Pearl Construction Worker Injury Lawyer
A fall from scaffolding, a crushed hand on a framing crew, a disc that gave out after years of hauling block: construction injuries in the Pearl area tend to be serious, and the paperwork clock starts running the day they happen. Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC is a workers’ compensation law firm that represents injured workers across Mississippi and Louisiana, and a Pearl construction worker injury lawyer from our team can take over the insurance company, the medical dispute, and the wage-benefit fight while you focus on recovery.
Pearl sits in Rankin County, right across the Pearl River from Jackson, and its construction workforce moves constantly between Rankin and Hinds County jobsites, commercial corridors, and residential developments. A worker might be hired by a subcontractor, supervised by a general contractor, and injured on property owned by a third party. Each of those relationships matters, because it determines who owes you comp benefits and whether someone else may owe you more.
Construction claims also draw a particular set of insurer arguments: that you were an independent contractor rather than an employee, that the injury is just wear and tear, or that the accident was never properly reported. Answering those arguments early, with medical records and witness accounts, is what keeps a claim from stalling.
Why Choose Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe for a Construction Injury Claim
Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC serves injured workers in Pearl, Rankin County, the Jackson metro, and communities throughout Mississippi and South Louisiana. Our attorneys bring over 75 combined years of experience to claims that have been denied, delayed, or cut off, and the firm has recovered more than $100 million in settlements. Clients pay nothing up front, consultations are free, we advance the costs of the case, and we are paid only if we recover. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, and we speak Spanish, which matters on jobsites where many crews work in more than one language.
The people handling your case matter. Rob Lunsford, our Founding Partner, has spent his entire legal career representing injured workers. Brad Baskin and Jennifer Priebe, both Partners, 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 regularly appears before the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, with Keaton Belk and Erin Heimlicher rounding out the attorney team.
Our results reflect the kinds of injuries construction work produces: $600,000 for a construction worker with a complex back injury, $685,000 for a surgical tech with a lower back injury, $385,000 for a project manager injured when his work vehicle was struck, and $221,000 for an oil rig worker with severe burns. Past results do not guarantee any outcome, but they show the firm knows how to build serious injury claims. Clients consistently describe responsive communication and an attorney who stood up to the insurance company at every step.
Injuries and Claim Types We See From Construction Sites
- Back, Neck, and Spine Injuries: Lumbar and cervical disc herniations are among the most common construction claims, whether from a single lift, a fall, or years of heavy labor. Insurers often point to degenerative disc disease, and we respond with medical evidence showing how the work caused or aggravated the condition.
- Shoulder and Knee Injuries: Rotator cuff tears, SLAP tears, ACL tears, and meniscus tears follow overhead work, awkward lifting, and slips on uneven ground. Employers sometimes call these old sports injuries, and the dispute turns on the medical timeline.
- Fractures: Feet, ankles, hips, and other bones broken in falls or struck-by incidents can require specialists and complex surgical repair, which means long stretches away from work and larger wage-loss and medical stakes.
- Burns and Catastrophic Injuries: Electrical contact, hot work, and industrial sites produce injuries that change a career permanently, and these claims call for careful attention to permanent disability benefits.
- Falls From Height: Roofs, scaffolds, ladders, and open decks generate multi-injury claims, often involving more than one potentially responsible party on a shared jobsite.
- Vehicle Accidents on the Job: Workers hauling materials or driving between sites can be hurt by negligent drivers. That can create both a comp claim and a separate personal injury claim.
- Wrongful Death: When a jobsite accident is fatal, surviving family members may have death benefits through comp and, in some cases, a separate claim against a non-employer.
What to Do After a Construction Injury in Pearl
Get medical care first, then report. In Mississippi, you must notify your employer of the injury within 30 days of the accident, and doing it in writing the same day or the next is far better than testing that limit. Tell your supervisor exactly what happened and which body parts hurt, even if some symptoms seem minor. Construction injuries often reveal themselves in layers: the shoulder you noticed first may be followed by neck or back pain a week later, and an incomplete first report gives an insurer something to argue about.
The outer boundary on filing is two years. If no disability benefits have been paid within two years of the injury, the right to benefits can be lost unless a claim has been filed with the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, typically through a Petition to Controvert. Payments that have already been made can change how the period is measured, which is one reason to speak with a lawyer rather than guess. Coverage in Mississippi begins on the worker’s first day on the job, so being new on the crew is not a defense.
Document everything you can. Photograph the site, the equipment, and any visible injuries. Write down the names of coworkers who saw it happen. Keep every medical record, work-status note, and pay stub. If the company’s insurer sends you a recorded-statement request or a form to sign, you are entitled to talk with a lawyer before responding.
Know how the system is structured. Mississippi comp claims are not filed in an ordinary court. They are heard by the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, first at an evidentiary hearing before an Administrative Judge, and then, if either side appeals, through a review by the Full Commission, which examines the record made below rather than starting over. A final Commission award can be appealed within 30 days to the Mississippi Supreme Court, which may assign the case to the Mississippi Court of Appeals. Because appeals rest on the existing record, the evidence you build early decides how far a case can go.
