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Reeves & Mestayer | Personal Injury Attorneys in Biloxi

Biloxi Attorneys

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Free Consultation 1-855-558-2977

We have recovered over
$1 Billion
in compensation for our clients

Aggressive
We are persistent, proactive, and ready to fight for our clients' interests

Ethical
While we are aggressive, we always play by the rules and honesty is the foundation of what we do

Experience
We have extensive courtroom and trial experience putting our clients in the best position for success

Reeves & Mestayer is rated
Highest in Legal Abilities & Ethics
by Martindale-Hubbell

Reeves & Mestayer is listed as
One of the Preeminent Law Firms
in America

Reeves & Mestayer has obtained
Record Verdicts & Settlements
for their clients

BP oil spill class action recovery of
$70 Million
We handled thousands of BP claims throughout the Gulf South and was named by the Court to serve on the Economic and Property Damages Committee in the Multi-District Litigation

Defective product recovery of
$55 Million
After being injured or killed by defective tires, we fought to get 75 passengers and drivers the settlement they deserved

Car accident settlement of
$12 Million
After 5 people were killed in a multi-vehicle collision, their families turned to Reeves & Mestayer for help. We fought to get them the settlement they deserved

State of Mississippi tobacco litigation
$13 Million
Reeves & Mestayer law firm gained this verdict for the State of Mississippi to correct wrongful calculations related to the Mississippi tobacco settlement

Defective Product Settlement of
$1 Billion
We fought for 14,000 plaintiffs and 1,000 defendants hurt by Chinese-manufactured drywall products

Workers’ Compensation

Serving Mississippi and Louisiana

Whether you have been injured in an on-the-job accident or are suffering from an occupational illness or repetitive stress injury, work-related injuries can be devastating for you and your family. Even you are expected to fully recover, and eventually return to work at the same level of pay, you have medical needs and loss of income to contend with. If your injuries are permanent, you may never be able to earn a living again. Workers’ Compensation laws were created to protect injured workers like you, and we are here to fight for the full benefits you need and deserve.

Ready to discuss your workers’ compensation claim with our team of attorneys? Call Reeves & Mestayer at 228-374-5151 to discuss your options now.

Why You Need a Workers’ Compensation Attorney

A workers’ compensation claim is not a lawsuit, and you do not need to prove fault to receive benefits. It is an insurance claim. The law was created to make it quick and easy for injured workers to receive medical benefits and replacement of a portion of their lost income.

The problem is that some employers and even more insurance companies try to deny workers’ compensation claims or cut benefits short. There are many tactics that they may try to use against you. Most often we see the insurance companies claiming that workers are able to return to work when they are still not well enough to work again. In addition to terminating your workers’ compensation benefits early, this also puts your health at risk. You could sustain lifelong injuries because of an insurance company’s insistence that you are ready to go back to work.

They may also try to pin the blame for your workplace accident on you. Not only does this threaten your workers’ compensation claim, it’s insulting to workers who do their best and work hard for their employers every day. The insurance company may claim that you failed to meet safety requirements, even if you were working within the training protocols you were taught.

They may even say that your injury occurred outside the workplace. This is one of the most common concerns of workers’ comp insurance companies: workers who get injured off the job but try to claim that the injury occurred at work, leaving the insurance company to pick up the bill. However, this is no reason to treat an injured worker so unfairly.

While the process of applying for and receiving workers’ compensation should be straightforward and simple, companies and insurance providers can make it far more complicated than necessary. Hiring an attorney ensures that you can avoid common errors and get the money you are rightfully owed.

Our workers’ compensation attorneys are here to fight for you. We will stand up to the insurance company so that you can get the full benefits that you deserve.

TYPES OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INJURIES

The types of injuries you may suffer depend largely on the industry you work in. Some of the industries with the highest rates of worker injuries include:

  • Health care and social assistance
  • Manufacturing
  • Hospitality
  • Retail
  • Forestry, fishing, agriculture, and hunting
  • Transportation and warehousing
  • Construction

Injuries that may qualify you for workers’ compensation include:

  • Back and spine injuries
  • Burns
  • Broken bones
  • Damage to the ears, resulting in tinnitus or other issues
  • Injuries to the eyes, nose, or jaw
  • Amputations
  • Repetitive stress injuries caused by routine repetitive tasks; present in everyone from restaurant workers to office workers and manufacturing professionals
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Exposure to toxic chemicals
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Fall injuries
  • Crush injuries

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BENEFITS

If you have suffered a work-related injury or illness in Mississippi or Louisiana, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits including:

  • Payment of your medical expenses
  • Weekly payments to replace up to two-thirds of you lost income while you are unable to work
  • Weekly payments or a lump sum payment for permanent disability, whether it is partial or total

Spouses and minor children and other dependents of a worker who died of his or her injuries may be entitled to workers’ compensation death benefits.

