California Workplace Injury & Third Party Claim Lawyer
A workplace injury can happen in an instant — leaving an injured worker facing medical treatment, lost income, and an uncertain path forward. While workers' compensation provides some benefits, it is not always the only avenue available. In many workplace injury situations, a separate civil claim against a third party may exist alongside or independent of a workers' compensation claim — and that distinction can significantly affect the total recovery available.
Kantzabedian Law Firm represents individuals injured on job sites and in workplace incidents throughout Los Angeles County and across California, with a focus on identifying all available claims — not just the workers' compensation claim. We speak English, Spanish, and Armenian.
What Is a Third Party Claim?
When a workplace injury is caused in whole or in part by someone other than the employer — a contractor, equipment manufacturer, property owner, or another party — the injured worker may have a civil claim against that third party in addition to a workers' compensation claim.
Unlike workers' compensation, a third party claim can include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and the full value of lost earning capacity — damages that workers' compensation does not cover.
Identifying whether a third party claim exists is one of the most important steps in evaluating a workplace injury case.
Common Workplace Injury Scenarios
Workplace injury and third party claim cases often arise from situations such as:
- Construction site accidents involving subcontractors or property owners
- Injuries caused by defective tools, machinery, or equipment
- Delivery or transportation accidents involving another driver
- Slip and fall incidents on a job site controlled by a third party
- Exposure to toxic substances manufactured or distributed by an outside company
- Assaults or violent incidents due to negligent security on a work premises
Each situation requires a careful analysis of who controlled the conditions that led to the injury and what claims may be available.
Why These Cases Are Different
Workplace injury cases involving third party claims differ from standard personal injury cases because they often involve:
- Coordination between a workers' compensation claim and a civil lawsuit
- Multiple potentially responsible parties including employers, contractors, and manufacturers
- Questions about who controlled the job site or the equipment
- Liens from workers' compensation carriers that must be addressed in any civil recovery
- Strict deadlines that may differ from standard personal injury statutes of limitations
Early evaluation is critical to preserving all available claims and avoiding mistakes that can affect recovery.
Common Injuries in Workplace Incidents
Workplace injuries are often serious due to the physical nature of many job environments, including:
These injuries often require long-term care and can permanently affect a worker's ability to earn a living.
Who May Be Responsible
Depending on the circumstances, liability in a workplace injury case may involve:
- A general contractor or subcontractor on a job site
- A property owner or premises manager
- An equipment or machinery manufacturer
- A supplier or distributor of defective products
- A delivery or transportation company
- A government entity in certain situations
California follows a comparative fault system, and responsibility may be shared among multiple parties.
Potential Compensation
In a third-party workplace injury claim, compensation may include:
- Medical expenses and ongoing treatment
- Full lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
Time limits apply. Some claims involving government entities have shorter deadlines and additional notice requirements.
How These Cases Are Handled
Workplace injury and third party claim cases require careful investigation from the outset, including:
- Identifying all potentially responsible parties beyond the employer
- Preserving evidence from the job site before it is altered or destroyed
- Reviewing contracts, safety records, and equipment documentation
- Coordinating with workers' compensation counsel where appropriate
- Evaluating the full scope of available damages beyond workers' compensation benefits
- Preparing for negotiation or litigation when necessary
Each case is handled with an understanding of how it will be evaluated and challenged by the other side.
Workplace Injury & Third Party Claim Cases Throughout California
- Workplace Injury Lawyer Los Angeles
- Workplace Injury Lawyer Glendale
- Workplace Injury Lawyer Burbank
- Workplace Injury Lawyer San Fernando Valley
- Workplace Injury Lawyer Bakersfield
- Workplace Injury Lawyer Sacramento
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