Under New York workers compensation law, an injured worker usually cannot sue their employer directly for an on-the-job injury, even if the employer was negligent. But that does not mean workers compensation benefits are the only source of recovery. In many workplace injury cases, a negligent third party may also be legally responsible, giving the injured worker a second avenue to pursue meaningful compensation.

Third-party liability claims can be especially important when a worker suffers catastrophic injuries and workers compensation alone is not enough to fully address the damage done. Unlike workers compensation benefits, which are limited by statute, a third-party personal injury claim is based on the full value of the losses caused by negligence. That can include damages for medical expenses, lost wages, future earning capacity, pain and suffering, disability, and wrongful death where applicable.

Third-party negligence may involve a property owner or job-site owner, a negligent contractor or subcontractor, the owner of a ladder or scaffold that collapsed, the designer or manufacturer of a defective tool or machine, or a negligent forklift, crane, or truck operator. These cases often arise from worksite accidents involving traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, electrocution, amputations, blindness, and other severe injuries. Our firm investigates incident reports, witness statements, safety records, maintenance records, inspection logs, photographs, and expert review to identify every liable party and pursue every available avenue of compensation.

We help injured workers throughout Brooklyn, Staten Island, Long Island, Westchester, and New York City pursue workers compensation benefits while also evaluating whether a third-party personal injury claim should be filed. We handle recoverable claims on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no legal fee unless we recover compensation for you.