Workers’ Compensation Requirements in Mississippi

Each state sets its own workers’ compensation laws and requirements. As a Mississippi employee, it’s important that you understand state laws and know your rights. Under Mississippi law, employers with at least five regular employees are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This protects even employees who work for smaller companies. While some industries are exempt from these requirements, construction is not one of them.

Per the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, injured employees receive up to 66 2/3% of their income while injured. As of 2020, the maximum amount an injured employee can receive each week is $505.43.

Your medical expenses should also be paid by workers’ compensation. You must go to an approved doctor and follow reasonable care recommendations to continue receiving compensation. If you go to an outside doctor or fail to follow care recommendations, your claim may be closed.

THIRD PARTY CLAIMS

Another issue to consider while pursuing workers’ compensation is whether or not you have a third party claim. A third party claim is when you are able to seek compensation from someone other than your employer. You cannot sue your employer; that is why the workers’ compensation system exists. However, if someone else caused your injuries, you may be able to sue them for additional compensation.

There are several ways that a third party could be liable for your injuries. If you drive for work and someone crashes into you, the person who crashed into you could be liable for your injuries. While you still may be able to claim workers’ compensation, they may expect you to pursue a personal injury claim against the liable driver.

You could also have a third party claim if you were injured on the job by a contractor. This is common on construction sites and in related industries, where outside contractors are often brought in for specialty work or to fill gaps in the workforce.

If a contractor is liable for your injuries because of their negligence, you should talk to a lawyer about a personal injury claim. Note that this does not extend to coworkers. If an individual is employed by the same company that employs you, you cannot sue them for a work-related injury.

Hiring an attorney for a third party claim is highly recommended. Getting your medical bills and income replaced while you wait for a claim to settle can be a challenge, and your attorney can help you decide which avenue to pursue.

If you initially receive workers’ compensation but evidence comes out that a third party is liable for your injuries, you may have to repay workers’ compensation with the settlement money you receive. Your attorney can help ensure that the settlement money you receive is enough to cover any other claims that must be repaid and the other financial obligations you have from the accident.

Choosing an Attorney for your Workplace Accident Injury Claim

While the workers’ compensation process is supposed to be quick and easy, employees often encounter obstacles. Employers should make the process simple for employees, since it benefits them as well. The workers’ compensation process allows employers to avoid the threat of personal injury claims, while allowing employees to seek compensation without having to prove that their employer did something wrong.

However, some employers still make it difficult for employees to get the compensation they are owed. They may do this to avoid an increase in their workers’ compensation rates or to keep their injury rates down. When you encounter pushback from your employer or their insurance company, it’s time to bring an attorney in to advocate for you.

Employers or workers’ comp insurance companies may deny claims for a wide range of reasons. In many situations, they do this because they know employees are unlikely to push back out of fear of retribution. Your attorney can step in and clear up these misunderstandings very quickly, clearing the way for you to receive the medical benefits and income you are owed.

What if someone outside of your workplace is responsible for your injury? In that case, you may be able to recover compensation with a personal injury claim. A third-party claim may allow you to receive much more than you would with a workers’ compensation claim. If you decide to go this route, you’ll need an attorney to investigate your accident, assess your expenses, and negotiate with the insurance company.

Turn to Reeves & Mestayer for the Representation You Deserve

If you or a loved one has been injured on the job or suffered an occupational illness in Mississippi, Louisiana or Alabama please call the workers’ compensation attorneys of Reeves & Mestayer, PLLC at 228-374-5151 or toll free 1-855-558-2977 or contact us online today to schedule your free initial consultation. We can also help you get FMLA with your Workers Comp. You have a very limited amount of time to act or you will forever lose your right to workers’ compensation benefits. Please, contact us right away, before it is too late.

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Verdicts & Settlements

$156M
Settlement in a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of pensioners of the Singing River Pension Plan.
$55M
On behalf of 75 passengers and drivers injured or killed in tire defect/rollover cases
$22M
On behalf of seven investors defrauded of their life savings
$12M
On behalf of five people killed in a multi-vehicle collision
$10M
On behalf of children and teachers poisoned by defective spray roofing
$5.5M
Verdict on behalf of a woman who was abducted and raped in a K-Mart parking lot because the store provided no security
$6M
Settlement on behalf of an orthopedic surgeon killed during a scuba diving excursion. Believed to be a record settlement for a dive accident in the Bahamas.
$1M
Verdict on behalf of a women who did not receive timely treatment and died as a result of her injuries.

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Reeves & Mestayer

Reeves & Mestayer, PLLC
160 Main St
Biloxi, MS 39530

Toll free: 1-855-558-2977
Phone: 228-374-5151
Fax: 228-374-6630

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