I was injured at work... Can I sue anyone?
In NY if a person is injured at work they are entitled to workers compensation benefits. These benefits include medical bill payments and compensation payments. However, there are times when you can also institute a personal injury lawsuit against a third party that is responsible for your injuries.
Three common examples are car accidents, slip and fall accidents and defective product lawsuits. In regards to
car accidents, if you get into a car accident while you are working (for example as a bus driver) you have the right to have your medical bills paid for by your employer through workers compensation and you may also be able to sue the person that crashed into your car. With
slip and fall accidents, if your employer rents the building were you work and you slip and fall on a defect created by the building owner/ landlord, you have the right to have your medical bills paid for by workers compensation and may be able to sue the building owner. In regards to defective product cases, you may have suffered an injury as a result of a defective machine at work. You would be able to have your medical bills paid for by workers compensation and be able to sue the manufacturer of the product.
There are also situations were the employers injuries are so "grave" that they may be able to sue their employer. These injuries include: death, amputation of an arm, leg, hand, foot, multiple fingers, multiple toes, parapeligia, total deadness, loss of an ear, nose, eyes and other horrible maladies. The law is strict in defining what a grave injury is and you cannot sue unless the injury fits into the "grave" category.
If you were injured at work and want to know what your rights are under
Workers' Compensation and whether you can sue someone for your injury call The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler at 1-800-346-6254 immediately.