Industrial Accident Lawyer in Hammond

Louisiana is home to some of the largest manufacturing facilities, chemical plants, and petroleum refineries in the country. Because of these, Louisiana is among the top energy suppliers in the U.S., ranking second in oil production and third in natural gas. In addition, steel fabricators, food production facilities, and more all call the Pelican State their home.

While Louisiana’s thriving industry brings economic opportunity and well-paying jobs to the citizens of our state, it can also come at a cost to the hard-working men and women who operate those plants. Corporations often cut corners on worker safety in order to maximize their profit margins, which can lead to disastrous results.

In Louisiana, industrial workers have some of the highest rates of injury and death in the workplace. When workers are injured in the workplace due to their employer’s negligence, they are owed compensation for their damages.

However, holding industry accountable can often be challenging. Luckily, industrial accident lawyers like Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys exist to help fight for workers’ rights against the interests of big business.

Louisiana’s Biggest Industries

The main industries with major operations in Louisiana include the following:

• The energy industry greatly contributes to Louisiana’s economy, and generates over 260,000 jobs in the state. 44,500 of those people have an average salary in the six figures, making these jobs lucrative for many workers. Oil refineries like Shell and ExxonMobil produce the gasoline that runs our cars and trucks, and natural gas heats many homes in the area.
• Another sector employing thousands of Louisianans every year is manufacturing—to be exact, 178,000 workers are employed by firms like MCC Chemical, Keen Ovens, and other firms based in Hammond and around Louisiana.
• Chemical processing plants like BASF and Dow Chemical produce thousands of the plastics, additives, and other chemicals we use every day.
• Hammond in particular has a vibrant logistics industry, because of its easy access to railways, highways, airports, and seaports that can move product where it needs to go.
• Louisiana also has a booming food processing industry, with firms like Community Coffee, McIlhenny Company, and Reily Foods leading the way.

Other industries, like defense, mining, logging, lumber, and more also call Louisiana home. The jobs in these industries all have two things in common: they’re vitally important to the continued functioning of our economy, and they’re physically demanding, dangerous jobs.

Common Louisiana Industrial Accidents and Injuries

Because of the dangerous chemicals, heavy machinery, and other hazards present in industrial sites, several accidents are much more common there than in other workplaces:

• Chemical spills and exposures
• Plant explosions and machinery fires
• Machinery malfunctions and jams
• Vehicle collisions
• Over-exertion
• Falling objects
• Slips and falls

These accidents can be much more serious than at other workplaces. When safety protocols are not followed or workers aren’t properly trained, they can experience catastrophic injuries as well as the following:

• Limb amputations caused by explosions, falling equipment, crashes, and other accidents can be psychologically traumatic and prevent the victim from working again.
• Broken bones are common injuries resulting from industrial accidents, and can result in temporary or permanent disability that prevents an employee from working.
• Back injuries and spinal cord damage can be caused by crashes, falls, or overwork. Victims can suffer discomfort, chronic pain, or even paralysis, and can require extensive physical and mental therapy to recover.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can cause permanent disability and render the victim unable to work for the rest of their life.
• Burns can be caused by fires, explosions, and toxic exposure. Burns can cause intense pain, disfigurement, and widespread tissue damage.
• Blindness and other eye injuries can be devastating and can result in permanent disability.

What to Do If You’ve Been Injured in a Hammond Industrial Accident

If you or a loved one has been injured at work, you could be eligible for a workers’ compensation claim. If it was during a workplace accident like an industrial accident, you might also be eligible for a personal injury claim or another claim under the law. To figure out which of these you can claim compensation for your injuries, call an experienced industrial accident lawyer at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys.

We’ve helped thousands of Louisiana workers over our 679+ years of combined legal experience, and we’re confident that we can help you too. Give us a call at 985.888.8888 for a free consultation as to your legal situation after an industrial accident.