Workplace Accidents

If you are hurt on the job you are entitled to compensation for you injuries. The primary source is usually Workers Compensation. However there is another, often overlooked, source of recovery. If someone other than your employer causes or contributes to the happening of your accident, you have the right to pursue a third-party claim for your injuries. For example, if you are injured on a construction site, a sub-contractor or the general contractor may be responsible for causing the accident or failing to provide a safe workplace. Or, in an industrial setting, a defectively designed or manufactured piece of machinery can subject the manufacturer to liability. Even a lack of appropriate warnings can expose the manufacturer to liability. The two most common third-party claims arise from motor vehicle accidents and slip/trip and falls that occur while working. However there are many other circumstances that can impose liability on a third-party. Therefore, it is important to obtain legal advice soon after the accident to preserve the evidence and conduct an investigation of the merits of the case.

Under certain limited circumstances you may even have the right to sue your employer. Although in the vast majority of cases employees are barred from suing their employers by the Workers Compensation laws, if the employer’s conduct is sufficiently egregious, the Workers Compensation bar may be overcome. Again, it is important to consult with experienced counsel early to determine whether case may be viable.

Even if there is no third-party claim possible, there will almost always be a claim for Workers Compensation available. As long as you were injured while in the course and scope of you employment and there were no other exceptional circumstances, you will be eligible for Workers Compensation benefits. Please click on the Workers Compensation button for detailed information.