Ingalls Shipbuilding Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
A welder gets hurt in a tank space, a pipefitter’s shoulder gives out after years of overhead work, a shipfitter develops hearing loss from decades on the yard. In every one of these situations, the first question is which compensation law covers the injury. Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC is a workers’ compensation law firm that represents injured workers across Mississippi and Louisiana, including Pascagoula and the Gulf Coast communities where shipyard families live.
If you are searching for an Ingalls Shipbuilding workers’ compensation lawyer, the answer to that first question is rarely simple. Shipyard work sits at the edge of several legal systems. Depending on where on the vessel or yard you were hurt, your claim may fall under the Mississippi workers’ compensation system or under a federal program for maritime workers. That choice affects your deadlines, your benefits, and where your case is heard, so it should be sorted out early and not left to the insurer.
Why Ingalls Injury Claims Raise Questions That Ordinary Comp Claims Do Not
Most workers’ compensation claims in Mississippi are handled by the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, an administrative body rather than a court. Shipbuilding adds a wrinkle. Federal law provides a separate compensation system for certain maritime employees, and which one applies can turn on the type of work you do and where you were standing when you were hurt. Workers on a vessel afloat, on a dock, or in an enclosed fabrication hall may not all be treated the same way.
That is why it matters who reviews your claim. An adjuster may tell you “you’re covered” or “you’re not covered” without explaining which system they are talking about. Before you accept a denial or a settlement offer, you want someone who has read your job duties, the location of your injury, and your medical history and can tell you which rules actually govern.
Employers and carriers also lean on the same arguments seen across the industry: the injury did not happen at work, it was already there, or you are well enough to return. Heavy industrial work leaves a long medical record of earlier aches, and insurers use that record against workers. A prior condition does not end a claim if the job caused, worsened, or accelerated it.
Why Choose Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe for a Shipyard Injury Claim
Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC handles workers’ compensation as the center of its practice, and its attorneys bring over 75 years of combined experience to claims that have been denied, delayed, or cut off. The firm serves Mississippi from Pascagoula and the Gulf Coast to Hattiesburg, Jackson, Madison, Southaven, and the Delta, and it also represents injured workers throughout Louisiana. Consultations are free, the firm advances the costs of your case, there is no fee unless benefits or a settlement are recovered, and phones are answered 24 hours a day. Spanish-speaking clients can work with the team in their own language.
Rob Lunsford, Founding Partner, 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.
The results reflect the kind of injuries industrial workers suffer. 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 struck in his work vehicle, and $221,000 for a land-based oil rig worker with severe burns. The firm has recovered more than $100 million in settlements overall. Clients consistently describe the same thing in their reviews: attorneys who listened, stayed professional, and fought with the insurance company at every step.
Injuries and Illnesses Common in Shipyard and Heavy Industrial Work
- Back, Neck, and Spine Injuries: Lifting, climbing, and working in cramped compartments produce lumbar and cervical disc herniations. Insurers often blame degenerative disc disease, and the response is medical evidence showing how the work caused or aggravated the condition.
- Shoulder and Knee Injuries: Overhead welding, grinding, and pulling heavy equipment lead to torn rotator cuffs, SLAP tears, and meniscus tears. Carriers sometimes call these old sports injuries, so the timeline of your symptoms matters.
- Burns and Catastrophic Injuries: Hot work, flash fires, and electrical contact can cause severe burns and life-altering trauma that require long treatment and, often, a claim for permanent disability benefits.
- Fractures: Falls from scaffolding, staging, and vessel decks, or crush injuries to feet, ankles, and hips, can require specialists and complex surgical repair.
- Hearing Loss and Respiratory Conditions: Years of loud tools and fumes can produce occupational conditions that develop slowly, which makes the date of discovery and your work history important.
- Third-Party Accidents: When a negligent driver, a contractor, or an equipment maker contributes to your injury, you may have a personal injury claim alongside your comp benefits, and the two claims need to be coordinated.
What to Do After You Are Hurt at the Yard
Report the injury to your employer in writing as soon as you can. In Mississippi, you must give notice within 30 days of the accident, and you should not let that window shrink by waiting to see if the pain improves. Ask for the incident to be documented, and keep your own record of the date, the location, who saw it, and what task you were doing.
Get medical care and be specific with every provider about how the injury happened at work. Gaps and vague histories in medical records are what insurers use later. Follow the treatment plan, and do not return to work before your doctor releases you. Do not give a recorded statement to the carrier without understanding what is being asked and why.
For the claim itself, Mississippi generally gives you two years to file a Petition to Controvert with the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, measured from the date of injury or the last compensation payment. Mississippi coverage begins on the first day of employment, with no waiting period. Wage replacement runs up to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to a statutory weekly cap, and temporary and permanent total disability are limited to 450 weeks. Because shipyard work can bring federal maritime coverage into play, confirm early which program applies before the clocks start working against you.
