Work Accident Attorney in Jackson

What to Do After A Work Accident In Jackson

A serious workplace accident can be disorienting, but taking careful steps in the hours and days that follow can make a real difference in protecting your health, your future, and your legal rights. Every situation is different, but there are common actions that often help injured workers here in the Jackson area.

Make your health the first priority

Even if your injuries don't initially seem serious, you should always see a doctor after a workplace or job-related injury for two main reasons: First, symptoms are not always apparent right away, often as a result of excess adrenaline or the shock of being involved in an accident. Your injury could be a lot more severe than it first appears. Second, getting immediate medical attention establishes a record of your treatment, which can be extremely important for your future work injury claim.

• Seek medical attention as soon as you can, even if your pain is mild at first.
• Tell the doctor exactly how the injury happened, including that it occurred while you were working, and describe all of your symptoms.
• Follow all recommended treatment and keep copies of medical records, discharge papers, prescriptions, payments, copays, and referrals.

Report the injury to your employer

Depending on the circumstances, you might be required to report the injury to your employer (or a supervisor) within a certain time frame. In Mississippi, injured employees who wish to pursue workers' compensation must report injuries within 30 days. In any case, it's always best to report the incident as soon as possible. 

• Notify a supervisor or manager in writing that you were hurt on the job and note the date, time, and location of the incident.
• If your employer has internal forms, complete them carefully and always ask to keep a copy for yourself.
• Make a note of any witnesses who saw the incident or the conditions that led up to it and, if possible, get their names and contact information.

Preserve evidence from the scene

Evidence is critical to your work injury claim. While it's not always possible to gather evidence yourself, especially if you were catastrophically injured or if the incident was particularly devastating, it can be very helpful to keep track of accident reports, medical records, witness accounts, and other documents that support your claim. Our team can help obtain important evidence for your Jackson workplace accident case. 

• If it is safe to do so, take photos of the area where you were injured, including broken equipment, spills, or other hazards.
• Save any damaged clothing or personal protective gear that may help explain what happened.
• Write down your own account of the events as soon as possible while your memory is still fresh.

Be Cautious with Insurance Adjusters & Company Representatives

Remember: No matter how kind or helpful they may seem, insurance adjusters are NOT on your side. The insurance company's only goal is to protect its bottom line. This means avoiding high payouts that could not only impact the insurance company financially but also harm your employer's reputation. Because of this, it's always best to leave insurance company communications to your Jackson work injury lawyer. 

Keep in mind that company representatives and insurance adjusters often contact injured workers quickly after an accident. It is usually wise to avoid giving a recorded statement or signing documents before speaking with an attorney, because those statements can be used later to limit your claim. You can provide basic facts, such as your name and contact information, but it is sensible to get legal advice before discussing details or fault.

Who Is Responsible For A Work Injury?

After a serious work accident, many people assume that only the employer is liable. In reality, responsibility can be shared among several parties, especially when the injury occurs on a construction site, in an industrial facility, or on the road. Identifying all potential sources of recovery can be important when medical needs and lost wages are substantial.

Some potentially liable parties include: 

• Employers and Job Site Operators: Some work injuries result from unsafe practices, missing safety equipment, or pressure to work in hazardous conditions. When a supervisor ignores known dangers or a company fails to follow safety standards, those decisions can contribute to an accident. We look carefully at training procedures, incident reports, and workplace policies to understand how the incident occurred.
• Contractors, Subcontractors, and Property Owners: On many job sites, more than one company is responsible for safety. A subcontractor may control a particular area, or a property owner may be responsible for structural conditions. If another company created or failed to correct a hazard that harms a worker, that entity may have legal responsibility.
• Manufacturers and Suppliers of Work Equipment: Some injuries stem from defective machinery, tools, or safety gear. A machine without a proper guard, a ladder that fails unexpectedly, or a piece of protective equipment that does not perform as intended can turn routine work into a catastrophe. Our background in product defect cases helps us work with technical professionals to determine whether a defective product played a role in your workplace injury.
• Drivers and Transportation Companies: When a worker is injured in a vehicle crash while performing job duties, another driver, a trucking company, or a delivery company may be at fault. Our experience with catastrophic auto accidents and truck collisions helps us evaluate these situations, including examining issues like driver fatigue, maintenance problems, and unsafe driving schedules.

Sorting out who may be held responsible is rarely simple. We investigate how the accident happened, what safety rules were in place, who controlled the work conditions, and whether equipment was designed or maintained properly. That careful analysis allows us to pursue all appropriate claims and to build a strong case on causation and damages for our clients.

What Compensation Can Be Pursued After A Serious Work Injury?

After a significant work injury, people often worry about how they will pay medical bills and cover household expenses when they cannot work. While every case is different and no lawyer can promise a particular result, there are common categories of compensation that may be available in serious injury claims, depending on the facts and the parties involved.

These may include: 

• Medical Expenses: Medical expenses are usually the most immediate concern. These can include emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, rehabilitation, prescriptions, and follow-up visits. In catastrophic cases, future medical care can be substantial and may involve ongoing therapy, pain management, assistive devices, or home modifications. We work to document both current and anticipated medical needs so that any resolution reflects the full scope of your care.
• Lost Income and Earning Ability: Lost income and reduced earning capacity are also key issues. A serious back injury, traumatic brain injury, or amputation can limit the kind of work a person can do or how many hours they can sustain. Some clients are unable to return to their prior jobs at all. In those situations, we look at wage records, job history, and medical opinions to help show how the injury affects present and future earning potential.
• Non-Economic Damages: There may also be claims for physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. While these types of losses do not come with a set dollar value, they can be profound. Being unable to pick up a child, participate in hobbies, or simply live without daily pain can reshape a person’s world. Our role is to tell that story using evidence, witness accounts, and expert support when appropriate; then, we pursue full and fair compensation based on the law and the facts of your case.

Our firm’s history of multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements in complex injury and mass tort litigation reflects our ability to handle complicated, high-value cases. While past results do not guarantee future outcomes, they do show our commitment to building strong claims and our willingness to go the distance when serious injuries are involved.