Experienced Mississippi BP Oil Spill Attorney Discusses BELO Claims Progressing Through Gulf Courts

I am pleased to see so many 2010 BP Oil Spill cleanup workers’ cases working their way through the courts across the Gulf region. As these cases progress, troubling facts have emerged through the discovery process about the actions that were taken against cleanup workers.  I will discuss those facts below but want to underscore that is still not too late to claim your fair share of compensation for any harm or injuries you suffered as a result of your cleanup work.

Do you have a health condition arising from your cleanup work on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill? Did your participation in the cleanup effort result in contact with dispersants? You may be entitled to a portion of settlement funds. If you think your health condition entitles you to some of the BP Deepwater Horizon settlement, having experienced counsel help you attain your fair share is critical. Barrett Law has expertise in BP Oil Spill litigation and has the experience to help you through this process.  Contact us now at (601) 790-1505.

Ongoing “Back-End Litigation” Against B

Cleanup workers that develop health conditions and choose not to pursue a workers’ compensation claim may engage the Back-End Litigation Option or BELO against BP.  Cleanup workers have frequently filed BELO suits because of late-developing chronic illnesses caused by exposure to the oil or dispersants.  Chemicals present in the oil and dispersants are known to cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pains, dizziness, chest pains, skin irritation, respiratory system damage, central nervous system depression, and cancer. These hazards were known to BP at the time of the Spill.

The cleanup workers’ BELO cases allege that BP ordered them to work long days around toxic oil and dispersants without giving any warnings regarding the health hazards caused by that work. BP failed to make safety equipment available to cleanup workers, and when workers attempted to wear respirators, they were forced to remove them.

BP claims that the work conditions that spill cleanup workers were exposed to were within legal parameters and that any subsequent health conditions are actually preexisting conditions and not caused by spill work whatsoever.  I suspect that as these claims move forward, expert and scientific witnesses will be able to distinguish situations that were clearly caused by spill response work from those unrelated to the Gulf Spill.

What Should You Do If You Were Injured or Harmed By the 2010 BP Oil Spill Cleanup?

If you were one of the thousands of cleanup workers who fought to clean up the Gulf region in the aftermath of the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, you deserve compensation for harms caused as a result of that work. As I have written above, it is now coming to light that many oil spill workers were placed in harmful positions during the Spill cleanup and that those directing the work hindered efforts to protect workers’ health. If you were injured or developed a health condition as a result of your cleanup work, you may be due compensation for your medical costs, loss of work, and ongoing pain and suffering. To fully understand your options, hire an attorney with extensive experience in getting BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill claims paid.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi BP Oil Spill law firm, to represent you if you were harmed as a result of the Spill. Barrett Law has the experience to take on defense attorneys that are focused on denying your compensation for the harm you experienced.  Contact us now at (601) 790-1505.  Our Mississippi BP Oil Spill Attorney looks forward to making a difference for you.

 

 

 

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Experienced Mississippi Whistleblower Lawyer Discusses a Unique Whistleblower Case

This past May, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded $4.5 million to a whistleblower under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s whistleblower program. While that is a significant whistleblower reward, the large payout isn’t what makes this case unique. This is actually a “feelgood” whistleblower story, where the whistleblower filed his case with the SEC and told his company about the ongoing fraud.  The company performed an internal investigation that confirmed that the whistleblower’s claims were accurate, leading the company to self-report the misconduct. Thus, the whistleblower still received his compensation even though the company did the right thing and also self-reported the fraud. While this case worked out well for the whistleblower, I will highlight some potential pitfalls to this strategy below.

Are you considering becoming a whistleblower? You will need the help of an experienced whistleblower attorney to help you answer questions and prepare your case.  Contact Barrett Law now at (601) 790-1505 to attain the advice you need.

Timing and Dual Reporting Are Critical to Receiving the Reward You Deserve

In this case, the whistleblower both reported wrongdoing internally to his company and reported the same conduct to the SEC within 120 days.  As I mentioned above, the company then performed an internal investigation that resulted in the validation of the whistleblower’s report and the company’s decision to self-report its findings to the SEC. All of those facts are critical, as the SEC’s whistleblower provision mandates that a whistleblower can be compensated if his or her time is made internally and to the SEC within 120 days.  If a whistleblower dual reports and the internal report to the company results in a self-report, then the whistleblower will receive a reward ranging from 15% to 30% of all money recovered. As I have discussed in earlier blog posts, that reward frequently falls in the million dollar range.

