Workers Hurt on the Job Not Limited to Workers' Compensation Benefits
12/17/2007
During the morning commute last Friday an SUV slammed into a Department of Transportation worker's truck on Interstate 5 in Fife. The collision killed the SUV driver, Roy P. Fuentes, and injured the 56-year-old State worker, David Ball. Ball was outside of his vehicle at the time of the collision, clearing debris from the far-left lane of southbound I-5. The DOT truck was pushed forward and hit Ball. Police believe inattentive driving, speed and possibly drugs were factors that contributed to the crash.
Have you been injured on the job? If so, consider contacting an attorney to discuss your options.
A point I like to emphasize in our blog is that people who get hurt on the job aren't always limited to workers' compensation benefits as a remedy for their injuries. Such workers who are injured through the fault of a third party other than their employer or a co-worker can bring a claim against the negligent third party, in addition to receiving workers' compensation benefits. However, at some point the injured worker must decide to "elect" whether to pursue the third-party claim on his own or whether the Department may pursue the claim to recover the benefits paid (in addition to the worker's other damages).
