did not survive.  An autopsy is planned.  The young man was working for Loomis International, a subcontractor for Denbury Resources, a Texas-based oil and gas exploration company.  Originally from Michigan, the worker had lived in Brookhaven for about two years.

This deadly oil rig accident highlights the dangers that face workers in this high stakes job. America is one of the top oil producing countries in the world, with over 1,800 oil rigs located across the nation.  While most of our oil comes from Alaska, California, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas, Mississippi is home to much drilling activity as well.  Most oil rigs are located in remote locations.  Oil rig workers are typically sent to these locations for several months of years at a time.

While the oil company will usually pay room and board, other expenses, and the pay is generally high, working on an oil rig is considered one of the country’s most dangerous jobs.  Oil rig workers typically put in strenuous work for eight to 12 hours per day.  The demands for increased productivity are high, and there is often a shortage of workers.  Working conditions can be chaotic and quite dangerous.  The likelihood of oil rig injuries and deaths is at an all time high.

Most oil rig accidents are the result of negligence, human error, or a product defect, including equipment failure, exposure to hazardous chemicals or harsh elements.  Causes of oil rig accidents commonly include:

• Falls from oil derricks
• Equipment failure
• Negligent maintenance
• Contractor, subcontractor, or co-worker negligence
• Truck accidents on the job
• Burns caused by oilfield explosions or fires
• Toxic chemical exposure
• Serious injuries or death caused by oil well blowouts

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in an oil rig accident, contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible.  Obtaining compensation for oil rig accidents can be complex and will require prompt investigation and action.  Injured oil rig workers and their families have several possible avenues for recovery, including through workers’ compensation, a personal injury action, or a product defect action.

Barrett Law PLLC: Protecting Mississippi Oil Rig Workers  

Working on an oil rig can be strenuous and, at its worst, dangerous.  Serious and even deadly accidents can occur on oil rigs due to the negligence of others or a product defect.  Workers injured in oil rig accidents and their families have the right to pursue compensation in the event they are injured or killed on the job.  The Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC assist injured oil rig workers across the state.  We will fight to see that you receive the workers’ compensation benefits to which you are entitled, including coverage for your medical expenses, lost wages, occupational rehabilitation, and more.  Under some circumstances, you may additionally be able to pursue compensation outside the workers’ compensation program.  The attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC will thoroughly evaluate the facts of your accident and uncover all potential avenues for recovery.  Call Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free consultation.

The workplace is home to thousands of electrocutions and other electrical accidents each year.  The Bureau of Labor & Statistics states that electrocution is the fifth leading cause of workplace related deaths.  Every year, over 500 workers will die by electrocution on the jobsite.  Employees working in industries that place them in close proximity to electrical sources are at the greatest risk for electrocution and electrical burns.

Employees who experience an electrical accident at a Mississippi job site will generally be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits.  Mississippi requires most employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which will cover all work related accidents.  Further, Mississippi employees who utilize the workers’ compensation system will be protected from any retaliatory action resulting from the filing of their claim.

Electrocuted on the Job: Who is Most at Risk for Electrical Accidents and Injuries?

Employees who work in the fields list below are at the highest risk for electrocution and other electrical accidents:

• Electricians
• Construction workers
• Utility workers
• Manufacturing workers

The number one source of electrical fatalities is overhead power lines, so anyone working in a field that requires contact with power lines is at a heightened risk for electrocution.

Electrocution, Electric Shock, and Burns

Employees often suffer from electric shock due to wear and tear on machines or wiring, ungrounded power supplies, and contract with underground electrical cords or overhead power lines.

Some of the most common electric shock injuries include:

• Burns
• Brain damage
• Nerve damage
• Tissue, nerve, or muscle damage
• Organ damage
• Neurological damage
• Internal bleeding
• Heart attack
• Respiratory and cardiac arrest
• Wrongful death by electrocution

Burns are often associated with fire, but they have other causes.  Electrical explosions, accidents, defective products, chemical exposure, and workplace accidents can also inflict burns.  Electrical burns are often severe and can lead to:

• Tissue and nerve damage
• Infection
• Disfigurement or scarring
• Loss of sight, hearing, smell, or taste
• Inhalation injuries

Liability for Electric Shock Accidents

Mississippi employees injured in an electrical accident will generally incur significant medical expenses, require a lengthy recovery period, and be unable to maintain work obligations.  Employees will also experience pain and suffering, along with sometimes severe emotional or psychological affects.  Regardless of fault for the accident, Mississippi employees injured in electrical accidents are able to pursue benefits through workers’ compensation insurance.  In addition, any family who losses a loved one due to an electric accident in the workplace can obtain death benefits through the workers’ compensation system.

