Experienced Mississippi BP Oil Spill Attorney Provides Overview of the BP Compensation Fund Process

The BP Compensation Fund is the financial trust created to compensate those affected by the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The BP Compensation Fund provides money to those who participated in the cleanup, those who were affected by the spill, those whose businesses were adversely affected by the spill and cleanup, and communities whose economies were affected. Do you have a health condition arising from your contact with the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill? Did you participate in the cleanup effort or come into contact with dispersants? Did you lease your boat to the cleanup effort? You may be entitled to a portion of settlement funds.

If you believe that your acute or chronic 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.

Options for Those Deserving Compensation from the BP Oil Spill Settlement Fund

If you are owed your fair share of compensation as a result of the 2010 BP Oil Spill, its cleanup, and its aftermath, you must first submit a “proof of claim” form. You must submit your form to the BP Oil Spill Claims Administrator, the administrative body tasked with deciding who receives payment, who does not, and how much anyone receives. Our office can help you fill out this form, even if deadlines have passed or if the Claims Administrator has previously denied your claims. Appeal processes exist, but you will need the help of an experienced BP Oil Spill attorney to help you successfully navigate the appeals process. Your application or appeal documentation must include all documentation of property damage or medical bills associated with your claim.

If the Claims Administrator does not accept your claim, you can still file a notice of intent to sue. This is a step that requires the help of an experienced BP Oil Spill attorney, as it will require a significant number of legal filings in the appropriate courts.

Regardless of whether your claim is accepted or you are forced to sue, you will have the option to mediate your case. In mediation, the parties speak more frankly and try to find a middle ground upon which to settle the case.

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

You deserve your fair share of compensation for physical, emotional, and economic harms you suffered as a result of the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. If you were injured or developed a health condition as a result of the spill or its cleanup, you are due compensation for your medical costs, loss of work, and ongoing pain and suffering. You may have heard that it is too late to file a claim or that there is no longer a way to attain compensation for your damages. You may also be able to submit a new application if your earlier attempts were unsuccessful. Don’t let rumors and misleading information get in the way of attaining compensation—the exclusive way to fully understand your options is to 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.

 

 

 

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Experienced Mississippi Whistleblower Lawyer Discusses Proposed Law to Enhance Dodd-Frank’s Whistleblower Protections

I was pleased to see that the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Whistleblower Protection Reform Act of 2019 by an overwhelming majority, 410-12. This bipartisan bill enhances the Dodd-Frank Act’s whistleblower protections and makes clear that employers in the finance industry cannot retaliate against whistleblowers who report security fraud. This law is a direct reaction the U.S. Supreme Court’s horrible 2018 decision, Digital Realty, Inc. v. Somers, which held that only whistleblowers who reported fraud to the Securities and Exchange Commission or SEC enjoyed anti-retaliation protection, not those who report fraud to any number of other available agencies.

Are you considering becoming a whistleblower? 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.

The U.S. House Attempts to Rewind Digital Realty Case

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Digital Realty decision dramatically narrowed how most people imagined a whistleblower. Traditionally, a whistleblower was thought of as someone who made either internal or external reports of securities fraud to the SEC. However, because of the way Dodd-Frank was written, the statute’s retaliation clause and ant-retaliation provision applied only to those whistleblowers that reported fraud externally and only to the SEC. This is a problem because many whistleblowers in the world of finance first make their reports internally and then may make subsequent reports to law enforcement agencies other than the SEC. As written, Dodd-Frank did not extend whistleblower protections to these individuals.

The changes proposed by the Whistleblower Protection Reform Act of 2019 would bring external finance whistleblowers back within Dodd-Frank’s anti-whistleblower clause. In short, if approved by the Senate and signed by President Trump, the Whistleblower Protection Reform Act of 2019 will return finance industry whistleblowers to their pre-Digital Realty position. This is good for everyone, as it incentivizes internal whistleblowing, which allows finance companies to change their practices before an SEC investigation. Whistleblowers will still be entitled to a significant percentage of the fraud they reported, if they report it externally to the SEC within 120 days, and will enjoy whistleblower protection for their disclosures.

