Olive Branch Forklift & Crane Accident Lawyer
Getting medical care approved, wage checks flowing, and a fair settlement after a warehouse or construction site machine injury takes more than filing a form. Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC is a workers’ compensation law firm that represents injured workers across Mississippi and Louisiana, and an Olive Branch forklift and crane accident lawyer from our team can take over the fight with your employer’s insurer while you focus on recovering.
Olive Branch sits in DeSoto County, at the center of one of the busiest distribution corridors in the mid-South. Warehouses, fulfillment centers, and freight terminals run forklifts around the clock, and construction crews working along the growth areas of north Mississippi put mobile cranes and boom lifts into tight sites with heavy loads overhead. When one of those machines tips, drops a load, or pins a worker, the injuries tend to be crushing, orthopedic, and long-lasting. The insurance carrier’s response is often just as predictable: question the accident, blame the worker, or point at a prior back or knee problem.
Why Forklift and Crane Injuries Are Harder to Claim Than They Look
A forklift or crane accident rarely has a single cause. The operator may have been undertrained, the load may have been mis-rigged, the floor may have been cluttered, or a maintenance problem may have gone unreported for weeks. Workers’ compensation does not require you to prove anyone was at fault; if you were hurt in the course of your job, the claim belongs in the comp system. But that does not stop carriers from arguing about whether you were doing something outside your duties, whether the injury happened at work at all, or whether your symptoms come from an earlier condition.
Those arguments get sharper with machinery injuries because the harm is often layered. A pallet crush may fracture a foot and also damage the knee. A swinging crane load can cause a shoulder tear, a herniated disc, and a head injury in the same instant. Each body part gets its own treatment path, its own impairment rating, and its own fight over whether the surgeon’s recommendation is “reasonable and necessary.” An Olive Branch forklift accident attorney who handles comp claims all day knows which medical records, witness statements, and work history carry weight when the carrier pushes back.
Why Choose Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe for a Warehouse or Crane Injury Claim
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 injured clients. 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 successfully tried dozens of jury and bench trials to verdict, and Keaton Belk and Erin Heimlicher round out a team that handles cases before the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission and Louisiana’s workers’ compensation courts.
The results speak to the kinds of injuries machinery accidents cause. We secured $685,000 for a surgical tech with a lower back injury and $600,000 for a construction worker with a complex back injury. We obtained $385,000 for a project manager injured when his work vehicle was struck, and $221,000 for a land-based oil rig worker with severe burns. Clients consistently describe a team that listens, stays professional, and fights the insurance company at every step. We work on a no recovery, no fee basis, consultations are free, the firm advances case costs, phones are answered 24 hours a day, and Spanish-speaking clients can work with us in their own language. Hablamos español.
Common Forklift, Crane, and Lifting Equipment Injuries We Handle
- Crush Injuries to Feet, Legs, and Hips: Forklift tires, falling pallets, and shifting loads at loading docks and distribution centers cause fractures that often need specialist surgery, hardware, and months of rehab before any return to work is possible.
- Back, Neck, and Spine Injuries: Rollovers, hard stops, and repeated jolts from rough warehouse floors produce lumbar and cervical disc herniations. Carriers frequently blame degenerative disc disease, so the medical causation evidence matters.
- Shoulder and Knee Tears: Workers who brace against a tipping machine or get struck by a swinging load suffer rotator cuff tears, SLAP tears, ACL tears, and meniscus tears. Employers sometimes call these old sports injuries.
- Struck-By and Caught-Between Accidents: Pedestrian workers hit by a reversing forklift, or pinned between a machine and a rack or wall, face some of the most serious trauma in industrial settings.
- Crane Load Drops and Boom Contact: Rigging failures, overloaded lifts, and contact with power lines on construction sites can cause catastrophic injuries and, in the worst cases, death, which may support survivor benefits and a wrongful death claim.
- Burns and Electrical Injuries: Battery acid from electric forklifts, fuel fires, and energized lines near crane booms cause burns that require specialized treatment and long recovery.
- Head Injuries and Concussions: Falling objects and rollovers can cause traumatic brain injuries whose symptoms surface slowly and are easy for an insurer to minimize.
What to Do After a Forklift or Crane Accident in Olive Branch
Get medical care first and say plainly how the injury happened. Describe every body part that hurts, not just the worst one, because the first records become the foundation of your claim. If the company clinic sends you back to work with no restrictions while you are still in pain, say so and ask for the instructions in writing.
Report the injury to your employer right away. In Mississippi, you must give notice within 30 days of the accident, and the right to benefits can be lost if no claim is filed with the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission within two years when no disability benefits have been paid. Written notice is best, and keep a copy. Mississippi coverage starts on your first day on the job, so a recently hired worker is not shut out. If you live in Louisiana or were hurt there, the notice window is also 30 days, and a formal claim generally must be filed within one year of the accident.
Preserve evidence while it still exists. Photograph the machine, the load, the floor conditions, and your injuries. Write down the names of coworkers who saw it, the operator involved, and any prior complaints about the equipment. Ask whether an incident report was prepared and request a copy. Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster before you have talked with a lawyer, and do not sign medical releases broader than what the claim needs.
