Diamondhead Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Diamondhead sits in Hancock County, and a work injury here is a Mississippi claim, not a Louisiana one, even though the Louisiana line is a short drive west. That matters more than people realize, because the deadlines, the agency that decides your case, and the benefit rules all come from Mississippi law. Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC is a workers’ compensation law firm that represents injured workers across Mississippi and Louisiana, and a Diamondhead workers’ compensation lawyer from our team handles claims for people hurt on the job along the Gulf Coast and throughout Hancock County.
The first rule to know is the notice requirement: you must tell your employer about the injury within 30 days of the accident. Many claims run into trouble before they begin because a worker “walked it off,” kept working, and only reported a back or shoulder problem weeks later when it became unbearable. The insurer then argues the injury happened somewhere else, or that you waited too long. Reporting in writing and early closes that door.
Mississippi also does not make you wait for coverage to start. A worker is covered from the first day of employment, with no waiting period and no minimum earnings test. If you were hurt in your first week at a casino, a marine contractor, a distribution center, or a construction site, you are still covered.
Why Choose Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe for a Diamondhead Work Injury Claim
Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC represents injured workers throughout Mississippi and Louisiana, including Hancock County and the Gulf Coast communities around Diamondhead. Workers’ compensation is the center of our practice, not an occasional case that wanders in. Our attorneys bring over 75 years of combined experience to claims that have been denied, delayed, or cut off, and the firm has recovered more than $100 million in settlements for clients. We work on a no recovery, no fee basis, consultations are free, we advance the costs of the case, and our phones are answered 24 hours a day. Hablamos español, and Spanish-speaking clients can work with our team in their own language.
Founding partner Rob Lunsford has spent his entire legal career representing injured workers. Partners Brad Baskin and Jennifer Priebe have been recognized by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and The National Trial Lawyers, and the firm was ranked by Best Law Firms in 2026 for Workers’ Compensation Law, Claimants, in Jackson. Andrew Rueff has tried dozens of jury and bench trials to verdict and regularly appears before the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission. Keaton Belk and Erin Heimlicher round out the attorney team.
Results matter when you are deciding who to trust with a claim. The firm secured $685,000 for a surgical tech with a lower back injury, $600,000 for a construction worker with a complex back injury, $385,000 for a project manager injured when he was struck in his work vehicle, and $221,000 for a land-based oil rig worker with severe burns. Clients consistently describe a team that listens, stays in contact, and fights the insurance company on their behalf, and several single out Brad Baskin by name for the work he did on their cases.
Injuries and Claim Types We Handle for Gulf Coast Workers
- Back, neck, and spine injuries: Lumbar and cervical disc herniations are among the most common comp claims, especially for construction crews, warehouse workers, and delivery drivers. Insurers often point to degenerative disc disease, so the case turns on medical evidence showing that the job caused or worsened the condition.
- Shoulder and knee injuries: Torn rotator cuffs, SLAP tears, ACL tears, and meniscus tears often come from lifting, pulling, climbing, or repetitive overhead work. Employers sometimes call these old sports injuries, which is why prior history needs to be addressed head on.
- Fractures: Broken feet, ankles, hips, and other bones from falls or crushing incidents can require specialists and complex surgical repair, with long stretches away from work.
- Burns and catastrophic injuries: Industrial plants, marine and offshore-related work, and oil field operations produce severe burns and life-altering trauma that call for long-term medical and wage benefits.
- Firefighter and first responder claims: Hypertension, heart and lung disease, hepatitis, hearing loss, posttraumatic stress, and cancer tied to the job are recognized categories of claims we pursue.
- Vehicle accidents on the job: Truck drivers, delivery drivers, and workers on the road for their employers are hurt in wrecks on Interstate 10 and surrounding highways. Those cases often involve both comp benefits and a claim against the at-fault driver.
- Pre-existing condition disputes: A prior injury does not end a claim if the job caused, worsened, or sped up the condition.
What to Do After a Work Injury in Diamondhead
Start with your health. Get medical attention, and be specific with the provider about how and where the injury happened at work, because those first records become the backbone of the claim. Then report the injury to your employer in writing. Mississippi gives you 30 days from the accident, and sooner is better. Keep a copy of whatever you send, and note who you told and when.
Next, understand the filing clock. In Mississippi, if no disability benefits have been paid within two years of the date of injury, your right to benefits can be barred unless you file a claim with the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission during that period. The usual filing is a Petition to Controvert, and the two years run from the date of injury or from the last compensation payment. Do not assume that because the insurer paid a few bills, you are safe forever. Those deadlines come from Mississippi Code section 71-3-35, and they are strict.
Your claim is decided by the Commission, not a regular court. It is an agency made up of three people appointed by the Governor, and cases are heard either by an Administrative Judge at an evidentiary hearing or by the Full Commission on review. When a decision goes to the Full Commission, it reviews the record made before the Administrative Judge; it is not a new trial. That is why the evidence you build early, including medical opinions, witness statements, and work history, carries so much weight. If a final Commission award goes against you, an appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court must be filed within 30 days, and it is decided on the record the Commission built. The Supreme Court often assigns those appeals to the Mississippi Court of Appeals.