As an example of the sort of disclosure at issue here the SEC recently made an award of $4.5 million to a finance industry whistleblower who internally reported a kickback scheme was occurring in relation to his work in Brazil. The SEC’s enforcement action resulted in a $30 million recovery for the U.S. government. Attaining this sort of reward will require the help of a skilled whistleblower attorney.

Are You Considering Making a Whistleblower Claim?

Are you a finance industry employee considering filing a whistleblower case? While the reward for submitting a successful claim can be significant, you will only receive this sort of multi-million dollar award with the help of an experienced whistleblower attorney. The SEC and U.S. Department of Justice 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. Careful pleading and an organized approach to gathering evidence are critical to this process and will require the help of an experienced whistleblower counsel. Contact Barrett Law now at (601) 790-1505.

Experienced Mississippi Whistleblower Lawyer Jonathan 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.

 

 

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Experienced Mississippi Whistleblower Lawyer Discusses the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica Case

Facebook has become a ubiquitous presence in American life. However, along with that popularity has come tremendous power and control over Facebook users’ personal information. A recent U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, whistleblower case has resulted in a $100 million penalty for Facebook after a whistleblower exposed Facebook’s decision to provide Cambridge Analytica with a treasure trove of user information, which violated Facebook’s specific policies.

Are you considering becoming a whistleblower? 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.

Background

This case stems from a data analytics company called Cambridge Analytica, which harvested Facebook profile information from approximately 30 million people in the U.S. The collected data included, genders, names, birth dates, genders, and “likes,” all of which violated Facebook’s express and internal policies. In turn, Cambridge Analytica used the data to sell to various political organizations.  While Facebook realized that Cambridge Analytica was improperly using Facebook user data, it failed to adequately and clearly acknowledge to investors and users that their data had been compromised.

SEC’s Facebook Penalty Shows the Power of Cybersecurity Whistleblowers

The $100 million SEC settlement with Facebook illuminates several interesting issues. First, it shows that cybersecurity breaches will now be one of the new frontiers of whistleblower law. These cybersecurity whistleblowers have retaliation protection under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and may be eligible forwards under the SEC’s whistleblower program as well.

Second, this settlement shows that internet companies that promise a certain level of privacy to members or subscribers will be held accountable by the SEC if they breach that promise. This falls under the “half-truth doctrine,” which is a legal doctrine that states that if a company speaks through a formal public filing or informally, such as through a media statement, the half-truth doctrine requires the corporation to include all additional information necessary to make the statement not misleading to consumers. Here, Facebook was blatantly making statements about information privacy to both members and stockholders that were not entirely true.

Third, this settlement highlights the SEC’s requirements that publicly traded companies maintain adequate internal controls. Facebook had policies in place prohibiting the transfer of user’s data to third parties, but these policies were ignored. Once Facebook discovered the breach, it failed to disclose them adequately.

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

Are you aware of fraud occurring within the internet or cybersecurity industry, and are you considering filing a whistleblower case? While the reward for submitting a successful claim can be significant, you will only receive this sort of award with the help of an experienced whistleblower attorney. In this Facebook case, the whistleblowers are entitled to $15 to $30 million. However, the SEC and U.S. Department of Justice gets 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. Careful pleading and an organized approach to gathering evidence are critical to this process and will require the help of an experienced whistleblower counsel. Contact Barrett Law now at (601) 790-1505.

Mississippi Whistleblower Lawyer Barrett can provide you with the advice you will need to file a successful cybersecurity 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.

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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 (601) 790-1505.

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 (601) 790-1505.

 

 

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Discusses the “July Effect” in Medical Malpractice

Friends, family, and clients sometimes ask me about the “July effect” in medical care. Specifically, they often ask whether they should avoid having major surgery performed during July. What they are asking about is not superstition; July is actually the most dangerous month to have surgery performed. When I see new medical malpractice cases come into my office, I am often astounded to see how many of the underlying operations occurred in July. I will explore the reasons for this phenomena in this blog post, as well as providing you with advice regarding what you should do if you are injured in the course of your medical treatment.