As I mentioned, it is critical that the whistleblower both notified his company and the SEC of the fraud.  You may remember an earlier blog post I wrote about the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Digital Realty Trust, Inc. v. Somers, which held that a person who only reports fraud internally could not avail themselves of the SEC whistleblower program’s anti-retaliation provisions.  That means that if a whistleblower only reports internally, they do not have legal recourse if the company retaliates against them for reporting fraud. Shockingly, this is true even if the company self-reports the fraud to the SEC.  Similarly, it is vital that the whistleblower make his or her report to the SEC within 120 days of making an internal report.  If the report is made later, the whistleblower is not eligible to receive compensation under the SEC’s whistleblower program.

What Should You Do if You are Considering Making a Whistleblower Claim?

The narrative I provided above demonstrates just some of the complexities of making a report of ongoing fraud to the SEC. The U.S. Department of Justice and the SEC receive thousands of potential whistleblower claims each year, and only those that meet their requirements and are reported in a way that triggers their interest are acted upon. Even if you have a strong allegation, if your case is disorganized or is missing important elements, it will likely be ignored. Contact Barrett Law now at (601) 790-1505.

Experienced whistleblower lawyer Barrett can provide you with the advice you will need to file a successful whistleblower case. Having expert legal advice by your side can mean the difference between receiving your share of a whistleblower reward and losing your career and livelihood. Call us today.  Our Mississippi Whistleblower Lawyer looks forward to making a difference for you.

 

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Experienced Mississippi Whistleblower Lawyer Discusses Unusual Lawsuit Against a Whistleblower

I came across this unusual whistleblower case recently and thought I would write a blog post about it. In brief, a whistleblower filed a False Claims Act whistleblower claim against his employer hospital, alleging that the hospital was paying illegal kickbacks. In response, his employer filed a lawsuit against the whistleblower for failing to live up to his fiduciary duty to the company and alleging that his whistleblower claim was frivolous. I am writing about this case because the employer’s lawsuit is extraordinarily troubling and seems aimed at chilling any reports of fraud, including legitimate ones.

Have you witnessed fraud or kickback concerning a government contract? Are you considering becoming a whistleblower? You will need the help of an experienced Mississippi whistleblower attorney to guide you through the process and to attain your fair share of compensation.  Contact Barrett Law now at (601) 790-1505 to attain the advice you need.

The False Claims Act and Medical Providers

You will likely remember from my earlier blog posts that the False Claims Act prohibits paying kickbacks or bribes in exchange for government contracts.  In this case, Wheeling Hospital, Inc. v. Louis Longo (N.D. W. Va. 2019), the whistleblower, Mr. Longo, claimed that his employer was paying inflated payments to physicians in exchange for referrals to the hospital. This sort of behavior falls under the False Claims Act because a significant percentage of medical payments are made through the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs. The U.S. Department of Justice brought a False Claims Act case against Wheeling Hospital based on Mr. Longo’s complaint.

Wheeling Hospital recently sued Mr. Longo, claiming that he breached a fiduciary duty to Wheeling by not first reporting any fraud internally. A fiduciary duty is a legal duty to protect the company’s shareholders financially. The company had a policy mandating that employees report fraud internally. It is important to note that Wheeling had already fired him at the time he filed his complaint, however. Moreover, Wheeling’s lawsuit claims that Longo’s suit is really just an attempt to extort money from the hospital.

This case reminds me of SLAPP suits that were popular in the ’80s and ’90s.  SLAPP stands for strategic lawsuit against public participation.  In these cases, companies would sue individuals for defamation and other torts when the individual made the public aware that the company was engaged in some sort of wrongdoing.  Ultimately, the First Amendment protected the reporting individual, but the point of the SLAPP suit was to have a chilling effect on corporate criticism, and it often worked. Here, it seems that Wheeling is making a similar claim. I will be watching this case out of West Virginia closely to see what a court ultimately decides, as the decision may be far-reaching.

What Should You Do if You are Considering Making a Whistleblower Claim?

Are you aware of kickbacks or other fraud occurring in the medical field? The reward for submitting a successful False Claims Act whistleblower claim can be significant, but you will only receive this sort of award with the help of an experienced whistleblower attorney. Too many people try to report fraud in an effort to become a whistleblower and only up ruining their careers without any reward. Contact Barrett Law now at (601) 790-1505.

Experienced whistleblower lawyer Barrett can provide you with the advice you will need to file a successful whistleblower case. Having expert legal advice by your side can mean the difference between receiving your share of a whistleblower reward and losing your career and livelihood. Call us today. Our Mississippi Whistleblower Lawyer looks forward to making a difference for you.

 

 

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Experienced Mississippi Whistleblower Lawyer Discusses Third Party Liability in False Claims Act Cases

Many people erroneously believe that only those actively involved in fraud against the U.S. government can be prosecuted under the False Claims Act.  In fact, you can be implicated in a fraud case if you participate, even passively, in any element of the fraud. I will explore this issue in greater detail below, but want to highlight the fact that this creates opportunities for those of you here in Mississippi that are interested in becoming a whistleblower. You do not have to work for the company that is actively committing fraud against the federal government to become a whistleblower; instead, you can work for a secondary contractor that provides some service to the primary company that is engaging in fraud.  For example, if you are an accountant that audits a construction company that is providing sub-standard services on a government contract, you can claim whistleblower status and report the construction company’s actions.  Inversely, you can be implicated in the fraud if you work to cover it up.

Are you considering becoming a whistleblower? If you are aware of fraud occurring in relation to a government contract, you should do the right thing and report it. You will need the help of an experienced whistleblower attorney to guide you through the process and to attain your fair share of compensation.  Contact Barrett Law now at (601) 790-1505 to attain the advice you need.

Third Party Liability Under the False Claims Act

In several recent cases, the U.S. Department of Justice has shown that it is interested in prosecuting those that help companies that are doing business with the federal government engage in fraud.  The fraud can be supplying sub-standard products, price inflation, kickbacks, or any other act where the federal government does not get what it pays for.  The Department of Justice will not only prosecute the companies committing fraud, but also tech companies that handle the IT underlying the transaction, accountants and attorneys that give advice regarding the fraudulent activity, and financial institutions that underwrite the activities.

In United States ex rel. Goodman v. Arriva Medical LLC, the Department of Justice is prosecuting

Arriva Medical, a diabetes testing company for paying illegal kickbacks to those that referred business to them. It is interesting to note, however, that the third party consultant who provided advice to Arriva regarding testing reimbursement is also being prosecuted. Similarly, the Department of Justice is prosecuting several private equity firms for providing strategic guidance to other medical providers who were engaged in kickback schemes.

Most notably, Deloitte and Touche, one of the world’s leading accounting firms, recently paid a $150 million settlement to the Department of Justice related to the advice the firm provided to mortgage lenders in the leadup to the subprime mortgage crisis.

What Should You Do if You are Considering Making a Whistleblower Claim?

Many people believe that only those working for a company that is committing fraud can become a whistleblower concerning that fraud.  But as the above post makes clear, if you are a third party observer of fraud against the U.S. government—an attorney, vendor, accountant, contractor, financial advisor, auditor—you can file a whistleblower case too.  You will need to speak to an attorney with significant experience in this area of the law if you are interested in becoming a whistleblower. Contact Barrett Law now at (601) 790-1505.

Experienced whistleblower lawyer Barrett can provide you with the advice you will need to file a successful whistleblower case. Having expert legal advice by your side can mean the difference between receiving your share of a whistleblower reward and losing your career and livelihood. Call us today.  Our Mississippi Whistleblower Lawyer looks forward to making a difference for you.

 

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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 (601) 790-1505.

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 (601) 790-1505. Our Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorney looks forward to making a difference for you.

 

 

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Discusses How Undisciplined Social Media Use Can Sink Your Personal Injury Case

There is no question that social media—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, and others—has taken over the way we now communicate as a culture. While we it may be a great way to tell our friends about how we spent our holiday or what our children have accomplished, reckless or thoughtless posts on social media can be devastating to a personal injury case. I have seen many cases where a plaintiff’s seemingly innocent post ended up being turned around against them by creative defense counsel in the courtroom. I usually tell my clients to delete all of their social media profiles after an accident, lest they come back to haunt you later.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, you will need to have experienced counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for their death. Barrett Law has the experience to help you—contact us now at (601) 790-1505.

How Social Media Can Come Back to Haunt Your Personal Injury Case

You have likely heard the Miranda warning on any law enforcement TV show, “you have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law….” While that warning is only given in criminal cases, I like to reiterate that it applies in personal injury cases as well. Everything a person says on social media can be attained by defense counsel and will likely be construed in a way that hurts a person’s personal injury case. Posts to social media will be taken as your most thoughtful and honest musings, which is rarely how anyone intends them to be taken.  Below I describe how different types of posts can harm your case.

