Mississippi Construction Accident
Mississippi has the third-highest accidental death rate in the nation, following only Alaska and Wyoming and racking up over 50 accidental deaths per 100,000 residents. Many of these accidental deaths are due to construction injuries, which cause injury to one out of every ten construction workers per year. These sobering statistics bring home just how severe a Mississippi construction accident can be.
Workers' Compensation
Workplace injuries in Mississippi are covered under the state's workers' compensation laws, and a Mississippi construction accident falls under the purview of the state Workers' Compensation Commission. Any Mississippi employer with more than five employees is required to have workers' compensation insurance to cover on-site injuries, though these numbers can vary due to contractor relationships. So who is responsible for construction accidents when there are multiple contractors in place?
Who is Responsible?
OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration), the federal entity in charge of ensuring safety regulations on construction sites, designates the prime contractor as responsible for the health and safety of workers. This is a sensible designation since prime contractors are often responsible for scheduling, equipment, and monitoring the job site as a whole. However, subcontractors can take on or share part of the responsibility for a Mississippi construction accident.
What to Do After a Mississippi Construction Accident
Proper construction site safety and training can go a long way in preventing serious injuries in connection with a Mississippi construction accident. Construction accidents can occur due to burns, falls, contusions, crushing by heavy equipment, or even poisoning due to the presence of hazardous materials. If you are involved in a Mississippi construction accident, it is essential to immediately tell your supervisor and receive medical attention as soon as possible. Take note of the reason for your accident and the condition of the construction site; you may wish to take pictures to help document your claim.
Vigilance and proper training is the best way to prevent construction accidents, but when an accident occurs, it is essential to properly treat and document the injury. Workers' compensation can cover loss of body parts, vocational rehabilitation and physical therapy, but sometimes a civil suit should be filed to recoup costs due to pain and suffering, lost wages or future medical care. In this case, contact an experienced Mississippi construction accident attorney. Your Mississippi construction accident lawyer can walk you through the process of filing and pursuing a claim and can get you compensation for your injuries in the form of a settlement or jury verdict.
If you or a loved one has suffered from a Mississippi construction accident, an experienced attorney can give you peace of mind as you pick up the pieces from one of the nation's most common causes of injury. Interested in a no-cost, no-obligation case evaluation from an experienced Mississippi construction accident lawyer? Just fill out our case evaluation form. |