Some U.S. industries are inherently more dangerous than others. For example, individuals who work in the logging, commercial fishing, and construction industries are more likely to suffer work-related harm than many others, simply because their job duties often involve embracing a heightened risk of occupational accidents and injuries.

However, anyone can be hurt while they are on the job. Office workers regularly slip and fall, healthcare professionals get attacked with alarming frequency, and agricultural and factory workers often sustain crush-related harm.

Regardless of the type of accident that impacts an individual worker, it is important for them to understand that they may be entitled to one or more types of compensation as a result of their circumstances. If you have sustained occupational injuries as a result of an accident, you may have been led to believe that filing for workers’ compensation is your only option at this time. Depending on the nature of your circumstances, you may be entitled to far more compensation than the workers’ comp system alone will provide.

Being injured is not something that anyone expects to happen, but when it does, it can significantly affect your life. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were nearly 3.5 million workplace injuries that occurred in both private and governmental organizations in 2019. Most of the time when you are injured at work, you will be covered under workers’ compensation, which will typically pay for your medical bills and lost wages. In most cases, you will not be able to file a lawsuit against your employer for being injured at work. However, workers’ compensation benefits do not cover your full work wages, and this can leave you with expenses that you cannot afford to pay. In some rare cases, you might be able to sue your employer to help compensate for your injury.

Potential Reasons You Can Sue Your Employer

In most cases, you will not be able to sue your employer for a work injury because of protections given to them by the Workers’ Compensation Act. When an employee is hurt at work, workers’ compensation insurance is supposed to step in to protect the employer from a lawsuit. However, if an employer does not have the workers’ compensation insurance required by Illinois law, you can file a lawsuit against them to recover damages. You may also be able to sue your employer if they intentionally caused your injury.

Suing Third Parties

Although situations in which you can file a lawsuit against your employer are uncommon, there are many cases in which you can pursue compensation from third parties who are responsible for your work injuries. Anyone who is not considered to be your employer but who was involved in your incident may be liable for your injuries. Some common parties named in work injury claims include: