Navigating Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation Claims: How We Protect Both

Injuries on the job can be complicated—especially when more than just workers’ compensation is on the table. At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc., we often work with clients whose injury cases overlap with workers’ comp claims. If your injury was caused by a third party while you were working, you may be entitled to pursue both types of claims. However, it's critical to handle them carefully to avoid jeopardizing your rights.

Here’s how we help you manage both paths to recovery without crossing legal wires.

Understanding the Difference: Workers’ Comp vs. Personal Injury

  • Workers’ Compensation is a no-fault system designed to provide medical care and lost wages when you're hurt on the job. You don’t have to prove anyone was negligent—but your compensation is limited to specific benefits.

  • Personal Injury Claims allow you to seek broader compensation (including pain and suffering) when your injury was caused by someone other than your employer or coworker—like a negligent driver, equipment manufacturer, or subcontractor.

Both claims serve different purposes, and when handled correctly, can be pursued together to maximize your financial recovery.

Coordinating the Claims: Our Role

Our legal team has deep experience handling cases where personal injury and workers’ comp overlap. Here’s how we make sure your rights are fully protected:

  • Thorough case assessment: We identify any third parties who may be liable for your injuries and determine whether you have a viable personal injury claim in addition to your workers’ comp case.

  • Collaboration with workers’ comp attorneys: If you already have a workers’ comp attorney, we coordinate closely to ensure all aspects of your recovery are covered. If not, we can refer you to trusted workers’ comp lawyers who understand how to work alongside us on dual-track claims.

  • Avoiding conflicts and jeopardizing benefits: We take great care to ensure that information used in one claim doesn’t undermine the other. For example, statements about your medical condition or work capacity must be consistent across both cases.

  • Addressing subrogation: If your personal injury case results in compensation for medical expenses also covered by workers’ comp, we negotiate with the comp insurer to minimize what you owe them back—maximizing the amount you ultimately receive.

Why It Matters

Improperly handling these dual claims can lead to delayed benefits, reduced compensation, or even denied coverage. That’s why it’s critical to work with a legal team that understands both systems and how they interact.

Our priority is to ensure that you’re not leaving any compensation on the table—and that your future isn’t compromised by a legal misstep.

Workplace Injury Involving a Third Party? Let’s Talk.

If you were injured on the job and believe someone outside your employer may be at fault, contact Harris Personal Injury Lawyers today at 1.800.GO.HARRIS for a free case consultation. We’ll help you understand your rights and develop a strategy that protects your full recovery—now and into the future.