Not Looking Injured or Contradicting Medical Claims—almost everyone who has been injured in an accident has good and bad days.  Imagine you injured your back in a car accident and have been out of work for months as a result. If you post a poolside picture of yourself lounging in a floating pool chair, you are unlikely to get much sympathy from a defendant’s attorney.  The thing is, that picture does not show the pain you are experiencing at that moment or the fact that you had to take strong pain pills to enjoy a day in the sun with your family. Instead, you will be portrayed as someone trying to take advantage of the system and receive a windfall instead of compensation for injuries that may take a lifetime to heal.

Apologies—it is polite to apologize when we are involved in an accident or in any way cause someone harm.  However, posting apologetic sentiments on social media can be misconstrued as an admission of guilt when they were only intended to be an expression of remorse that an unfortunate incident occurred.  A kind-hearted apology will likely be misconstrued as an acceptance of fault.

Rants—there is a lot cause a person frustration after an accident.  Insurance companies, hospitals, and medical providers rarely work as efficiently as we would want them to.  However, if you angrily complain about these folks on social media, it is often misconstrued as greed and vindictiveness, two qualities that can dramatically reduce the amount of compensation you receive.

What Should You Do If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured?

As I have explained above, there is a wide variety of ways in which careless social media posts can destroy your legitimate changes of recovering your fair share of compensation after an injury or accident. Rather than try to navigate the legal pitfalls that await you after your accident, focus on your healing and rehabilitation. Allow a trusted Mississippi personal injury attorney take care of gathering evidence, responding to opposing counsel, and preparing your case. The only way to receive the compensation you deserve is to attain experience personal injury counsel immediately after an accident.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if you have suffered a serious injury. Contact us now at (601) 790-1505. Our Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney looks forward to making a difference for you.

 

 

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Explains Burn Injuries

Burns represent one of the most common and horrendous types of injuries. If you or a loved one was burned severely, you know that burns take a tremendous amount of time to heal, can result in deadly infections, and often cause prolonged absences from work and school.  Here in Mississippi, people experience a wide variety of burn injuries caused by several sources, which I will describe below.  If you were burned as a result of another person’s negligence or by a malfunctioning product, you need to speak with an experienced Mississippi personal injury attorney immediately.

If you or a loved one was severely burned, you will need to have experienced counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for your injury and recovery. Barrett Law has the experience to help you—contact us now at (601) 790-1505.

Types of Burns

Obviously, there are many types of burns. If you have been sunburned or scalded your finger on a hot pan, you have been burned.  Those are first degree burns, which amount to reddening and destruction of the epidermis or outermost layer of skin.  Generally speaking, first degree burns are painful but not severe enough to justify legal action.  Second-degree burns affect both the epidermis and the lower dermis.  Because second-degree burns are deeper, they usually require more time—several weeks—to heal.  Third-degree burns destroy the entire epidermis and dermis layers and burn down into the body’s fat; they also cause nerve damage and permanent disfigurement or discoloring.  Fourth-degree burns burn through the skin and fat into the bone and muscle.

Any burn can cause a serious medical condition if it gets infected, and even second-degree burns can be life-threatening if they cover a sufficient area of the body.  From a personal injury perspective, second through fourth-degree burns are usually the type that will result in financial compensation.

Receiving Compensation for Your Burn Injury

Just because you were burned does not mean that you will be compensated for your injury.  To receive compensation, you must show that your burn is the result of another person’s negligence.  Generally speaking, negligence means that the person failed to act reasonably to protect you from harm, and that failure resulted in your injury.

Burns are frequently caused by car accidents, chemicals, workplace injuries, defective products, and radiation.  In any of these situations, your personal injury attorney will have to show that the person who burned you acted unreasonably, resulting in your injuries.  For example, imagine you go to a tanning salon and receive second-degree burns from head to toe by the tanning bed that was too intense.  There will be a serious legal question regarding the cause of your injury—was the tanning bed defective or was the tanning salon using the tanning bed recklessly.  Those two possible defendants will likely both point the finger of blame at each other, and you will need an experienced personal injury lawyer to attain expert witness analysis to prove whose negligence truly gave rise to your injuries. A similar analysis will have to be performed if you were burned by a chemical spill at work or fire in your apartment building—were the steps taken to protect you from your harm reasonable?

What Should You Do If You or a Loved One Has Been Suffered a Serious Burn?

