If you’ve been injured in the workplace, you’ve probably been told that the only compensation you can receive will come from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Although this is the general rule, there are many exceptions — situations in which you may be able to sue for damages caused by your injuries.
For example:
- If you were injured by a defective product, you might be able to bring a products liability action against the manufacturer of the product.
- If you were injured by a toxic substance, you might be able to bring a toxic tort lawsuit against the manufacturer of that substance.
- If you were injured because of your employer’s intentional or egregious conduct, you might be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit against your employer.
- If your employer does not carry workers’ compensation insurance, you might be able to sue your employer in civil court or collect money from a state fund.
- If a third party caused your injury, you might be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit against that person.
Workplace Injury Facts
A worker trying to clear a jam in a paper machine was killed due to lack of safety devices on the machine and the controls being located at a position where the operator could not see if anyone was in the pit area of the machine.
Work related injuries that occur on the job can fall into several different categories. If a worker is injured as a result of a defective machine or piece of equipment, there may be a product liability claim against the manufacturer or seller of the machine or equipment. If a worker is injured in a motor vehicle accident or collision, there may be a right to sue others who caused the collision.