If the claim is denied or benefits stop, the dispute goes to the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, which is an administrative agency rather than a court. Your case is heard by an Administrative Judge, and either side can seek review by the Full Commission, which examines the record already made rather than holding a new trial. A final Commission award can be appealed within 30 days to the Mississippi Supreme Court, which may assign it to the Mississippi Court of Appeals. Because the record built at the first hearing is what every later reviewer sees, the work done early in the case counts the most.
Beyond Workers’ Compensation: When a Third Party Is Responsible
Workers’ compensation is the exclusive remedy against your own employer in most cases, but forklifts and cranes often involve other companies. A defective brake system, a failed hydraulic line, or a faulty load sensor can point to the equipment manufacturer. A crane rented from a leasing company, a negligent rigging contractor, or a general contractor who controlled an unsafe site may also bear responsibility. Claims against those outside parties are personal injury cases, and they can recover damages comp does not pay, including pain and suffering.
Mississippi follows pure comparative negligence, so your recovery in a third-party case is reduced by your share of fault rather than eliminated. Most negligence claims that have no shorter statute must be filed within three years under Mississippi law, though claims against governmental entities carry a one-year limit and special notice requirements. If the accident happened in Louisiana, a stricter rule applies: for injuries arising on or after the start of 2026, a plaintiff found 51 percent or more at fault recovers nothing. Our firm handles personal injury and wrongful death cases alongside comp so that the two claims support each other instead of colliding, including any workers’ compensation lien issues when a third-party settlement is reached.
Olive Branch Forklift Accident Attorney FAQ
Do I need a lawyer for a forklift injury claim?
Not every claim requires one, 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, an attorney can make a major difference. The insurer has adjusters and lawyers protecting its interests, and you should have someone protecting yours.
How much does it cost to hire the 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 soon must I report a forklift or crane accident?
Within 30 days in Mississippi, and the same 30-day notice rule applies in Louisiana. Report in writing as soon as you can and keep a copy.
How long do I have to file my claim in Mississippi?
If no disability benefits have been paid, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a petition with the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission. Payments already made can change that clock, so confirm your deadline with an attorney early.
What wage benefits can I receive while I cannot work?
Mississippi wage-loss benefits are up to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to a statutory weekly maximum, and total disability benefits can last up to 450 weeks. Medical treatment that is reasonable and necessary is covered as well.
What if the company says my back problem existed before the accident?
A pre-existing condition does not automatically end your claim. If the accident caused, worsened, or accelerated the condition, you may still be entitled to benefits. Strong medical opinions tying the injury to the incident are the key evidence.
Can I sue the forklift manufacturer or crane company and still collect comp?
Often yes. Workers’ compensation covers you regardless of fault, and a separate claim against a manufacturer, equipment lessor, or contractor who is not your employer can seek additional damages. The two claims need to be coordinated because of reimbursement rights.
What if I was operating the forklift and made a mistake?
Workers’ compensation does not turn on fault, so an operator error does not by itself bar a claim. Carriers do try to raise defenses such as intoxication or willful misconduct, so be truthful with your attorney about everything that happened.
My employer is pressuring me to return to work before my doctor clears me. What should I do?
Do not return beyond your doctor’s written restrictions. Tell your attorney immediately. Returning too early can worsen the injury and give the insurer an argument that you are fully recovered.
Can I be fired for filing a claim?
Both Mississippi and Louisiana protect workers from retaliation for filing a comp claim. If you were let go or punished after reporting an injury, raise it during your consultation so we can review your options.
What happens if a coworker died in a crane or forklift accident?
Surviving family members may be entitled to death benefits under workers’ compensation and may also have a wrongful death claim against a negligent third party. In Mississippi, wrongful death negligence claims generally carry a three-year limit, while Louisiana allows one year from death or two years from injury, whichever is longer.
Can I still get help if I do not speak English well?
Yes. Hablamos español, and Spanish-speaking clients can work with our team in their own language from the first call through the end of the case.
Serving Injured Workers From Olive Branch and Across DeSoto County
We represent injured workers from Olive Branch and throughout DeSoto County, including Southaven, Horn Lake, Hernando, Walls, Nesbit, Lake Cormorant, and Lewisburg. Our reach extends across north Mississippi to nearby communities and into the Delta, and south through Madison, Jackson, Hattiesburg, and the Gulf Coast. Workers who commute into the Memphis distribution corridor from Mississippi are covered by our team as well when the claim falls under Mississippi law.
In Louisiana, we serve injured workers in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Shreveport, and communities throughout south and north Louisiana. Whether the machine was a forklift in a warehouse, a crane on a construction site, or a lift on an industrial yard, we handle the claim wherever the injury occurred.
Talk With an Olive Branch Crane Accident Attorney Today
If a forklift or crane injured you at work, you do not have to fight the insurance company alone. An Olive Branch crane accident attorney at Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe can review what happened, explain which deadlines apply to you, and start building the medical and witness record your claim depends on. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, consultations are free, and you pay no fee unless we recover benefits for you. Call us today or send your case details through our online form. We help injured workers. That is all we do.
