Workers’ Compensation Lawyers in Mississippi

Fighting to Help Injured Workers Secure the Compensation They Deserve

Every year, hundreds of thousands of workers’ compensation claims are filed. Employees everywhere suffer serious injuries during the course of their work. These injuries can range from minor scrapes and burns to life-threatening injuries and death. A severe workplace injury can change your life forever — and unfortunately, employers and their insurance companies frequently make securing financial recovery a difficult process. This is why seeking assistance from a Mississippi workers’ compensation attorney is pivotal.

At Rundlett Law Firm, PLLC, our dedicated team of legal professionals knows how to quickly recover workers’ compensation benefits for injured employees. At our firm, your workers’ compensation lawyer will be able to ensure you receive the maximum amount of benefits you are entitled to. Your attorney will also work to ensure that your future is in good hands and that you are not rushed back to work too quickly after an injury. If you are unable to return to your job or if you are permanently disabled, then your workers’ comp lawyer in Mississippi can help you file for long-term disability benefits.

If you’ve suffered an injury on the job, don’t wait to see how things work out. Contact our law firm to learn more about how we can help.

What is Workers’ Compensation?

Most employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This insurance covers the majority of injuries or illnesses that take place at the workplace, regardless of who is at fault. Workers’ comp protects both the injured worker and the employer from legal battles and major lawsuits. Workers who are injured at work are entitled to benefits to help cover medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. There are workers in certain roles who aren’t covered by workers’ compensation insurance, such as independent contractors.

This is an unfortunate reality if you’re among the growing population of freelancers, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t entitled to substantial compensation. In fact, not being designated as an employee could open the door to filing a personal injury claim — which can result in significantly higher compensation. It’s also possible that a company has improperly categorized you as an independent contractor when you actually qualify as an employee. If this is the case, you’ll be entitled to benefits within the workers’ compensation system.

Put simply, you shouldn’t make any assumptions about your ability to secure financial recovery for work-related accidents. If you’ve been injured at work and are wondering if you’re eligible to secure monetary compensation, contact our experienced Mississippi workers’ comp lawyers today to review your legal rights. We’ll go over your case and help you understand all your options, and if you retain our legal services, we won’t stop fighting to secure the compensation you deserve.

What Do I Do After a Workplace Injury?

If you suffer a workplace accident, there are a few key things you’ll want to do to protect your ability to collect benefits. First and foremost, you’ll want to seek medical attention for your injury. Prompt medical attention is key when it comes to winning a workers’ compensation claim. Next, you’ll want to notify your employer in writing. Once you’ve received medical care and notified your employer, contact a workers’ compensation attorney immediately. You may be hesitant to contact a lawyer, but there is often zero harm in seeking legal advice in order to protect yourself.

At Rundlett Law Firm, we’ll review your case with you, explain potential medical benefits, help you understand wage loss benefits, and discuss whether you may be entitled to more under personal injury statutes. Mississippi workers’ compensation laws can be somewhat complex, and when this is added to employers and insurance companies who want to avoid paying compensation, you may find yourself in an uphill battle after a workplace accident.

Fortunately, this is not a battle you have to handle alone. Mississippi employers are typically required to carry workers’ comp insurance, but even if they don’t, this doesn’t mean they don’t have a responsibility to care for their employees. Let us review your case and help you figure out how to move forward. A workers’ compensation lawyer can ensure your claim is filed correctly and on time, giving you the best chance of approval. There’s no need to cross your fingers and hope for the best when our legal team can get started on your case right away.

How Much is My Workers’ Compensation Claim Worth?

Most people want to know how much their claim is worth, which makes sense. As an injured worker, you’re watching the medical bills mount up and there’s a good chance you’ve stopped earning a paycheck. The extent of your benefits will depend mainly on the severity of your injuries and the amount of time it will take to recover and return to your work. Workers’ compensation benefits cover basic expenses, like health care costs and lost wages, but the only way to properly estimate your claim’s worth is to meet with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer who can evaluate your case.

That’s because these benefits do not continue paying until you’re back to your former self. Instead, employees typically collect workers’ compensation until they reach maximum medical improvement. This doesn’t mean injured workers are healed from the harm they suffered. Instead, it means they’ve healed as much as they’re going to. Clearly, this doesn’t sound great — especially since benefits could be cut off even when you’re still unable to work. However, your Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyer may be able to secure permanent disability benefits on your behalf.

Additionally, our law firm can file claims based on the death of a worker. If you’re someone who has lost a family member in a workplace accident, you may be entitled to compensation that covers your loved one’s medical treatment, burial expenses, lost wages, and more. This area of the law can be incredibly complex, so it’s always advisable to seek legal counsel. At Rundlett Law Firm, we’ll review your workers’ compensation case and help you understand your chances of securing financial recovery. If you’re entitled to benefits, we’ll fight to make sure you get them.

