ACCIDENT CAUSED BY CO WORKER ON THE JOB – WHEN CAN YOU SUE?
When you are injured on the job, you have a workers compensation claim.In Minnesota, workers compensation will pay your medical bills and a portion of your lost wages for most injuries that occur because of your work. Workers compensation will also pay compensation for any temporary or permanent disability you suffer from a work injury.However, the amount of compensation you can get from workers comp is limited. Also, you generally cannot sue your employer or a co-employee for more money.
But there are a few exceptions where you can sue your employer or a coemployee if they injure you at work. One exception is if they injure you intentionally.Another exception is if they commit gross negligence that results in your injury.Suing your employer or co-employee for your work injury is a difficult case to prove. It requires specific facts to be successful. Basically, you have to be able to prove that the co-employee took some action directed at you for a personal reason, and that the employee knew the action could injure you but just didn’t care.
OTHER CASES FOR WORK INJURY ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION
There are a few other situations where you can get additional compensation for a work injury. The situation our lawyers handle most frequently is where a third party injures you on the job.For example, if you are a driver for your employer and another car hits you. We also take cases for delivery people who were bitten by the homeowners dog. Another example is a work injury caused by a defective machine or equipment. You still get workers compensation in those cases. But you can get additional compensation from the other party as well.
Our lawyers get questions about this type of workers compensation claim fairly regularly. We will provide you with a brief free consultation and tell you if we think you have a case that is worth pursuing further against your co-worker or employer.