In most cases, workers cannot sue their employers when they are injured. Compensation for injuries and lost wages comes through claims on workers' compensation insurance. Workers' compensation was designed years ago to provide a safety net for injured workers while shielding employers from the prospect of frequent and costly litigation over employees' injuries on the job.
In cases of very serious or catastrophic injury, injured workers often find it difficult to make do with the limited compensation available through workers' compensation. For one thing, workers' comp does not take into account pain and suffering, but strictly compensates workers for medical care, time off from work and temporary or permanent disability.
When personal injury attorneys evaluate workplace injury cases, they look for evidence that an injury was, in fact, caused to some degree by a third party, not the employer. If a negligent third party is liable, the injured worker can make a claim or file a lawsuit against that third party.
Examples of third-party liability in a workplace accident: a tool manufacturer, a subcontractor, a delivery service, a repair and maintenance service or any other person or entity other than the employer.
Many personal injury lawyers refer the workers' compensation part of a workplace injury claim to workers' comp law firms — and vice versa. Clients may ultimately pay the price in inefficiencies and duplication of efforts.
Contact One of Our Ridgewood Third-Party Liability Lawyers
Seigel Capozzi Law Firm LLC offers injured workers a valuable opportunity: Our law firm handles all aspects of workers' compensation claims and we are a well-recognized, accomplished personal injury law firm. When we evaluate a potential workers' comp claim, we stay alert for the possibility that a third party — not the employer — was at fault. At the same time, we get to work quickly and aggressively helping our clients obtain all workers' compensation benefits they are entitled to.
After a Bergen County work injury or a workplace injury anywhere in northern New Jersey, contact us. Schedule a free initial consultation with one of our New Jersey workplace accident attorneys and learn how we can help you.