If a physician, hospital, or other medical professional injured you or a loved one, you will need to have experienced personal injury 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 (601) 790-1505.

What Causes the “July Effect” in Medical Treatment?

Statistics demonstrate that there is a rise in medical errors occurring beginning in July each year. That peak carries into August and then decreases back to the average in the ensuing months. There are many theories about why the increase occurs, including that physicians are often taking their vacations during July and their midyear fatigue. But the most critical factor in the “July Effect” is that medical residents—medical students training to become licensed physicians—begin their training each July. So while there is a shortage of expert physicians on hand due to vacations, this factor is amplified by the fact that all of the most experienced residents leave in June and are replaced by new residents who are entirely new to their specialty. This spike in medical malpractice cases is particularly pronounced in university teaching hospitals where new residents require extensive training from senior physicians, many of whom are on vacation.

Obviously, the July effect is more likely to affect patients seeking care for either highly complex medical conditions that require experienced, fast-thinking physicians such as heart or spine surgery. The effect is also much more likely to be felt in large teaching hospitals as compared to smaller regional hospitals that may only have a smattering of residents in training. Conversely, if you have a broken leg, it is unlikely that your resident will be unable to adequately address your injuries, regardless of the month of the year or the type of hospital where you receive treatment. Additionally, many medical malpractice cases stem from unsanitary conditions or supporting medical professionals working in a medical facility, all of which will be unaffected by the level of training of the residents providing your care.

What Should You Do If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured as a Result of Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice can result from surgery errors, mistakes in prescribing medications, unsanitary conditions, and other issues. The resulting injuries can range from minor to deadly. If you were injured as a result of medical malpractice, you will need the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney to gather your medical records, attain expert opinions regarding how the care you received was substandard, and take depositions of the medical professionals that provided your care, not to mention fighting the hospital’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 (601) 790-1505.

 

 

 

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Discusses Police Brutality Cases

No one old enough to witness video of the Rodney King beating can forget it. Sadly, I have seen similar injuries to clients caused by police. While clients often brought these injuries to me as potential police brutality cases, only a percentage of them ultimately ended up as viable claims. What is police brutality? Why aren’t all injuries caused by law enforcement officers considered police brutality? Clients frequently ask these questions, so I have written the following blog post, to provide an overview of Mississippi law regarding police brutality.  If you or a loved one was injured at the hands of law enforcement, you will need to have experienced counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for your injury, damages, and recovery. Barrett Law has the experience to help you—contact us now at (601) 790-1505.

Police Brutality in Mississippi

Legally, police have the right to use the force necessary to subdue a person during the course of an arrest. The force must generally be proportionate to the offense, meaning that a police officer cannot use deadly force to subdue a person who does not pose a threat of public harm. But police officers can use tremendous, pain-inducing, and debilitating force in the course of an arrest if they view it as necessary. The U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment prohibits “unreasonable seizures,” meaning that the level of force used in the arrest must not unreasonably exceed what was necessary to make the arrest.

Unfortunately, the law regarding police brutality is highly subjective. A police officer does not know whether a person is going to fight back during an arrest or whether he or she is armed. Accordingly, jurors usually find that any level of force that subdues the subject is reasonable. There are limits, however. Once a suspect is subdued, law enforcement officers cannot cause them further pain. Torture is clearly unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment. Recent examples of this sort of abuse are “rough rides” given to handcuffed defendants in New York City who were then driven erratically in the back of a van and were unable to prevent themselves from being tossed against the van’s hard sides.

Similarly, if police violence is motivated by racial or ethnic bias, it is also a violation of the arrestee’s constitutional rights. If a police officer uses racial epithets during an arrest or makes other demeaning comments, then you may have a strong claim for police misconduct.

What Should You Do if You are Arrested?

