Can I file a workers' comp claim and a lawsuit at the same time?

Yes, if a third party (not your employer) contributed to the injury. The two claims run on different tracks but a lawyer coordinating both can prevent one from offsetting the other.

Does workers' comp cover pain and suffering?

No. Workers' comp covers medical treatment and a portion of lost wages. Pain and suffering damages only come through a third-party personal injury claim.

Who counts as a third party in a workplace injury?

Anyone other than your direct employer or co-worker, such as an equipment manufacturer, a subcontractor, a property owner, or another driver.

Workplace injury: workers' comp claim or third-party lawsuit in Hartford

Not every on-the-job injury in Hartford stays inside the workers' compensation system. If your injury was caused by a piece of defective equipment, a subcontractor on a job site, a negligent driver while you were working, or a property owner who wasn't your employer, you may have a separate personal injury claim running alongside your workers' comp claim.

Workers' comp pays medical bills and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault, but it generally does not cover pain and suffering. A third-party claim can. Someone hurt by a delivery truck while working a warehouse job, or injured by faulty scaffolding installed by an outside contractor, is a common example of a case that touches both systems.

An attorney who handles both sides of this can tell you early on whether your situation only supports a comp claim, only supports a third-party suit, or genuinely needs both filed in a coordinated way so one doesn't reduce your recovery from the other.

What it costs

Workers' comp attorneys in Hartford typically take a fee that's capped by state guidelines and only paid out of awarded benefits. If a third-party claim is added, that portion is usually handled on a separate contingency fee. There's no cost to find out which category your injury falls into.

Top 3 by our score

Ranked from our published scoring of public Google reviews for workers' compensation attorney.

1. Law Office of Michael L. Chambers, Jr., Car Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys
5.0★ · 315 reviews

94
2. McCoy & McCoy - Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers
4.9★ · 256 reviews

92
3. Welcome Law Firm: Hartford Personal Injury & Immigration Lawyer
5.0★ · 128 reviews

92

FAQ

Can I file a workers' comp claim and a lawsuit at the same time?: Yes, if a third party (not your employer) contributed to the injury. The two claims run on different tracks but a lawyer coordinating both can prevent one from offsetting the other.
Does workers' comp cover pain and suffering?: No. Workers' comp covers medical treatment and a portion of lost wages. Pain and suffering damages only come through a third-party personal injury claim.
Who counts as a third party in a workplace injury?: Anyone other than your direct employer or co-worker, such as an equipment manufacturer, a subcontractor, a property owner, or another driver.