I suffered a back injury on the job. Is workers’ compensation the only remedy available for a work related back injury?

When an employee suffers from a work-related injury, recovery of workers’ compensation benefits is many times the employee’s only remedy against the employer. However, when an employee is injured in the course and scope of employment as a result of a negligent third party (not the employee or the employer), the employee has the right to pursue a “third party claim” in addition to pursuing a workers’ compensation claim.

An example of a third party claim could be claim against a manufacturer who made a faulty piece of equipment that caused a work-related injury when it malfunctioned or did not work properly. For instance, if a defective ladder collapses when being used at work and it causes a back injury, the employee will probably have a claim against the manufacturer of the ladder in addition to a workers’ compensation claim.

You should contact an attorney in your state after you suffer any back injury at work, so that you can make sure your claim is pursued against all responsible parties.