Common Types of Work Injuries in Mississippi
Mississippi is diverse in the types of employment opportunities it affords residents. While major companies like Amazon, Nissan, and La-Z-Boy offer thousands of jobs to local citizens, thousands more make a living on farms, in the tourist industry, or through an entrepreneurial venture. Some of us even serve the communities of Mississippi as personal injury lawyers.
The largest industries in Mississippi by revenue are:
- Agriculture
- Manufacturing
- Fishing
- Gambling and Entertainment
- Oil and Gas
Considering how different these industries are, it’s no surprise that the most common types of work injuries in Mississippi also vary drastically. But regardless of what type of accident you suffered on the job, Corban Gunn, Attorney at Law can help.
Our law office advocates for injured workers in all fields, including the construction and maritime industries. Contact us today for a free conversation about how we can help you recover financially after a workplace accident.
Mississippi Work Accident Statistics
According to the most recent statistics published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mississippi’s fatal occupational injuries have ranged from a low of 44 to a high of 128 per year over the past two decades. The construction, warehousing, and manufacturing industries see the most work-related deaths in Mississippi annually.
In Mississippi, the events that most commonly result in workplace fatalities are:
- Transportation accidents (higher than the national average)
- Contact with objects and equipment (higher than the national average)
- Violence by other people or animals (close to the national average)
- Exposure to harmful substances or environments (lower than the national average)
The first two categories—transportation accidents and contact with objects and equipment—comprise almost 70% of all workplace deaths in Mississippi. These incidents include events such as:
- Car accidents
- Truck and commercial vehicle accidents
- Forklift accidents
- Tractor accidents
- Aircraft crashes
- Pedestrian accidents
- Caught-by or caught-between accidents
- Struck-by machinery or equipment accidents
- Falling object injuries
- Machinery entanglement
- Machinery crashes and collisions
The Most Common Workplace Injuries in Mississippi
The type of injury a worker suffers on the job depends on the type of accident in which they are involved. When employees are left to face unforgiving conditions without the proper training, supervision, PPE, or safety protocol, serious and life-altering injuries can occur.
Many injured workers require months of rehabilitation before they reach full recovery or maximum medical improvement—and many never recover the physical abilities they once possessed.
Some of the most common types of work injuries in Mississippi include:
- Broken bones
- Loss of a digit or limb
- Loss of hearing or vision
- Amputation of an arm or leg
- Internal organ damage
- Shoulder injuries
- Tears, sprains, strains, and other soft tissue injuries
- Knee injuries
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Cuts and lacerations
- Poisoning from exposure to toxic chemicals and materials
- Occupational illnesses like lung diseases and cancers
- Overexertion, dehydration, and fatigue injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Muscle strains
- Slip and fall injuries like cracked ribs, leg or ankle damage, and head injuries
What Are the Most Dangerous Occupations?
While a worker can be seriously injured in any line of work, some industries are known to be more intrinsically dangerous than others. Employees in these fields face challenges unheard of in other job positions. Based on injury rates and fatality statistics, the most dangerous occupations for workers include:
- Aircraft pilots
- Flight engineers
- Logging workers
- Construction workers
- Oil, gas, and mining industry workers
- Highway maintenance workers
- Crane operators
- Garbage collectors
- Roofers
- Delivery drivers
- Farmers and other agricultural workers
- Firefighters
- Power linemen
- Heavy vehicle mechanics
- Maintenance workers
- Police officers
Is Mississippi More Dangerous for Workers Than Other States?
Glancing through this list of the most dangerous occupations, you probably recognize that most of these job titles are common in Mississippi. People in our state labor in some of the most intensive conditions experienced by any worker in the nation—from commercial fishing boats off the Gulf Coast to the 10.4 million acres of farmland in the state to the high-revenue casinos of Biloxi and Gulfport. It shouldn’t come as a shock that Mississippi ranks high on the list of states with the most occupational accidents and injuries.
Based on OSHA’s 2021 Severe Injury Reports, Mississippi has the 4th highest rate of severe workplace injuries per 100,000 people. Only North Dakota (134.8), Arkansas (92.0), and Nebraska (90.7) top Mississippi (86.5) in severe occupational injury rates.
Get Expert Legal Help After a Mississippi Workplace Injury
Being injured at work means your life may never be the same again. No matter what type of work injury you suffered, your next several months will likely be an uphill battle against lost income, steep medical bills, pain and suffering, and emotional anguish.
At Corban Gunn, Attorney at Law, we understand the challenges unique to workplace injury cases. Workers’ compensation is a useful tool for helping injured workers obtain benefits that cover medical expenses and other financial losses. But not every injured employee in Mississippi can receive all the benefits they need. Filing a workers’ compensation claim is a complicated process. It can be even more complicated when an employer is reluctant to help you get the financial assistance you need, deserve, and are legally entitled to.
Don’t let the red tape stand in the way of your recovery. The legal team at Corban Gunn, Attorney at Law works tirelessly to help you get the resources you need to move forward with your life. Contact us today by phone or via our online contact form to learn more. We offer free, confidential, and no-obligation legal advice consultations to potential clients.