A few mistakes come up repeatedly. Workers give a recorded statement to the adjuster without understanding how it will be used. They return to full duty before their doctor clears them. They skip treatment because of cost or fear, then get accused of not being hurt. And they sign settlement paperwork before knowing what the future medical care will cost. Talking to a Hancock County workers’ comp attorney before taking any of those steps can prevent damage that is hard to undo.
Wage Benefits and Medical Care Under Mississippi Law
When your injury keeps you from working, Mississippi pays wage-loss benefits of up to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to a statutory weekly maximum that the state adjusts over time. For temporary total disability and permanent total disability, payments are not to exceed 450 weeks. For permanent partial disability in the general category of cases, the 450-week ceiling applies as well. There is also a statutory weekly floor, with exceptions for partial disability and partial dependency cases.
Medical care is the other half of the claim. Reasonable and necessary treatment for a work injury should be covered, including surgery, therapy, and the follow-up care that comes later. Fights over medical treatment are common: insurers deny a recommended surgery, refuse to approve a specialist, or push a worker back to the job early. We build the medical record to answer those moves directly.
Questions Diamondhead Workers Ask About Comp Claims
Do I need a lawyer for a workers’ compensation claim in Diamondhead?
Not every claim needs one. If benefits are flowing and your doctor is treating you, you may be fine. But if benefits have been denied, delayed, reduced, or cut off, or if your injury will keep you out of work for a long time, a lawyer can make a major difference. The insurer has adjusters and attorneys protecting its interests.
How much does it cost to hire your firm?
Nothing up front. Consultations are free, we advance the costs of your case, and we are paid only if we recover benefits or a settlement for you. Attorney fees in workers’ compensation cases are limited and approved under state law.
How long do I have to report my injury?
In Mississippi, you must report the injury to your employer within 30 days of the accident. Report as soon as you can, and do it in writing so there is a record.
How long do I have to file a claim with the Commission?
Generally two years from the date of injury or from the last compensation payment. If no disability benefits were paid within two years of the injury, the right to benefits is barred unless you filed a claim with the Commission in that window.
Am I covered if I was just hired?
Yes. Mississippi workers are covered from their first day on the job, with no waiting period and no minimum earnings requirement.
What if my injury was caused by a pre-existing condition?
A prior condition does not automatically end your claim. If your work caused, worsened, or sped up the condition, you may still be entitled to benefits. Insurers raise this argument often, and answering it with strong medical evidence is a core part of our work.
Can I be fired for filing a workers’ compensation claim?
Mississippi protects workers from being fired in retaliation for filing a comp claim. If you were let go or punished after reporting an injury, tell us during your consultation so we can review your options.
I live in Diamondhead but was hurt on a job in Louisiana. Which state’s rules apply?
It depends on the facts, including where you were hired, where the employer is based, and where the injury happened. Louisiana has its own deadlines, including a one-year filing window in most cases, and its own court system for these claims. Because our firm handles claims in both states, we can sort out which one applies and protect the deadlines in each.
What if a third party, like a negligent driver, caused my injury?
You may have a personal injury claim in addition to your comp benefits. A driver who hits your work truck or a contractor whose unsafe site causes a fall can be held responsible separately from your employer. We make sure the comp claim and the injury claim work together instead of against each other.
Will I be forced to go back to work before I am ready?
Your doctor, not the insurer, should decide when you are medically able to return. Insurers sometimes push a worker back early or stop paying without warning. If that is happening, tell us right away so we can respond before the damage to your recovery or your benefits builds.
Do you speak Spanish?
Yes. Hablamos español. Spanish-speaking clients can work with our team in their own language from the first call to the end of the case.
Serving Diamondhead and Hancock County Workers Across the Gulf Coast
We represent injured workers in Diamondhead and throughout Hancock County, including Bay St. Louis, Waveland, Kiln, Pass Christian, and the communities that make up the western end of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Workers from neighboring Harrison County, such as Gulfport and Biloxi, and from nearby coastal communities also turn to us, as do workers in Hattiesburg, Madison, Jackson, Southaven, and the Delta. Across Mississippi, we handle claims from the Gulf Coast to north Mississippi.
Our work does not stop at the state line. We also represent injured workers in Louisiana, from South Louisiana communities like New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Lake Charles to Shreveport and north Louisiana. For people who live in one state and work in the other, that reach makes a real difference.
Talk With a Diamondhead Workers’ Comp Attorney Today
If you were hurt on the job, you do not have to take on the insurance company by yourself. A Diamondhead workers’ comp attorney from Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe can review what happened, explain your deadlines, and handle the insurer so you can focus on getting well. Call us any time, day or night, for a free consultation. You pay no fee unless we recover benefits for you.
