Most Texas workers who get hurt on the job will probably file for workers’ compensation benefits to cover the cost of their medical treatment. Those with serious injuries who need time off of work or who can no longer work may also require disability benefits.
Most of the time, those benefits are sufficient for a worker trying to recover from an injury on the job. However, sometimes workers’ compensation doesn’t cover all of their costs because their injury is so severe. In that situation, looking at other options for compensation could be a good decision.
Third-party liability may have played a role in your workplace accident. This means someone other than your employer is ultimately at fault. When might you be able to bring a third-party claim after a workplace injury?
When your injury is the result of a car crash
According to federal data, motor vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of workplace injuries and deaths. Over a 15-year period, more than 29,000 people died on the job in car crashes. Anyone who has to travel via motor vehicle while on the clock could be at risk of getting into a crash on the job. When the other driver is at fault, you may be able to make an insurance claim against their coverage or even bring a personal injury lawsuit against them in civil court.
When a landlord or property owner is negligent
If you do house calls as part of your job, you could potentially fall through someone’s roof while inspecting their chimney. Ultimately, that fall could be the result of the homeowner’s negligent maintenance of the property. In situations where negligent maintenance affected the facilities where you worked, contributing to your injury, this might also lead to liability for a third party as opposed to your employer.
When defective equipment caused your injury
Sometimes, a workplace injury is the result of a tool shorting out or a desk chair breaking inexplicably a week after its purchase. Defective tools and equipment can cause severe injuries ranging from burns to falls. The manufacturers of these defective products are often legally liable for the injuries that they caused.
Learning about workers’ compensation and third-party liability after a workplace injury can minimize how big of an impact your injury has on your future.