
Workplace injuries can be devastating, not only because of the lasting damage that may have been caused but also because of the potential loss of ability to work.
According to the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, nearly 10,000 workers’ compensation claims were filed in 2023. The industries with the highest claims rates were manufacturing (2,029 claims), retail (1,726 claims), and services (1,537 claims), which include hotels and other lodgings, schools, auto repair, and more.
While these may have had the highest number of claims, nearly every industry in the state reported at least one workplace injury, highlighting the prevalence of these types of injuries across industries.
Far too often, these injuries result from negligent or reckless behavior — in these situations, you may be able to take additional legal action beyond filing a workers’ compensation claim. At Owen, Owen & Smith, PLLC, our attorneys have spent decades fighting for the rights of injured victims throughout Mississippi.
Contact our Gulfport work injury lawyer today to discuss your legal options.
Common Causes of Workplace Injuries in Mississippi
While we might think that those only in construction or transportation jobs can become hurt, workers can be injured in any industry. Some of the most common causes of injuries that result in a workers’ compensation claim include:
- Falls, slips, and trips
- Lifting
- Pushing or pulling objects
- Motor-vehicle accidents
- Repetitive motion
- Struck by a falling object
Have You Suffered a Workplace Injury?
Workplace accidents can cause damage to any part of the body. However, some body parts were more likely to be injured. The most common parts of the body affected by injuries in workplace accidents include:
- Shoulders
- Knees
- Lower back/lumbar
- Fingers
- Hands
- Wrists
- Ankles
- Feet
Any of these injuries could mean months of rehabilitation, which leads you to miss time away from work. If negligent actions were a factor in these instances, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses.
Legal action may be required to recover expenses for your medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, lost earning potential, and more. Find out how our Gulfport work injury lawyer can help.

Speak With a Work Injury Lawyer
What You Should Do If You're Injured on the Job in Mississippi
One of the first things you should do if you were hurt on the job in Mississippi is to report it as soon as possible. State law requires any injuries sustained at work to be reported within 30 days for the injured person to be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. In addition to reporting your injury within that period, you should also:
- Document the incident, including taking pictures of the scene. The more detail you can record, the better. If possible, take photos of the scene before you leave and exchange contact information with any potential witnesses. This can both support your claims and provide proof that a hazard was present at the time of your accident.
- Seek medical attention. Not only is it important to receive the necessary treatment to begin your recovery, but seeking medical attention will also provide you with detailed documentation of your injuries. This could prove to be vital if you choose to seek legal action.
- Closely follow your doctor’s instructions. Maintaining your recovery regimen is both vital to your own recovery, but also deviating from it could be used against you if you pursue additional legal action. The opposing legal counsel could try to argue that if you followed your doctor’s orders, you wouldn’t be suffering nearly as much, potentially limiting what you could recover in a settlement or verdict.
- Be careful with what you post online. Anything you post online can and will be used against you. If you suffered a serious injury at work and then next week you start posting about your action-packed vacation, it’s possible that these posts could be used to argue that your injuries weren’t actually that severe, limiting what you could recover.
- Seek legal advice. One of the most important steps you can take when considering any form of legal action is to consult with an attorney. Experienced legal counsel can help you identify options you never would have considered otherwise and can help you maximize the potential damages you can recover.
Even if you file for workers’ compensation, you are not prevented from taking additional legal action to secure damages you need to cover your medical bills, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, and more.
Discuss Your Situation with a Gulfport Work Injury Lawyer
If you were seriously hurt on the job because of someone else’s negligence or reckless actions, you deserve the chance to fight for your rights.
At Owen, Owen & Smith, PLLC, we have spent decades representing injured people throughout Mississippi. Through our efforts, we have secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients. We remain committed to providing the knowledgeable and dedicated legal representation injured victims require in their time of need.
Talk to our Gulfport work injury lawyer today. You can use our online form to schedule a case evaluation today.
