California Workplace Injury Lawyers
Workers’ compensation pays a fraction of what you deserve. A third-party personal injury claim can recover the rest — lost wages, pain and suffering, and full medical costs. Krash Lawyers fights for the full picture. No fees unless we win.
Workers’ Comp Is Not Your Only Option — California Law May Allow You to Sue a Third Party
When you are injured at work in California, workers’ compensation is typically your exclusive remedy against your employer. Workers’ comp pays for medical treatment and a portion of lost wages, but it does not compensate you for pain and suffering — and it often drastically undervalues serious injuries.
However, when your injury was caused or contributed to by a third party — a contractor, subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, property owner, delivery driver, or other non-employer — you may file a separate personal injury lawsuit against that third party. These third-party claims can recover the full range of damages that workers’ comp does not touch: pain and suffering, emotional distress, the full value of lost future earnings, and more.
California has some of the highest concentrations of dangerous industries in the country: construction, agriculture, warehouse and logistics operations, manufacturing, and oil and gas. Workers in these industries face daily exposure to serious hazards — and when an employer, contractor, or equipment manufacturer’s negligence or safety violations cause an injury, Krash Lawyers is ready to pursue every available avenue of recovery.
You Can File Both: Filing a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party personal injury lawsuit simultaneously is not only allowed — it is often the right strategy. Workers’ comp provides immediate medical coverage and partial wage replacement while the civil case proceeds. We coordinate both tracks to maximize your total recovery.
Third Parties Who May Be Liable for Your California Workplace Injury
A “third party” in a workplace injury context is any party other than your direct employer whose negligence contributed to your injury. Common third parties we pursue in California workplace injury cases:
- General contractors and subcontractors: Construction site injuries often involve multiple contractors, each with potential liability for site safety
- Equipment manufacturers: Defective tools, machinery, forklifts, scaffolding, and safety equipment are a major source of workplace injuries
- Property owners: The owner of the site where you were working (not your employer) may owe independent safety obligations
- Other employers’ workers: Employees of other companies on the same worksite who caused your injury
- Delivery and commercial vehicle drivers: Workers injured in vehicle collisions during the course of employment
Cal/OSHA and Federal OSHA
California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) enforces workplace safety regulations that are often more stringent than federal OSHA standards. Cal/OSHA citations and violation records are powerful evidence of negligence in workplace injury litigation. We obtain all Cal/OSHA investigation records and violation histories as part of every case investigation.
Statute of Limitations
Two years from the date of injury for third-party personal injury claims under CCP § 335.1. Workers’ comp claims have separate deadlines. Do not let either deadline lapse — contact us immediately after any serious workplace injury.
Common California Workplace Injuries and What You Can Recover
California workers in construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics face some of the most dangerous working conditions in the country. When safety failures cause serious injuries, the legal system provides a path to full compensation that workers’ compensation alone cannot deliver.
Common Injuries
- Falls from scaffolding, ladders, and elevated work platforms
- Forklift and heavy machinery accidents
- Struck-by incidents — falling objects, vehicles
- Chemical exposure — burns, toxic inhalation, long-term disease
- Electrocution and electrical burns
- Caught-in/caught-between equipment accidents
Third-Party Lawsuit Damages
- Pain and suffering — not available in workers’ comp
- Full lost wages and future earning capacity
- All medical expenses not covered by workers’ comp
- Emotional distress and PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement and permanent disability
Workplace Injury Results That Speak for Themselves
Third-party workplace injury cases regularly produce some of the largest recoveries in personal injury law when construction defects, defective equipment, or contractor negligence are involved.
California Workplace Injury Frequently Asked Questions
Injured at Work in California? Call Krash Lawyers Now.
Free consultation. No fees unless we win. Available 24/7 across all of California.