Monthly Archives: September 2022

Workplace Struck-by Hazard Lawsuit Lawyer in Mississippi

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An employee at an Illinois workplace died earlier this month after he was struck by part of a machine. The man was an employee whose work consisted of traveling to various locations to provide repair and maintenance services for generators that were manufactured by his employer. OSHA is investigating the fatal accident.

Many types of workplaces contain struck-by hazards. Each day as they work, employees run the risk of being hit by one or more items as they go about their day. Struck-by accidents can injure people by breaking bones, causing head injuries, and even killing them instantly. While workplace accidents that are caused by being struck by a machine or object can sometimes look similar to workplace accidents where an employee becomes caught in machinery, they are not the same. Struck-by injuries are a different type of workplace hazard than caught-in injuries. In a struck-by workplace accident, the victim’s injury is caused solely by the impact of the object or machine that hit them. In a caught-in accident, the injury occurs when the victim is crushed between objects, or between an object and a surface. Struck-by accidents account for approximately ten percent of American workplace fatalities.

There are several ways that struck-by accidents can happen. For example, the object that strikes the accident victim could fly through the air before hitting them. For instance, sometimes, parts of tools or machines break off during use and fly through the air. Alternatively, it could fall on them from above, potentially pinning them to the floor or crushing them completely. Swinging objects can strike employees, especially when equipment like mechanical lifts or cranes are in use in the workplace. Workers can also be hit by objects that roll, like vehicles.

While each workplace that contains a struck-by hazard is unique, there are some safe work practices that employees can follow to reduce the chance that an object or a machine will strike them while they are on the job. For example, workers must use caution when working with compressed air tools, using them only after they have received training, and always operating them with guards in place. The same rule applies to hand tools. Additionally, some struck-by accidents can be prevented by regular inspection of air and hand tools – look at your tools before you work.

If parts of the tool are loose or broken or do not look right, do not use them. If you are working at a height, secure all tools and materials in your work area so that they do not fall. When using equipment that swings, block off the work area to provide a safe space for the operation of the machinery. Use personal protective equipment like hard hats, eye and hearing protection with any tools or equipment that require it.

Workplace accidents can bring unexpected and sudden injury or loss. If your family lost a loved one or if you were injured in a struck-by accident at work, call the Workplace Struck-by Hazard Lawsuit Lawyer in Jackson, Mississippi, at Kellum Law Firm, P.C. today, at 1 (601) 969-2709.

Kellum Law Firm, P.C.
1438 N State St
Jackson, MS 39202
(601) 969-2709

Workers Have Legal Rights When Injured in Mississippi

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Some workplaces are more dangerous than others are. In any workplace, there is a risk of injury or death. Workplace accidents can cause injuries ranging from cuts and broken bones to vision or hearing loss, loss of a limb, paralysis, and even death. Some workplace injuries, like respiratory difficulties or carpal tunnel syndrome, can happen after long term exposure or repetitive work. Fortunately, many workplace accidents are preventable. Proper training of employees and safe work habits can go a long way towards preventing accidents at work. However, even careful workers in safety-conscious workplaces can be hurt or killed on the job. If you are injured or if someone you love dies in a workplace accident, you have important rights that are protected by law.

Shock and disbelief often follow a workplace injury or death. Whether you are the injured person, or someone in your household was hurt or killed at work, you may feel confused, in addition to the grief, hurt, and anger that you feel in connection with your injury or the injury or loss of your loved one.

Compensation for a work-related injury or death cannot restore your health, heal your family member, or account for the loss that you have experienced. However, it can help you and your family pay the medical bills associated with your injury or your family’s loss and possibly even replace some or all of the wages lost because of the accident. Injured individuals and their families could receive compensation for pain and suffering, disabilities, loss of earning capacity, and loss of quality of life, in addition to lost wages and medical bills. Most people who are injured at work or who lose a family member in a workplace accident can receive compensation. A workplace accident attorney can help you determine whether you can file a claim for compensation. They can also help you determine the potential value of your claim and assist you in deciding whether to accept or reject any possible settlement offers you receive.

It is critical that you not attempt to pursue compensation for your injury or loss on your own. There are multiple types of workplace accident claims, and you must file the correct type of claim within the proper amount of time to be eligible for compensation. For example, injuries caused by coworkers or supervisors and many injuries caused by items in your work environment give rise to workers’ compensation claims. However, in some instances, a third-party claim for compensation may be the more appropriate type of claim to file. For example, if your injury or your family’s loss was caused by someone who does not work at your workplace, such as a subcontractor or a service provider, your workplace accident attorney may choose to file a third-party claim.

If you were injured at work, or if a family member died in a workplace accident, do not attempt to file a workplace injury claim alone. A Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorneys can walk with you through the process of evaluating your workplace injury or loss claim and pursuing compensation. Call the Mississippi Workplace Accident Attorneys at Kellum Law Firm, P.C. at 1 (601) 969-2709 to learn more.

Kellum Law Firm, P.C.
1438 N State St
Jackson, MS 39202
(601) 969-2709

Drowsy Driving Accidents

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A woman died after she was ejected from her vehicle in a recent rollover accident on I-20 near Bovina. An investigation into the wreck revealed that the woman might have fallen asleep at the wheel. She was also not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the early morning wreck.