If you or a loved one was severely burned, you know that burns require extensive, expensive medical treatment and can result in years of trauma and lost income. Inexperienced counsel may lead you down a dead end where you receive no compensation for your burn injuries. Instead, let experienced personal injury counsel take care of discovering who is at fault for your burn injury, preserving your medical records, attaining expert medical opinions, and dealing with the defendant’s attorneys. These are essential tasks that only a personal injury attorney can handle for you.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if you have suffered a serious burn injury. Contact us now at (601) 790-1505. Our Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney looks forward to making a difference for you.

 

 

 

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Explains Trampoline Injuries

It’s summer, which means that children are out of school and spending long Mississippi days playing with their friends. For many children, there is nothing more fun than spending an afternoon bouncing on a trampoline. While there is no denying that trampolines are a tremendous amount of fun, they are also to blame for countless serious injuries, mostly to children.  Because of the height and acceleration involved with trampolines, the injuries associated with them can be catastrophic and often include spinal compression, back and neck injuries, as well as injuries to the head. While I love the idea of children playing outside, this sort of injury has to give every parent pause.  In this blog post, I will describe the causes of trampoline injuries and what you should do if a trampoline injures your child.

If a trampoline injured your child, you will need to have experienced counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for his or her injury and recovery. Barrett Law has the experience to help you—contact us now at (601) 790-1505.

Types of Trampolines

There are two primary types of trampoline venues.  The first is the classic, backyard trampoline. Many now have high, padded net rings built to keep children on the trampoline, while some have no sides at all. The second is a more recent addition to the trampoline landscape, the trampoline park.  These are usually large, indoor spaces filled with dozens of trampolines, ball pits, and bouncing challenges such as ramps and obstacles.

Types of Trampoline Injuries

Falls—the most common type of trampoline injury is broken bones associated with falling off of an outdoor trampoline. While broken wrists and legs are common, these are not as serious as spinal compression, head and neck injuries, and paralysis.

Collisions—head injuries and concussions frequently occur when children hit each other while bouncing either outdoors or at an indoor park.  Indoor parks, because of their large size, allow children to build up speed as they jump, resulting in more velocity and potential trauma.

Springs—trampolines bounce because their taught fabric is held in place by springs.  Whether indoor or outdoor, these springs should be covered by a padded fabric cover that expands and contracts as the springs move.  If the pad is not present or are allowed to be removed or disintegrate, the springs can become exposed. Children’s legs can fall in between springs, causing severe, deadly injuries such as lacerations to the femoral artery.

Trampoline Negligence

All trampolines are dangerous, even when they are well maintained and used correctly. That is part of their thrill.  But to recover for injuries caused by a trampoline, you will not only have to show harm but also negligence. To prove negligence, you will need a personal injury attorney that can demonstrate that the owner or manufacturer of the trampoline did not take reasonable steps to protect your child from harm.

What Should You Do If Your Child Has Been Injured on a Trampoline?

As I described above, if your child was injured on a trampoline, you will need the assistance of a talented personal injury attorney to show that either the homeowner who owns the trampoline, the adult who was supposed to be providing supervision of the trampoline use, or the trampoline manufacturer were negligent.  If your child has been injured on a trampoline, you should seek immediate medical attention and then contact an experienced personal injury attorney.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if your child has suffered a trampoline injury. Contact us now at (601) 790-1505.  Our Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney looks forward to making a difference for you.

 

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Explains Decrease in Older Workers’ Injuries

Interesting demographic changes have resulted in fewer workplace injuries for older workers.  Here in Mississippi, while workplace injuries continue to occur, they are happening less frequently with workers over the age of 55.  In the blog post, I will explore why this is the case, what it means for our local workforce, and what you should do if you experience a workplace injury.

If you or a loved one was injured due to a workplace accident or injury, you will need to have experienced personal injury counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for your injury and recovery. Barrett Law has the experience to help you—contact us now at (601) 790-1505.

Fewer Men in the Workforce, Fewer Industrial and Construction Jobs, and Automation Means Fewer Injuries

Our economy is changing quickly.  Here in Mississippi, a variety of factors are converging that significantly affect the number of older people injured in the workplace each year.  First, there are fewer workers over 55 in the workplace, and those that remain in the workplace tend to be the healthiest and safest workers. Sadly, less safe and injury prone workers have often been forced out of the workplace due to debilitated health by age 55.  Second, while the overall number of older workers has dropped slightly, the number of male older workers has dropped significantly.  This is due to several factors. The 2008 economic downturn eliminated a large number of manufacturing and construction jobs, positions historically held by men. Accordingly, the number of older women in the workforce now dramatically outweighs the number of men. This has many effects, as women tend to work in less dangerous jobs than men and are safer workers than men in all jobs overall. Thus, a workforce with more women will tend to be a safer workforce overall.  Finally, industrial workplaces have seen a rapid influx of automation, removing hands-on work that required strength or repetitive movements, two factors that historically resulted in a large variety of injuries.