What if Your Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Denied?

If your workers’ compensation claim gets denied, it’s important to remember that it’s not necessarily the end of the road. You have options for appealing, and even if that doesn’t work, there may be other strategies for securing compensation. However, an appeal should always be your first step after a denial. A simple clerical or filing error could have resulted in a denial, and having the denial overturned may require nothing more than correcting the issue. Unfortunately, appeals are usually a little more complex than that.

This is why you should have a Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyer help you with the following steps in an appeal:

• Review the denial letter to understand why you were denied
• Gather additional evidence if a lack of evidence was cited in your denial
• File a petition with the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission (MWCC)
• Appeal the decision of the Administrative Law Judge if you’re denied after going through the MWCC process
• Make sure you meet all filing and notification deadlines

In most cases, appealed claims will result in the approval of workers’ compensation benefits. Of course, there are instances where denials are upheld. In many cases, this happens when employees try to handle the appeals process themselves and don’t realize that they can’t just resubmit the same claim for a second time. A workers’ compensation lawyer in Mississippi can help you avoid such mistakes, but they can also assist if you exhaust the appeal process and still get denied. In fact, you may be able to seek Social Security Disability or even file a lawsuit.

Can You File a Lawsuit After a Workplace Accident?

When a worker suffers an injury on the job, they often wonder whether they can file a personal injury claim. After all, workers’ comp doesn’t cover their average weekly wage — but rather a percentage of it. This means you’re not really being reimbursed for all your losses. However, most injured workers are unable to file additional claims. The entire process of workers’ compensation is meant to minimize the likelihood of lawsuits. State law dictates that workers’ comp is an exclusive remedy. However, there are cases where you may be entitled to additional financial recovery.

This is typically the case when a third-party liability claim is appropriate. This applies to any accident caused by someone other than the employer or co-workers. For instance, perhaps there was a subcontractor on-site who made a reckless mistake — or maybe someone was injured in a car wreck by a reckless driver while running errands for the boss. Put simply, someone else’s negligence — other than your employer’s — can open the door for personal injury cases. However, there are also rare instances where you can sue an employer as well.

This outcome is most common if a company fails to secure workers’ compensation insurance. This mistake will grant injured workers the right to sue. Personal injury claims against employers are also allowed if intentional harm was caused or there was gross negligence or misconduct. Each of these matters can create complicated cases, and in some instances, you may be entitled to workers’ comp benefits and personal injury damages. This is why it’s important to hire a Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyer with experience in both — like the professionals at Rundlett Law Firm.

Do I Really Need an Attorney for Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

Whether you need help filing your initial claim or you’ve been denied benefits and need to file an appeal, you’ll benefit from the help of a workers’ compensation law firm. If you’ve suffered a workplace injury, you are likely entitled to benefits through your workers’ compensation insurance plan. Sadly, this doesn’t always go as easy as you might think. Simple mistakes can cause serious delays or even rejections. Unfortunately, it’s also possible that employers and insurance companies will operate in bad faith — rejecting claims they know are valid.

As it turns out, the majority of denied claims end up getting approved upon appeal. That’s because even the simplest of errors can result in a denial. Sadly, many injured workers receive their denial and choose to go no further. They assume their claim would’ve been approved if they qualified, so they opt to just move on with their lives. This is a terrible decision. Injured people who are harmed on the job or due to the negligence of others deserve compensation, but far too often, they don’t receive it because they don’t understand their rights.

At Rundlett Law Firm, you’ll work with a Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyer who will fight to secure every dime you deserve. Regardless of how you were harmed or who was responsible, we will review your case and help you decide the best way to secure maximum compensation. Don’t leave your future up to chance. We’re here to make sure you get a fair outcome.

Contact a Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today

No one goes to work expecting to suffer serious injuries. When such outcomes do occur, victims are often left wondering what to expect next. Regardless of the circumstances of your case, there are certain benefits you should receive no matter what, thanks to workers’ compensation. However, this process will not always be easy for you. Some workers’ comp claims have made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In all likelihood, your case will not have to go this far — but it’s important to understand that things can get difficult. Fortunately, help is available.

At Rundlett Law Firm, PLLC, our dedicated team of Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers is here to assist in any way we can. We’ll review your case to help determine if your work injury is eligible for compensation benefits or other financial recovery. If you’ve already been denied benefits, we can also help submit an appeal that could result in having your denial overturned. Put simply, you need a seasoned workers’ compensation attorney on your side. Call Rundlett Law Firm, PLLC at (601) 282-8426 today. We’re ready to assist!