The workers’ compensation process can be confusing and often the employee will not immediately obtain the full benefits to which they are entitled.  All injured Mississippi employees, especially those who have sustained serious electrical accident related injuries, should contact an attorney early on to ensure they receive the benefits they need to fully cover medical and missed time from work expenses.

Barrett Law PLLC: Protecting Mississippi Workers

For over 75 years, across three generations, the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorneys at Barrett Law, PLLC have provided skilled, zealous, and intelligent representation for Mississippi employees injured in work-related accidents across the state. Our workers’ compensation attorneys have the knowledge, experience, and resources to obtain the results you desire.  Barrett Law, PLLC operates on a contingency fee basis and the first consultation is always free.  If your workers’ compensation claim has been denied or if you are confused about the workers’ compensation process, the attorneys at Barrett Law, PLLC can help.  Call today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free consultation.

When a worker is injured on the job, it is likely that the person will receive some type of compensation in order to heal from his injuries while he is unable to work.  Most businesses in Mississippi with more than four employees are required to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage, with some limited exceptions for charitable organizations and several other employers.  The type of compensation that a worker can receive depends on the nature of the injury and the long-term prognosis.

There are three types of benefits for an employee injured while performing work-related duties, although only two of these benefits are mandatory under the current terms of the act.  These are:

• Medical Benefits – The employee is entitled to have his medical bills paid for any injuries reasonably related to the work activities.  An employee cannot be made to pay for the copayment under these circumstances.  Many times, the employer will attempt to force the employee to go to a “company doctor,” but the employee has the right to choose his physician.  The benefits should cover doctor’s bills and hospital charges, necessary nursing care, medications, rehabilitation, required medical devices and equipment, and travel reimbursement.
• Wage Benefits – An employee who is unable to work because of the injury is entitled to compensation.  Under Mississippi law, an employee may receive up to two-thirds of the weekly wage that he was earning prior to the injury.  The compensation must be paid out to the employee every two weeks.  In addition, the determination of the treating physician will dictate whether the compensation is temporary, permanent, partial, or full.  There are times when a person may be out entirely, but a complete recovery is expected, in which case the employee will receive temporary full benefits.  An employee who never will be able to work again will receive permanent benefits for a period of up to 450 weeks.  There may be an employee who can work on a part-time capacity, but may not return to full-time employment and they will receive a pro-rated, or partial, permanent benefit.  Workers’ compensation payments are tax-free, so that covers some of the discrepancy between a full-time salary and benefits.
• Vocational Benefits – There are times when an employee’s injury will prevent him from returning to the same type of work that he performed before the accident.  Under these circumstances, there may be an evaluation about whether training or education could prepare the employee for another type of work.  The employer can agree to this vocational benefit or the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission could order it.  The benefit for vocational rehabilitation will not exceed $10 per week for 52 weeks.  At this time, employers are not required to provide coverage for this benefit, but it is recommended.

In addition to these benefits, the family of an employee who is killed on the job may be entitled to receive death benefits.  The surviving spouse may receive a lump sum benefit, a payment for funeral expenses (as determined by statute), and weekly benefits for dependents.  These dependents must have qualified as such at the time of the employee’s death.  Depending on the circumstances, the beneficiaries may be a spouse, the employee’s children, grandchildren, siblings, parents, or grandparents.  The beneficiary has the burden of proving that he or she is entitled to benefits under the Workers’ Compensation Act.

An employee who is injured on the job may believe that workers’ compensation will cover all of his needs without any further action, but the employer and insurance company are motivated to limit the payout as much as possible.  The experienced and dedicated Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC are prepared to fight to get you the maximum benefits to which you are entitled.  Call us at (800) 707-9577 for a free consultation.