I always tell my clients the same things regarding arrests. First, do not resist arrest, even if you feel that the detention or its basis are illegal. If you resist, you may be justifying whatever violence ensues. Second, record your arrest. There is no legal basis to prevent you from recording your arrest. In this era of smartphones, every arrestee should document their arrest so that there is no subsequent confusion about whether there was justification for the force employed by the police. Encourage family, friends, and those nearby to record the arrest as well. Everyone enjoys a First Amendment right to record arrests.  Immediately following your arrest, contact a personal injury attorney.

 What Should You Do If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured as a Result of Police Brutality?

Police brutality can result in serious lifetime injuries and trauma. If you were injured as a result of police brutality, you will need the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney to gather evidence from the scene, attain information regarding the officer’s discipline record, and fight the police union, which always mounts a vigorous defense of its members.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if you have been injured by law enforcement. Contact us now at (601) 790-1505.

 

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Discusses Recent Incidents Regarding Secretly Made Audio-Tapes of Medical Procedures

There has been a recent trend in the news over the past year, where patients undergoing some medical procedure recorded the procedure while it was being performed. At the time of the recording, the patient was unconscious. At first, these recordings were often accidental and were the result of someone accidentally triggering their phone’s audio recorder before being sedated. Some of these unintentional recordings caught egregious comments by medical staff that insulted the sedated patient’s race, ethnicity, or body. That sort of statement gives rise to questions regarding the quality of medical care being provided. Once these recordings received media attention, people began to intentionally surreptitiously record their medical procedures to make sure that they were being treated with dignity while they were sedated. Several questions arise from this conduct, mainly, is this a legal act in Mississippi, and is it a good idea?

In this blog post, I will provide an overview of the Mississippi law regarding surreptitious or secret recordings of conversations. But recordings aside, if you or a loved one was injured while receiving medical care, you will need to have experienced counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for your injury, damages, and recovery. Barrett Law has the experience to help you—contact us now at (601) 790-1505.

Secret Recordings in Mississippi

Starting at the beginning, Mississippi law allows anyone to make a recording of a phone call or conversation as long as he or she has the consent of at least one party to the conversation. Mississippi Code sec. 41-29-531. That means that if you participate in a conversation, you can choose to record it.

The question of covert recording becomes more complicated when you are present for a conversation, as you would be while a medical procedure is being performed on you, but you are not “a party” to the conversation going on around you because you are sedated. The Mississippi courts have not yet tackled this issue, but it is not difficult to foresee what the arguments would be. A medical professional would claim that you had no right to record a conversation going on around you if you are not a party to the discussion; moreover, he or she would likely argue that a conversation going on while you are sedated has no relevance to the standard of care you received. An injured patient would probably argue that he or she was “a party” to the conversation, just as a person is a party to a conversation even though they choose not to say anything during the discussion. Further, the patient would likely argue that medical professionals’ demeaning words are indicative of their attitudes toward the patient and the standard of care due to him or her. These arguments will be heard by the courts eventually, and I anticipate that the courts will find in favor of patients’ rights.

What Should You Do If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured as a Result of Medical Malpractice?

Digital recordings of conversations occurring during your medical procedure may be a vital piece of evidence if you need to go to court to attain your fair share of compensation for your injuries. But this is a small part of any medical malpractice case. Proving negligence, hiring experts regarding your injuries, and dealing with the defendants’ attorneys are other essential tasks that only a veteran personal injury attorney can handle for you.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if you have been injured. Contact us now at (601) 790-1505.

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Explains How You Can Collect Valuable Evidence After a Vehicle Accident

With the rise of smartphones, we all now have photography, videography, and recording equipment on our phones that rivals anything available commercially twenty years ago. That means that if you are in an accident, you can collect compelling evidence in real-time that might have otherwise been destroyed. But what evidence should you collect, and what steps can you legally take to obtain statements from other parties involved in the collision?

