Corinth Personal Injury Legal Blog | Wood, Carlton & Hudson, P.C.

Getting back to work after an on-the-job accident

On behalf of Wood, Carlton & Hudson, P.C. on Thursday, March 26, 2020.

A work accident can affect your life in many ways. It can leave you in pain, unable to work and juggling medical bills. Getting the help and support you need during recovery is important, which is why you will find it beneficial to pursue benefits through a workers' compensation claim. This insurance through your employer is there to help injured employees cover their medical expenses and recoup some of their lost wages.

Over time, your injuries may heal, and you may be ready to return to work. This can be a daunting prospect, especially if you are limited physically or need help to return to your job. There are rehabilitation benefits available through workers' compensation as well, and they are there to help you with this time of transition.

Nail guns are useful, but can cause serious work-related injuries

On behalf of Wood, Carlton & Hudson, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

Like other construction workers around the country, those here in Mississippi can take advantage of a lot of equipment to help make their jobs faster and more efficient. One of those pieces of equipment is the nail gun. While this device can be a lifesaver, it can also be the cause of serious work-related injuries.

Research indicates that somewhere around 37,000 injuries each year result from nail guns. They can unintentionally discharge due to double fire or hitting the safety contact while squeezing the trigger. A nail could ricochet off a metal feature or a hard surface or go through a piece of lumber.

Is daylight savings time a risk to your health while on the road?

On behalf of Wood, Carlton & Hudson, P.C. on Friday, March 13, 2020.

Daylight savings means losing an hour of sleep, and you know that this can make you feel drowsy and disoriented for a few days. You probably noticed that you have to drive to work in the dark, which can make you feel even sleepier after a time change. This can be an inconvenience for a few days, but you will eventually adjust and feel better.

For some, this period of adjustment comes with certain risks. There is evidence that suggests that daylight savings can actually lead to a higher chance of car accidents for a few weeks after the change, particularly the week following. It is possible that the time adjustment in the spring is actually placing you and every other person on the road in Mississippi at a higher risk of a car accident.

Passenger fatally injured due to another driver's negligence

On behalf of Wood, Carlton & Hudson, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, March 5, 2020.

When Mississippi residents get into the vehicle of another person, they are relying on the abilities and diligence of the driver to get to their destination safely. Sometimes, it turns out that trust is misplaced and a passenger ends up fatally injured due to another driver's negligence. In the seconds it takes for an accident to occur, that victim's family changes forever.

For instance, because of what happened at somewhere around 8:30 in the morning on a recent Wednesday, the family of a 19-year-old man will never be the same. Before that time, he was traveling with two other people, the 18-year-old driver and the 19-year-old rear seat passenger in the northbound lanes of Interstate 55. When the vehicle reached somewhere near exit 24, it careened off the highway, slammed into some trees and flipped over before coming to a rest.

Were you hit by a drunk driver with a BAC of less than 0.08?

On behalf of Wood, Carlton & Hudson, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, February 20, 2020.

Just like everywhere else, one of the first questions law enforcement officers here in Mississippi ask in the aftermath of a motor vehicle accident is whether impairment played a role. Even though the number of fatalities attributed to drunk driving has declined in recent years, the danger of being hit by a drunk driver remains. In fact, the driver does not even have to be considered legally intoxicated to be dangerous.

From the first drink, an individual's demeanor begins to change. As he or she continues to drink alcohol, behavioral changes only increase. Even if a driver only has one or two drinks before getting behind the wheel, it could be enough to set the stage for a catastrophic accident.

Understanding motorcycle accident statistics

On behalf of Wood, Carlton & Hudson, P.C. on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.

Motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries even when it is a low-speed impact. Despite helmets and other types of protective gear, the impact of the large and heavy steel frame of a passenger vehicle is no match for a person on a bike. This is why it is particularly crucial for drivers to know how to share the road safely with bikers.

There are other factors that could also affect the likelihood of a motorcycle accident. For example, motorcycles may be less visible to other drivers, which may increase the chance of a driver coming too close, side-swiping the bike or hitting it directly. Often, collisions involving bikes and larger vehicles are the result of driver error or reckless actions, such as speeding or following too closely.

What you should expect from a disability hearing

On behalf of Wood, Carlton & Hudson, P.C. on Thursday, January 30, 2020.

If you are unable to work because of a disability, you understand that this issue can impact multiple areas of your life. Not only do you have to live with certain limitations, but you may also experience financial hardship as well since your physical or mental condition may prevent you from working. If you are in this situation, you may want to pursue disability benefits through the Social Security Administration.

The process of actually obtaining these benefits can be difficult. The SSA holds a strict definition of what counts as a disability, and sometimes initial claims come back denied. This is frustrating but normal, and you have other options available to you. Through the appeals process, you can continue your pursuit of Social Security disability benefits and fight for the financial support you need and deserve.

Observe ladder safety to avoid work-related injuries

On behalf of Wood, Carlton & Hudson, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Wednesday, January 22, 2020.

Mississippi residents who work in construction may spend at least some of their time on a job site on a ladder. While they are useful tools, they also present the risk of falling. Failing to observe proper ladder safety could result in work-related injuries that prevent being able to work for an appreciable amount of time.

Obviously, workers could use any number of ladders. However, it is crucial to choose the right one for the job being done. A ladder that is too short or too tall could create the need to contort in unnatural positions that affect a worker's balance. Even a fall from a short ladder could cause injuries that require medical attention and a significant amount of time off work.

Did the condition of the road factor into your accident?

On behalf of Wood, Carlton & Hudson, P.C. on Thursday, January 16, 2020.

When it comes to car accidents, a majority of the focus during an investigation is on the behaviors and actions of the drivers involved. Even though this makes sense, other factors out of the drivers' control could also contribute to an accident.

For instance, the condition of the road could easily play a role in a crash. How many times have you driven down a road and wondered why the city, county or state doesn't keep up with the maintenance?

Pursuing a third-party claim in a fatal workplace accident

On behalf of Wood, Carlton & Hudson, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Wednesday, January 8, 2020.

Every job comes with risks. The difference is that, in many industries, the dangers are more apparent and prevalent. In other industries, workers and employers alike tend to forget about the hazards -- that is, until someone gets hurt. In fact, the possibility of a fatal workplace accident exists in many jobs, and occasionally, Mississippi workers may be reminded of that when a tragedy happens.

For instance, a pizza delivery man in another state recently lost his life during the performance of his duties. It should have been a routine delivery. After all, he was only taking the order to a building across the street from the pizza shop where he worked.

Corinth Personal Injury Law Blog