Approximately fifteen hundred people die, and thousands more are hurt every year in crashes caused by drowsy drivers. While fatigue can cause a driver to have any motor vehicle accident, many drowsy-driving wrecks are similar to the single-car rollover crash described above. Unfortunately, despite the media coverage of these horrible crashes, many Americans continue to drive when they are fatigued.

Sleep habits affect driving in much the same way that alcohol use affects driving, yet many people who would not dare to drink and drive think nothing of getting behind the wheel when they are tired. Sleep deprivation is a significant problem in America, but most people do not believe it is that big of a problem since they and many people they know are tired almost all of the time. It is a significant concern, and researchers have been working hard to understand the impacts that sleep, or the lack thereof, has on our bodies and our minds.

Research has revealed that driving drowsy is very similar to driving drunk. Everyone knows how often drunk drivers cause death and destruction. People must learn to make the connection between drowsy driving and drunk driving and think twice before driving when they are tired. As does a drunk driver, a tired driver moves along the road in a state of decreased awareness and impaired judgment. Tired drivers’ reaction times are slow, just like drivers who are intoxicated, creating a delay in their response to everything from curves in the road to vehicles or pedestrians in their path.

One crucial point that Americans must understand about drowsy driving is that it is not only the chronically sleep-deprived who are at risk for a crash caused by fatigue. Even a single instance of not getting enough rest can increase your risk of a wreck. If you think that stay-awake strategies like coffee, gum, mints, or energy drinks can help you stay alert enough to avoid an accident, know that they do not decrease your crash risk. You might feel alert for a short time following the use of those items, but your body is still tired, and that tiredness may overtake you without you even knowing it. Remember – no one tries to fall asleep at the wheel. If you start to feel tired, the safest thing you can do is stop and rest.

If you were hurt or someone that you love died in an accident involving a tired driver, contact a Mississippi Accident Attorney right away. Our Accident Lawyer at Kellum Law Firm, P.C. are here to serve you and your family. Call us at 1 (601) 969-2709 to learn more.

Kellum Law Firm, P.C.
1438 N State St
Jackson, MS 39202
(601) 969-2709

Mississippi Sarcoidosis Lawsuits

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When people hear the words “workers’ compensation,” they often think of people straining their backs lifting heavy objects, suffering from industrial burns, or developing carpal tunnel syndrome because of poor ergonomics. While all of those injuries are common in workplaces here in Mississippi, there is are also a large class of injuries that are not painful, have few or no external symptoms, and do not develop after a single incident.  Sarcoidosis is one of these conditions. It is an inflammatory condition that attacks multiple organs, usually focusing on the lymph glands and lungs.  In sarcoidosis, granulomas form around the body’s organs.  Granulomas are masses of cells. While many people can lead healthy lives while suffering from sarcoidosis, it granulomas can cause scarring on the heart, lungs, and other organs, which over time decreases the person’s quality of life and can even result in death. In this blog post, I will explore the workplace causes of sarcoidosis and what you should do if you are diagnosed with this disease.

If you or a loved one was injured at work, including a diagnosis of sarcoidosis, you will need to have experienced workers’ compensations counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for your decrease in health and time away from work. Kellum Law Firm, the experience to help you if you.  Contact us now at (601) 969-2709.

Causes of Sarcoidosis

Work environments result in a significant percentage of sarcoidosis cases.  A recent journal article indicated that about a third of cases stem from the employee’s workplace.  Specifically, exposure to ambient dust and gases over time results in not only sarcoidial masses—granulomas—growing on workers organs, particularly their heart and lungs.  While these masses may not affect employees’ health at first, over time, they cause scarring on the organs that weaken the body and can even result in death.  Many people suffering from sarcoidosis also develop other better-known workplace breathing ailments such as asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Sarcoidosis is particularly an issue for firefighters, welders, farmworkers, and those working in industrial workplaces such as the petrochemical industry.  All of these workplaces are common in Mississippi. Negative health conditions like these can be exacerbated if workers are subjected to constant workplace dust and gasses without either sufficient ventilation or breathing filtration.

What Should You Do if You Were Diagnosed with Sarcoidosis?

If you receive a diagnosis of sarcoidosis, you have every right to file a workers’ compensation claim. You should be compensated for medical costs, loss of work, and damages related to your exposure to dust and vapor at work.  The first step of any workers’ compensation case is to report a claim with your employer.  Make sure that your report is timely, meaning it is filed as soon as you are aware of your condition.  Also, make sure that it is in writing and follows all of your employer’s injury reporting guidelines.  Next, contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to begin preparing the necessary documentation to support your claim. Let experienced counsel take care of preserving medical records, documenting the accident, attaining expert opinions, and dealing with your employer’s attorneys. These are essential tasks that only a workers’ compensation attorney can handle for you. If your claim is ever challenged, you will want to have detailed medical records and expenses related to your condition—your employer will not just take your word for it.

Call Kellum Law Firm, an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation law firm, to represent you if you have suffered an injury in the workplace or suffered retaliation as a result of your report. Contact our Mississippi Workplace Injury Attorney today at (601) 969-2709.

Kellum Law Firm, P.C.
1438 N State St
Jackson, MS 39202
(601) 969-2709