Even minor incidents at the workplace can result in you having to miss days or even weeks of work, and unfortunately, in this day and age, it is hard to afford to miss even a handful of days.
This makes seeking compensation and your respective compensation options a crucial part of your recovery after a workplace incident. This is especially true in Connecticut, where your options often feel shoehorned into workers’ compensation as the only remedy for injuries received in accidents on the job.
Workers’ compensation vs. suing
The International Risk Management Institute provides the definition of third-party liability claims. They discuss the importance of having a legal professional on your side when pursuing claims of any sort. In particular, the emphasis lies on cases involving life-threatening, debilitating or disabling injuries, and the possibility of suing third parties that might hold responsibility for the incident leading to your injury.
Workers’ compensation law often prevents you from suing your employer as a fair trade-off for receiving the insurance benefits associated with workers’ compensation. However, third parties and involved parties who are not your employer still hold legal liability and you have the option to pursue litigation.
Holding third parties accountable
Third-party liability may factor into more cases than you expect, too. For example, injury due to a faulty power tool can potentially get traced back to the manufacturer of the tool. Injury due to a crash with a drunk driver while on the clock can tie back to said drunk driver. Slipping on a wet floor that a contracted cleaner forgot to put signs up for can also count as a third party.
By seeking damages against these parties, you can gain more financial damages which can help you support yourself in your recovery period.