Thus, even though there remain many older workers in Mississippi’s workforce, they are more often women and are more often not doing the sort of strength and danger-intensive work that was previously done by men, resulting in a working demographic that has aged but simultaneously becomes less prone to workplace accidents. An exception to this overall trend is the medical field, which remains dominated by women working as nurses and CNA’s whose work requires them to lift patients daily, resulting in an ongoing issue with work-related back issues. Until automation enters the medical field, I predict that women working in this area will still suffer from a high number of back injuries.

What Should You Do If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured at Work?

While workers and workplaces may be safer than ever, there are still unscrupulous employers that fail to maintain safe work environments. These dangerous work areas eventually end up injuring workers. If you or a loved one was injured at work, you should seek medical attention immediately and contact an experienced personal injury attorney soon after. Inexperienced counsel may lead you down a dead end where you receive no compensation for the harm you experienced or the long-term damage to your career and lifestyle. You require the services of experienced personal injury counsel take care of preserving medical records, attaining expert opinions, reviewing evidence, and dealing with the defendant’s attorneys while you get back on your feet again.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if you have suffered a serious injury. Contact us now at (601) 790-1505.  Our Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney looks forward to making a difference for you.

 

 

 

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Explains 3M Military Earplug Lawsuits

We have a tremendous number of veterans here Mississippi, many of whom have returned home after their service only to suffer from a variety of short term and permanent medical conditions. It seriously troubles me whenever our service members are harmed needlessly, and a massive class-action lawsuit has demonstrated, once again, that we have not done enough to protect our veterans from harm.  If you served in the U.S. military between 2003 and 2015, you might have been issued, Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2).  The company 3M manufactured the earplugs, which were supposed to offer two levels of protection. Instead, the earplugs failed to provide a basic level of ear protection, which resulted in service members being exposed to loud noises when they should have been protected. As a result, those suffering from hearing loss and tinnitus, which I will describe below, are entitled to compensation for any effect on their hearing arising from their use of the 3M earplugs.

If you suffered hearing loss or tinnitus as a result of your military service from 2003 to 2015, you may be entitled to compensation for injuries and ongoing expenses.  You will need to have experienced counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation. Barrett Law has the experience to help you need—contact us now at (601) 790-1505.

Hearing Loss and Tinnitus in Service Members Serving from 2003 to 2015

Exposure to thunderous sounds such as gunfire, artillery, and heavy machinery is a standard military experience. While service members were issued 3M earplugs to muffle these loud sounds, the product was defective and failed to protect the user’s ears.  As a result, many service members that used 3M’s products have suffered from hearing loss and tinnitus.

Hearing loss is a prolonged decrease in a person’s ability to hear and differentiate sounds.  It is caused by nerve damage within the inner ear or damage to the ear itself.

We often discuss tinnitus as a “ringing in the ears.” That is a simplistic description, as tinnitus does not have to be ringing; instead, tinnitus can manifest as buzzing, hissing, clicking, screeching, and even a loud roaring sound. Another symptom is that sounds outside of the ear that would typically be audible and clear become muffled and inaudible. Thus, while generally referred to as ringing, tinnitus is more accurately described as a constant or occasional sound originating deep in the ear that cannot be controlled and by a suppression of the ability to hear sounds that are usually audible.

What Should You Do If or a Loved One’s Hearing Was Affected by 3M Earplugs?

If you served in the military and now suffer from permanent hearing loss or any one of the hearing deficiencies or irregularities associated with tinnitus that I listed above, you may be entitled to compensation for your injury.  Hearing loss and tinnitus can severely impact your ability to work as well as your quality of life. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney that has the experience to take on an international company like 3M is vital to attaining your fair share of compensation. Do not make the mistake of hiring a general practitioner that lacks access to experts and the ability to negotiate a favorable settlement that protects your long-term interests.  These are essential tasks that only a seasoned personal injury attorney can handle for you.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if you have suffered hearing loss or tinnitus due to your military service. Contact us now at (601) 790-1505.  Our Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney looks forward to making a difference for you.

 

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