PAPER MILL ACCIDENT LAWYER IN LOUISIANA AND TEXAS
A paper mill injury can leave you struggling with the high costs of medical bills and the inability to work. You are likely suffering from a great deal of pain as you recover from your paper mill accident. Your work as a paper mill worker can be dangerous, as you know all too well. Heavy machinery, dangerous conditions, and negligence by others may cause injuries while working at the paper mill. Your case could be subject to workers’ compensation laws, personal injury laws, or sometimes a combination of both.
At Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers, we understand the complex nature of your case and how to pursue the compensation you deserve. We have decades of experience fighting for injured paper mill workers like you. Our team has won millions for our clients because of our dedication, experience, and aggressive representation. Schedule a consultation today to learn more about your unique case.
INDUSTRIAL INJURY
Why Pick Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers?
Our lawyers understand what it takes to win compensation in paper mill accident cases. We know the unique dangers you face at work, including exposure to toxic chemicals, defective machinery, and so much more. We work with the best experts in the business to help prove how you were injured and the extent of your damages. Our paper mill accident lawyers also know how these injuries impact your life, finances, and health. We compassionately represent every client and fight against paper mill companies who want to deny your claim.
As one of the top paper mill accident firms in Louisiana and Texas, we are highly experienced in winning the compensation you deserve. Our firm is part of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, demonstrating that we have won millions in compensation for our clients. We take a personalized and aggressive approach to protecting your interests, which is one of the reasons we are a five-star rated personal injury law firm.

- $31,500,000 from an oil field safety violation that caused devastating brain, back, and spine injuries
- $4,000,000 from a driving safety violation that caused back and neck injuries
- $2,750,000 when an 18-wheeler lost its load and caused major orthopedic injuries
Morris & Dewett recently won Louisiana’s biggest personal injury verdict in March 2023. Our team won $409,000,000 for the family of Katie “Bug” Grantham. Bug was killed by an intoxicated truck driver who worked for an oil company. The company knew of the driver’s problem and ignored it, among many other safety violations. We took on the driver and this massive company to protect the Grantham family’s rights.
Our highly skilled lawyers know how to put this experience to work in your paper mill accident case.

What Is a Paper Mill Accident?
Paper mills create the pulp and paper we rely on in daily life. As any paper mill worker knows, this is an important job that helps drive the U.S. economy. It is also a dangerous job — especially when the company or other parties are negligent. Their careless or reckless actions can cause extreme harm because of the danger inherent to your job in a paper mill.
A paper mill accident can occur at any part of the paper-making process, including, but not limited to:
- Debarking or grinding wood
- Chip washing, screening, and chipping
- Digesting and bleaching
- Beating the pulp
- Dilution and formation
- Pressurization and drying
Paper Mill Accidents: A Type of Industrial Accident
Accidents in a paper mill fall under the general category of industrial accidents. Industrial accidents can result in job-related physical trauma to plant operators, welders, factory workers, and paper mill workers and lead to serious injuries and financial hardship for these workers.
Industrial accidents present unique and difficult challenges for injured people. These large companies have powerful legal teams who are often willing to deny you compensation even if they know they owe it to you. It takes highly experienced paper mill accident lawyers like those at Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers to fight back against these tactics and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Paper Mill Accidents

