People get injured at work all the time, and many of them qualify for benefits by filing workers’ compensation claims. In basic cases without complications or complex liability issues, those benefits can be enough to sustain injured workers when they need them the most.
But there can be some circumstances where workers’ compensation laws and benefits fail to fully restore the worker or compensate them for their damages. Below is some information on one of those situations.
Negligence arose from a third party
Suppose you were a house painter badly injured in a fall from a defective ladder. If the defect was a result of a manufacturing flaw, in addition to California workers’ comp benefits, you could have grounds to sue the ladder manufacturer for its defective product.
Plaintiffs can also seek punitive damages and attorneys’ fees in some third-party liability cases. In fact, a potential settlement from the ladder manufacturer could significantly increase the amount of money you get as a result of your injury.
Third parties that can bear liability
Other third parties to consider when determining whether there is any additional liability to your claim are contractors, subcontractors and property owners. Things like leaving wires uncapped or having open, unprotected wells on property where work is being done open the door to negligence allegations and personal injury claims.
It can be a challenging process to press forward with your workers’ compensation case while simultaneously trying to determine whether California third-party liability laws apply in your case. Learning more about the limits of workers’ compensation benefits and how third-party liability claims work may help you get the best outcome possible.