When you get hurt at work, you probably already know that you can make a workers’ compensation claim. What you may not know is that you can also make a third-party personal injury claim when someone else causes you to get injured. If you’re ready to hold all parties accountable for their negligence, then you should contact a San Angelo, Texas work injury lawyer from our firm.
When is Filing a Third-Party Personal Injury Claim an Option?
You can file a third-party personal injury claim when there was a third party involved in the incident that injured you and you believe that they were partly to blame. Some good examples of this include:
- A construction worker gets injured due to a defective product that they used. They should get workers’ comp and they can sue the manufacturer of the dangerous product.
- Someone is driving somewhere for work-related reasons and they get into a crash with another vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle can be sued.
- A worker gets injured on a work site, but it’s due to the actions of a subcontractor also present on the site. That subcontractor can be sued.
If someone else contributed to your injuries, they can and should be held accountable.
What Kind of Damages Can I Win With a Third-Party Personal Injury Claim?
When you make a third-party personal injury claim you can recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover things like medical bills and make up for the wages you lost out on while you were recovering from your injuries. Non-economic damages compensate you for the psychological toll your injuries have taken on you.
It is important to note that workers’ comp only addresses the economic side of things. So if you want to sue for non-economic damages like pain and suffering, you must file a third-party claim.
Will I Still Recieve Workers’ Compensation If I File a Third-Party Claim?
You can make two separate claims after you get injured at work. Filing for workers’ comp does not disqualify you from filing a third-party personal injury claim, and vice-versa. However, you should be aware that your employer’s insurer may be able to place a lien on compensation from the third-party claim if they have already paid out. A lawyer can explain how this works.
What Can a Personal Injury Attorney Do For Me?
Your attorney can act as your advocate at every stage of this process. They can:
- Help you file both claims
- Gather the evidence needed to make a strong case
- Show how a third party was negligent
- Calculate fair compensation
- Keep you aware of any changes in your case
- Handle all communications on your behalf
Talk To Our Team
When you are ready to move forward with your third-party personal injury claim, talk to our team. Contact the Mathis Law Firm and learn more about your legal options at an initial consultation.