Your own coworkers may cause your injuries. Their actions can result in severe harm because they fail to perform their job correctly or protect you somehow. Coworkers are a common cause of paper mill accidents throughout Louisiana and Texas.
This might be due to improper training, bad choices, or even a pure accident. In any case, you are likely entitled to compensation due to your work injury.
Paper mills use a great deal of heavy machinery at each stage of the paper-making process. This equipment can be dangerous even when it is fully operational. This equipment is more dangerous when it is also defective.
Defective equipment may be caused by a defective machine design or a mistake in the manufacturing process. It may also be due to the manufacturer’s failure to warn of known equipment dangers. When this is the case, you may be entitled to file a product liability action against the manufacturer for your injuries.
Your equipment and machinery must be properly maintained to keep operating safely. Many companies or workers fail to maintain the equipment. This is often an oversight or a purposeful act to lower costs and increase profits. This can lead to extremely dangerous situations that cause major accidents.
Common causes of equipment injuries include:
- Lockout/tagout oversights on safety equipment
- Mishandling motor vehicles used in the paper production process
- Machine guarding failures
- Ladder safety violations
- Insufficient cleaning or general maintenance of machines
- Use of defective or improper parts to maintain equipment
Responsible paper mill companies provide the safety equipment you need to stay safe on the job. Failure to provide this safety equipment is hazardous to your health and may violate several laws as well. In industrial accidents like paper mill injury cases, employees are often deprived of critical safety equipment such as:
- Proper lockout/tagout protections on machines
- Respiratory protection from dangerous chemicals and fumes
- Safe scaffolding or ladders
- Appropriate eye protection like glasses or goggles
- Machine stop buttons or emergency shutoff buttons
- Chlorine and chlorine dioxide
- Methanol
- Terpenes
- Gaseous sulfur compounds
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Formic acid
- Hydroxymethylfurfural
- Sulfuric acid
- Dust particles of sodium sulfate and lime
- Furfural
- Ethanol
- Sodium hydroxide mist
- Gluonic acid
- Acetic acid
Injuries in Paper Mill Accidents
Physical Injuries in Paper Mill Accident Cases
- Burns and scalding
- Chemical damage to skin and lungs
- Crush injuries and pinch-point damage
- Lacerations and other skin damage
- Inhalation of toxic or deadly fumes
- Internal organ damage or loss
- Loss of fingers, limbs, or other appendages
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord damage
- Paralysis, either partial or total
- Wrongful death
Psychological Injuries in Paper Mill Accidents
- Anxiety or flashbacks of the accident
- Nightmares or trouble sleeping
- Post-traumatic stress
- Depression
- Suicidal ideation
- Phantom limb pain
- Fear of returning to work
- Grief over the death of a loved one
What Should I Do After a Paper Mill Accident?

Compensation in Paper Mill Accident Lawsuits
Economic Damages
- Property damages
- Surgical costs and hospital bills
- Other medical costs, both past and future
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Costs of rehabilitation services or disability modifications
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate you for more subjective harms, such as psychological damages. These are no less valuable but unavailable in some paper mill accident cases. For example, cases that fall under workers’ compensation are generally limited to economic damages only and non-economic damages may be excluded. These damages are usually available if the case falls under personal injury law. Your attorney knows what damages are available and when.
Non-economic damages in a paper mill accident commonly include:
- Mental anguish or post-traumatic stress damages
- Pain and suffering
- Grief for wrongful death lawsuits
- Loss of companionship and support
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Trauma and emotional distress
Frequently Asked Questions in Paper Mill Accident Lawsuits
Whether your case falls under workers' compensation will depend on several factors. First is the state in which you were injured. In Louisana, most employers are required to carry workers' compensation insurance and paper mill accidents you suffer will likely fall into this category. However, there are exceptions that may entitle you to file a personal injury claim as well. Our skilled attorneys can make this determination when we learn about your case.
In Texas, employers may opt out of the workers' compensation system. These employers are called non-subscribers. When you work for a non-subscriber, you can file a personal injury claim against your employer rather than go through the workers' compensation system. If your employer is part of the system, your claim will likely be subject to workers' compensation.
Our attorneys can help you understand what type of case you will file and the benefits of filing under each. We know how to help no matter what your situation may be.
If you were hurt at work, you should notify your employer or supervisor right away about the injury, but at least within 30 days. Failure to do so may result in the loss of potential workers' compensation rights if those apply to your case. Other deadlines will also apply in workers' compensation in Texas and Louisiana, so the best advice is to speak with an attorney immediately after your paper mill accident.
In personal injury cases, the filing deadline differs depending on your state. The statute of limitations in Louisiana is one year from the accident date. The Texas statute of limitations is two years.
Some cases resolve rather quickly, especially when liability is clear. If your employer knows they have to pay, it is often easier to negotiate a fair settlement. However, some companies will avoid paying even when they know they are at fault.
A paper mill accident lawsuit or workers' compensation process may be necessary when this happens. This can lengthen the process, which may happen in several months or it may take years.
The value of your paper mill accident will depend on many factors, such as:
- The extent and severity of your injuries
- The pain and suffering you went through
- The permanency of your injuries
Whether workers' compensation or personal injury law applies to your case
Speak With a Five-Star Rated Paper Mill Accident Lawyer Today
The dedicated paper mill accident attorneys at Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers are here to help you win the compensation you deserve. We know what you have been through, the dangers of a paper mill, and how to handle your case correctly. Our legal team offers compassionate and dedicated service to protect your rights.
If you were hurt in a paper mill accident in Texas or Louisiana, contact us today for a free consultation of your case.