I Was Injured at Work in Ventura – What Laws Apply? Learn Whether Worker’s Comp is Your Only Option

If you were injured while working your job in Ventura, your first thought might be that workers’ compensation is your only option for compensation. In many cases, this is true. California law generally requires employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance to cover medical bills, lost wages, vocational rehabilitation services, and other benefits for injured workers, regardless of who was at fault for the worker’s injury. However, there are exceptions, and there could also be a potential civil action against the employer. Further, there could be non-employer parties to blame for the worker’s injury. To help injured Ventura workers better understand how California personal injury laws may apply to their case, we discuss third-party liability in workplace injury cases in Ventura here.

Workers’ Compensation in Ventura Workplace Accident Cases: The Basics

Under the California Labor Code, most employees in Ventura who are injured in the course and scope of their employment are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. This is a “no-fault” system, meaning injured workers in Ventura do not have to prove that their employer was negligent. In fact, they only need to show that the injury occurred while they were performing their job duties (and other criteria for eligibility). Workers’ compensation in Ventura typically covers the injured worker’s medical expenses, disability payments, and vocational rehabilitation. However, workers’ compensation does not include compensation for pain and suffering damages, and moreover, the law significantly limits a worker’s ability to sue their employer for negligence due to a workplace injury. There are certain exceptions that we won’t go into in this post, but if they apply, then an injured worker can pursue their employer in civil court.

Third-Party Liability in Ventura Workplace Injury Cases

Third-party liability arises when another person or party – other than the employer – is responsible for the workplace accident. This could be, for example, if there was a negligent driver that hit the worker while they were working, or, where a property owner failed to fix a dangerous condition on a work site, or, where defective equipment or tools caused the workplace injury. Consulting with an experienced Ventura workplace accident lawyer is the best first step in determining  whether there may be third-party liability in your case, and what to do next.

Getting Legal Help for Your Workplace Accident Case in Ventura

If you were injured at work and you are unsure of what to do next, it is time to speak with an experienced Ventura workplace accident lawyer about your case. An experienced Ventura workplace accident lawyer can review your case, investigate, and help you strategize the best way to get compensation under California civil laws. If you are in the Ventura area, do not hesitate to speak with the experienced Ventura workplace accident lawyers at Zavala Law, PC. Contact Zavala Law, PC today and speak with a lawyer about your case now.