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

Good Evidence is the Key to a Great Case

A vehicle accident is a chaotic scene. Injured people, broken glass, traffic streaming by—it is a dynamic and wild environment. But capturing that scene through photographs, video, and audio recordings may prove the difference between being compensated for your fair share of your damages and receiving nothing at all. The problem is that immediately after an accident occurs, tow trucks move damaged vehicles off the roadway, witnesses drive off, and the injured parties are taken for medical care. Everyone’s memory of the scene simultaneously dims and gets tainted by their self-interest. That is why recording the aftermath of an accident is vital to proving your case. Even police officers who come upon the scene later will not have the same opportunity to document it that you will if you were involved in the accident.

Obviously, if you were injured in the accident, focus your energy on attaining immediate medical care. But if you are able, you should use your smartphone to document as much as you can. But what should you document?

Standard Information

Of course, you always need to attain the standard after accident information, including names and contact information for all parties involved, VIN numbers for all vehicles, and everyone’s insurance information. Use your smartphone to photograph all of these documents and then send them to yourself as an email so that they are effectively saved in two places.

Take Photographs

Take as many photographs of the scene as possible. You want a photo of every vehicle, from every possible angle. These photographs will become crucial evidence if the other driver refuses to admit fault or, worse, blames you for the accident.

Make Digital Video of the Accident

As soon as you get out of your vehicle, turn on your phone’s video camera. People often admit fault as soon as they get out of their car, saying something to the effect of, “I should never have turned in front of your car,” or “I shouldn’t have looked down at my phone.” These statements may be crucial to your case later. This video will also be vital to document the time of day that the accident occurred, weather and road conditions, and the degree of darkness.

No one has to make a statement to you, and you cannot make them make a statement. Similarly, you should refrain from making any statement about the accident, your role in it, or its cause.

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

If you or a loved one was injured in a vehicle collision, you know that these accidents can require, expensive medical treatment and costly repairs to the vehicles involved. Inexperienced attorneys that do not deal with personal injury cases daily may lead you down a dead-end where you receive no compensation for your car accident. Don’t make that mistake—let experienced personal injury counsel take care of preserving your medical records, attaining expert medical opinions, and dealing with the defendant’s attorneys. These are essential tasks that only a veteran personal injury attorney can handle for you.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if you have been injured. Contact our experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney now at (601) 790-1505.

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Explains What You Should Do If You are Injured by a Construction Vehicle

Mississippi’s climate allows for year-round construction to take place, both on our roads and on construction sites. Unfortunately, construction vehicles are a frequent cause of injury to motorists and pedestrians who come close to construction sites. If you are injured by a construction vehicle, you will need to seek medical help immediately, document the accident if you are able, and contact an experienced personal injury attorney.

If you or a loved one was injured by a construction vehicle, 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.

What to Do After You or a Loved One is Struck by a Construction Vehicle

We have all heard that sound—beep, beep, beep—of a massive backhoe or bulldozer moving backward towards us. Construction vehicles require those annoying backup alarms because they are massive vehicles with limited visibility and a propensity to crush unsuspecting pedestrians and other drivers. While responsible operators drive many of these construction vehicles, others are not. Sleepy, drunk, and otherwise impaired driving is a problem in the construction industry, just as it is in the rest of our community. Other heavy machinery operators are not impaired but are operating a vehicle in tight conditions with insufficient visibility. Poorly loaded vehicles and inclement weather also frequently result in accidents.

Negligence in Mississippi

Merely being in an accident with a piece of construction machinery will not guarantee you compensation for injuries and damages related to the collision. To successfully attain your fair share of compensation, you will need to prove that the driver, the construction company, or the manufacturer of the vehicle was negligent. Negligent means that a third party had a duty to reasonably protect you from harm and failed to meet that duty. It can mean that the driver was not appropriately trained, was under the influence of a controlled substance, or drove the construction vehicle in an unsafe manner. Additionally, the manufacturer could be to blame for selling an inherently dangerous construction vehicle, such as a vehicle that lacked adequate visibility or failed to have a backup warning alarm.

Steps to Take After an Accident

If you are physically able, take as many photographs as possible following an accident with a construction vehicle. Insurance companies frequently move in quickly following an accident and move or remove vehicles, destroying crucial evidence. Your real-time photos may prove to be vital to your case.