Finally, avoid the common mistakes: returning to work before your doctor releases you, giving a casual explanation that blames yourself, skipping follow-up appointments, and posting about your activities online. Insurers read all of it. If you were let go or disciplined after reporting an injury, tell us, because Mississippi and Louisiana both protect workers from retaliation for filing a comp claim.
Wage Benefits, Medical Care, and When Someone Else Is Also Liable
Mississippi comp pays for reasonable and necessary medical treatment and replaces a portion of lost wages. Temporary and permanent total disability benefits are generally two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to a weekly maximum set by the state, and for total disability they cannot run past 450 weeks. Permanent partial disability in most cases is likewise capped at 450 weeks. These benefits are tied to your pre-injury earnings, so a complete and accurate wage record, including overtime and per diem, directly affects what you receive.
Construction work, though, often involves more than one company. If a subcontractor’s employee, a property owner, an equipment manufacturer, or a negligent driver contributed to your injury, a third-party personal injury claim may exist alongside your comp claim. Comp does not pay for pain and suffering, but a third-party case can. Mississippi follows pure comparative negligence, so being partly at fault reduces a third-party recovery rather than eliminating it, and the general limitations period for those claims is three years. The comp and injury claims have to be coordinated carefully, and our personal injury attorneys handle both so one does not undercut the other.
The classification fight deserves its own mention. Some construction employers label workers as independent contractors to avoid coverage. The label on a paycheck or a 1099 is not the end of the analysis; who controls the work, supplies the tools, and sets the schedule all matter. If you were told you are not covered, get the facts reviewed before accepting that answer.
Pearl Construction Injury Questions Answered
How soon do I have to report a construction injury in Mississippi?
You must give your employer notice within 30 days of the accident. Reporting immediately and in writing is the safer practice, because it prevents any later argument about whether or when the employer knew.
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 are paid and no claim is filed within that window, the right to benefits can be barred. Exceptions depend on payment history, so confirm your dates with an attorney.
Am I covered if I was only on the job a few days?
Yes. Mississippi coverage applies from the first day of employment, with no waiting period and no minimum earnings requirement, as long as your employer is subject to the law.
What if my employer says I am an independent contractor?
That label is not controlling. The actual working relationship, including control over how and when you work and who provides equipment, can show you are an employee entitled to benefits. We review those facts when a classification dispute arises.
How much will my weekly wage-loss check be?
For total disability it is generally up to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, limited by a state maximum that is adjusted periodically. The calculation depends on what you earned before the injury, which is why accurate wage records matter.
Can I choose my own doctor?
Medical choice in comp claims comes with rules about the treating physician and changes of physician, and insurers often steer workers toward their preferred providers. Talk to us before switching or agreeing to an evaluation so your treatment is not compromised.
The insurance company says my back injury is just degenerative. Is my claim over?
No. A pre-existing condition does not end a claim if your work caused, worsened, or accelerated it. Strong medical opinions tying the condition to your job duties are central to winning these disputes.
Can I also sue someone besides my employer?
Possibly. If a subcontractor, property owner, equipment maker, or negligent driver caused or contributed to the injury, you may have a separate personal injury claim. Mississippi’s pure comparative negligence rule means your own share of fault reduces that recovery rather than barring it.
Will I be fired or blacklisted for filing?
Retaliation for filing a comp claim is prohibited in Mississippi and Louisiana. If you were terminated or punished after reporting an injury, tell us during your consultation so we can examine your options.
What if I was hurt on a job in Louisiana but live in Mississippi?
Our firm handles claims in both states. Louisiana generally requires notice to the employer within 30 days and a formal claim within one year of the accident, so the deadlines differ from Mississippi’s and the state where the claim belongs matters.
How much does it cost to hire your firm?
Nothing up front. Consultations are free, we advance case costs, and we are paid only if we recover benefits or a settlement. Attorney fees in comp cases are limited and approved under state law.
Is it worth hiring a lawyer if my injury seems minor?
A free consultation costs nothing and will tell you whether your claim is at risk. Injuries that look minor at first can turn into surgery and long absences, and early missteps in reporting or treatment are hard to undo.
Serving Construction Workers Across Pearl and Rankin County
Our work for injured construction workers starts in Pearl and Rankin County and reaches across the surrounding area. We represent workers in Pearl, Brandon, Flowood, Richland, Florence, Pelahatchie, Puckett, and Star, along with the neighboring Jackson metro communities of Jackson, Clinton, Byram, Terry, and Raymond in Hinds County, and Madison and Ridgeland in Madison County. Beyond the metro, we serve workers in Hattiesburg, the Gulf Coast, Southaven, north Mississippi, and the Delta.
Because many of our clients work across state lines, we also handle claims in South Louisiana and north Louisiana, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Shreveport. Whatever the jobsite, the approach is the same: gather the medical and wage evidence early, meet the insurer’s arguments directly, and take the claim as far as it needs to go.
Talk With a Pearl Construction Injury Attorney Today
If you were hurt on a construction site, a Pearl construction injury attorney at Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe can review your situation at no cost and explain where your deadlines stand. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, you pay no fee unless we recover benefits for you, and we help injured workers. That is all we do. Call today and let us deal with the insurance company while you get well.
