What To Do When You Are Injured by the Acts of a Third Party at Work

If you have been injured on the job as a federal employee, there are statutes that allow you to seek compensation for lost wages and medical benefits. These laws are designed to compensate you for the negligence or carelessness of your employer or a co-worker. What happens, though, if your injuries are caused by the wrongful acts of a third party? For example, what if you are injured in a car accident during the course of employment, and the party at fault was not your employer or a co-worker? What if you suffered injury because of exposure to a dangerous or defective product designed or manufactured by a third party?

Because the federal workers’ compensation laws govern only injuries caused by employers or their agents, when you are hurt by the acts of a third party, you have a right to pursue a separate damage claim in court. Essentially, this will take the form of a personal injury lawsuit. If the lawsuit is based on a claim of negligence, you must demonstrate that:

  • The defendant had a duty to follow a certain standard of care (the defendant is not in a class that is excluded from this duty by law)
  • The defendant breached (failed to meet) the standard of care established under the law
  • The defendant’s negligence caused your injury
  • You suffered losses because of your injury

In many situations, it is possible to show that more than one party contributed to your injury. Your employer may have purchased dangerous or defective equipment, but may have had reason to believe it could cause injury. In such a case, you can file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits for the injuries caused by your employer, and can also file a separate lawsuit for injuries caused by the designer of manufacturer of the defective product.

Contact Uliase & Uliase

For an appointment with an experienced New Jersey federal worker injury lawyer, contact our office online or call us at (856) 310-9002. We are available to meet with you weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to schedule an appointment with our experienced federal employee injury lawyers. We are open weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. We offer a free consultation for injured workers.