See a physician immediately. No matter how seemingly minor your accident was, see a physician immediately. First, you are likely in shock and are not a good judge of your physical condition. Second, even if you feel uninjured, you want a third party to document your physical condition immediately after an accident in case injuries arise later. Finally, most soft tissue, neck, and back injuries take days or weeks to develop, and you will want to make sure X-rays, and other documentation are made in close temporal proximity to the accident.

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

If a construction vehicle driver’s negligence injured you or a loved one, you may require extensive, expensive medical treatment and can result in years of trauma and lost income. You likely need a new car. Loss of work may imperil your lifestyle and livelihood. Tragically, inexperienced counsel may lead you down a dead-end where you receive no compensation for your injuries and damages. Instead, let experienced personal injury counsel take care of discovering who is at fault for your burn injury, preserving your medical records, attaining expert opinions, documenting the accident scene, and dealing with the defendant’s attorneys. These are essential tasks that only a personal injury attorney can handle for you.

Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Jonathan Barrett will zealously represent you if you have suffered a serious injury due to negligence.  Contact Barrett Law now at (601) 790-1505.

 

 

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Experienced Mississippi Whistleblower Lawyer Discusses Airline Industry Whistleblowing

Anyone who has watched the news over the past few months is aware that two Boeing 737 Max planes have recently crashed, killing 346 people. What has not gotten the same amount of press is that whistleblowers had come forward about safety issues with these planes starting in August 2018. At issue with the Boeing planes are their anti-stall systems, which are allegedly flawed. The Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR21 Act) provides protections for whistleblowers reporting concerns about air safety issues, specifically including protections against retaliation.

Are you considering becoming an airline industry whistleblower? You will need the help of an experienced whistleblower attorney who knows the AIR21 Act’s intricacies to file your complaint in a way that results in it being taken seriously and so that it does not result in retaliation against you. Contact Barrett Law now at (601) 790-1505 to attain the advice you need.

 The AIR21 Act

The AIR21 Act prohibits retaliation against an employee of a U.S. air carrier, its contractor, or its subcontractor for raising concerns and making a whistleblower claim regarding any law or regulation related to air carrier safety. The AIR Act protects whistleblowers who provide information regarding any alleged violation of federal air carrier safety laws or FAA orders, regulations, or standards. Specifically, the Air Act protects employees who: Disclose a violation of an airline safety regulation to their employer or a federal government entity; Commence a proceeding related to the breach of an airline safety regulation; Testify, assist, or participate in a process related to the violation of an airline safety regulation.

First, it is essential to remember that the AIR21 Act only protects employees of U.S. air carriers, as foreign carriers are not subject to Federal Aviation Administration rules. Second, the Act protects employees from being disciplined, discharged, harassed, threatened, or discriminated against because of their safety allegations. Third, the employee does not have to provide the factual basis underlying the violation they allege but have to enunciate the violation. That means that it is not the employee’s responsibility to investigate or prove up his or her allegation; instead, it is the airline’s responsibility to investigate the complaint once it is made.

What Sort of Damages Can an Airline Employee Receive Under the AIR21 Act?

If you are an employee or contractor for a U.S. air carrier and are retaliated against because of a whistleblower complaint, you are due a wide range of possible compensation, such as all back pay, pay for emotional trauma, compensation for harm done to your reputation, reinstatement in your prior position or an equal amount of pay, and compensation for lost future earnings.

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

As the Boeing 737 Max accidents have shown, there are grave consequences to ignoring complaints from experts within the airline industry. Are you a pilot, executive, or other airline professional considering filing a whistleblower case regarding violations of FAA rules and regulations? You have a right to file your complaint without fear of retribution or retaliation. Careful pleading and an organized approach to gathering evidence are critical to this process and will require the help of an experienced whistleblower counsel. Contact Barrett Law now at (601) 790-1505.

Our seasoned Mississippi Whistleblower Lawyer 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.

 

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