Work Accidents Involving a Third Party
If you have been injured in a work related accident, you may have a right to file a personal injury lawsuit in addition to your claim for workers' compensation benefits. If you are a worker in California or Arizona, I can help you determine if you may have a basis for additional recovery above and beyond your workers' compensation claim.
I am attorney Stephen Gorey and I first started handling workers' compensation and personal injury cases in 1975. I have represented thousands of accident victims and have a strong record of results.
I have been contacted by many lawyers over the years to review a complex workers' compensation case or have been asked to give advice on the subject of potential third party liability.
How Does it Work?
Except in rare cases, an injured worker that is eligible for workers' compensation benefits may not sue his or her employer in a personal injury lawsuit. This is significant because workers' compensation does not provide compensation for pain and suffering. As such, an injured person may be able to obtain far more compensation in a personal injury lawsuit than in a workers' compensation claim.
Also, a worker is typically limited to a workers' compensation claim if the injury was caused solely by a co-worker. However, there may be a right to compensation through a personal injury claim if the injury was caused by a third party (someone other than a co-worker or employer).
If the third party that contributed to the accident is an individual, the injured worker may have a right to a general negligence personal injury lawsuit. If the worker's injury was caused in some way by a defective or dangerous product, there may be a right to obtain compensation through a products liability claim. I have over 34 years of experience in each of these areas of practice.
Contact Me
If you have suffered an injury on the job and want to know if you may also have a basis to recover in a personal injury lawsuit, contact my law offices for assistance. I represent clients throughout California and Arizona and have offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, Sausalito and Tucson. I offer a free consultation to discuss your legal rights and options.
For more information on work accidents & third party liability, visit my blog.
