When you are injured on the job, normally the only source of compensation for your injuries is your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. That rule is in place because that policy serves dual purposes–employee coverage and employer certainty.

Workers’ compensation ensures that an injured employee has a fast, effective avenue to receive coverage for all medical expenses and lost wages resulting from a workplace injury. On the employer side, the system promotes certainty by limiting the employer’s liability. Your employer relies on workers’ compensation insurance to avoid bankruptcy from a lawsuit based on a workplace accident.

However, workers’ compensation constrains an injured employee’s ability to obtain benefits. The system does not provide for punitive damages or pain and suffering. State laws limit benefits to a percentage of your wages.

A few exceptions to the general rule allow you to sue your employer or related parties in court. To determine whether you fit one of five exceptions, speak to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney in Sanford, NC.  

Injury from the Actions of a Third Party

On-the-job injuries may not come from your employer’s recklessness, a defective machine, or toxic substances in the workplace. In some cases, an unrelated third party could be the cause of an injury. A person who drives for a living, such as a UPS driver, is a classic example. Imagine the driver having an accident that is the other driver’s fault.  Assuming the other driver was entirely at fault, you can sue that person for damages, including expenses and lost wages.

In sum, workers’ compensation insurance is generally the avenue for compensation when you get injured on the job. These are five circumstances where you might obtain greater monetary damages by suing outside of that system. Schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys in Sanford, North Carolina, to learn more about your rights.