If your claim is denied, the case is heard by an Administrative Judge at the Commission. An appeal to the Full Commission is a review of the record made before the judge, not a new trial, so the evidence you build at the first hearing is the evidence you live with. A final Commission award can be appealed within 30 days, and the appeal is decided on the record. Louisiana workers hurt on a job in that state face a one-year filing deadline and a 30-day notice rule, so the rules differ across the state line.
Common Ways Shipyard Claims Go Wrong
The most frequent mistake is delay. Workers keep working through pain, tell a supervisor verbally, and later find there is no written record. A second mistake is accepting the first explanation for why a claim does not qualify, whether that is “you are a contractor,” “this is a federal matter,” or “it was already there.” Each of those answers can be partly right and still lead to the wrong conclusion.
Another is going back to work too early under pressure, then reinjuring yourself and losing ground on benefits. Light-duty offers deserve a careful read, because refusing a legitimate offer can affect your benefits, while accepting one outside your restrictions can hurt your recovery. Have a lawyer look at any written offer before you decide.
Questions Injured Shipyard Workers Ask
Do I need a lawyer for an Ingalls injury claim?
Not every claim requires one, but if benefits have been denied, delayed, reduced, or cut off, or if you will be out of work a long time, a lawyer can make a major difference. The carrier has adjusters and attorneys protecting its interests.
How much does it cost to hire the firm?
Nothing up front. Consultations are free, the firm advances case costs, and you pay only if benefits or a settlement are recovered. Attorney fees in workers’ compensation cases are limited and approved under state law.
How soon must I report my injury?
Within 30 days of the accident in Mississippi, and the same 30-day window applies in Louisiana. Report in writing and as early as possible.
How long do I have to file a claim in Mississippi?
Generally two years from the date of injury or the last compensation payment, by filing a Petition to Controvert with the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission. If no benefits are ever paid and no claim is filed in that time, the right to benefits can be lost.
What benefits can I receive?
Reasonable and necessary medical treatment, plus wage replacement of up to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to a weekly maximum. Permanent disability benefits are available when an injury leaves lasting limitations.
Which system covers a shipyard worker, state or federal?
It depends on your job duties and where the injury happened. Some maritime workers fall under a federal compensation program while others fall under Mississippi’s system. Do not assume the answer; have it analyzed before deadlines pass.
What if the insurer says my injury is just wear and tear?
A pre-existing condition does not automatically defeat a claim. If your work caused, worsened, or sped up the condition, benefits may still be owed. Medical opinions tying the condition to your job duties are central to answering this argument.
Can I be fired for filing a claim?
Both Mississippi and Louisiana protect workers from retaliation for filing a compensation claim. If you were let go or punished after reporting an injury, tell your attorney right away so your options can be reviewed.
What happens if I disagree with the Administrative Judge’s decision?
You can ask the Full Commission to review it. That review is based on the existing record, not new testimony, which is why a strong first hearing matters. A final award can then be appealed within 30 days.
Can I bring a claim against someone other than my employer?
Yes, if a third party such as a negligent driver, subcontractor, or equipment manufacturer contributed to your injury. That claim exists in addition to your comp benefits, and the firm coordinates the two so they work together.
Will I lose benefits if I go back to light duty?
Not necessarily, but the offer must fit your medical restrictions. Wage-loss rules may change if you earn less, so review any written offer with your attorney before accepting or refusing.
What if my injury developed over years instead of in one accident?
Repetitive trauma and occupational illnesses can be compensable. The timing of when you discovered the condition and connected it to work becomes important, so document symptoms and treatment as early as you can.
Serving Ingalls Workers and Families Across Mississippi’s Gulf Coast and Beyond
The firm represents shipyard workers and their families from Pascagoula and the neighboring Jackson County communities along the Gulf Coast, including Gautier, Moss Point, and Ocean Springs. Clients also come from Biloxi, Gulfport, Long Beach, Pass Christian, and Bay St. Louis, and from inland towns such as Lucedale, Hattiesburg, and Picayune where many yard employees commute from or live.
Beyond the coast, the firm serves injured workers throughout Mississippi, including Jackson, Madison, Southaven, north Mississippi, and the Delta. In Louisiana, representation extends across South Louisiana and the state, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Shreveport, and the firm also handles personal injury, car and truck accident, premises liability, and wrongful death cases for injured people in both states.
Talk With an Ingalls Shipbuilding Workers’ Comp Attorney
If you were hurt at the yard, an Ingalls Shipbuilding workers’ compensation attorney at Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe can tell you which system covers your injury, what deadlines apply, and what your claim is realistically worth. Call to schedule a free consultation. There is no fee unless benefits are recovered, and someone answers the phone around the clock.
The sooner you call, the more evidence there is to preserve and the less ground the insurer has to question what happened. We help injured workers. That is the work we do.
