Injured in a Bus, Shuttle, or Rideshare Crash While Working? How Employees in Arvada and Denver Can Better Protect Their Claims
When you have suffered a job-related injury, you are typically entitled to some form of compensation under Colorado law. The Arvada workers’ compensation attorneys at The Frickey Law Firm can help you explore your legal options after you have been hurt.
When you have been injured on the job, you have multiple potential options for seeking compensation. Ideally, you would locate a third party who was to blame for your injuries, so you can step outside of the workers’ compensation system. Your employer cannot be sued for negligence in a personal injury lawsuit. Workers’ compensation does not depend on fault, but you also end up with less money than you would have otherwise received if you filed a successful personal injury claim.
Schedule a free initial consultation with a workers’ compensation lawyer in Denver at The Frickey Law Firm by calling 303-237-7373. We will take the time to learn more about your case before giving you advice about your legal path forward and helping you secure the compensation you deserve.
You May Have a Possible Third-Party Claim for Your Injuries
The base case for a job-related injury is that you are able to receive workers’ compensation benefits when the accident occurred within the scope of your employment (other than when you are commuting to work, unless your employer requires you to take a bus or shuttle). When you have been injured in a bus, shuttle, or rideshare crash while you were working, you may have a third party to sue. Here is what you should do to protect your claim.
Report Your Injury to Your Employer Promptly
You must protect your ability to file a workers’ compensation claim, even if your first legal option is to sue the responsible party. Workers’ compensation can be a fallback in case you are not able to prove that someone else was negligent. Under Colorado law, you only have ten days from the time that you were injured to notify your employer in writing. Even if you do not end up filing a workers’ compensation claim, you should at least preserve that option and follow all of the legal requirements to do so. You can always file a workers’ compensation claim, and the insurance company can be reimbursed when you settle or when your car accident lawsuit is settled at some point in the future.
Seek Medical Care for Your Injuries Immediately
You should seek immediate medical care for your injuries to preserve both your health and your ability to seek financial compensation. If you are initially going to pursue a workers’ compensation claim, you must select a doctor from the list that is provided to you by your employer. If you delay getting medical help, it can affect both a workers’ compensation and a personal injury claim. The insurance company may argue that you failed to take all steps in your power to mitigate your damages. In the personal injury context, it could mean that you receive a reduced settlement offer. For a workers’ compensation claim, the insurance company may argue that something else caused your injury.
Know That Workers’ Compensation Is Not Your Only Option
Since personal injury lawsuits stemming from job-related injuries are not always common, many people think that workers’ compensation is their only option when they have been hurt on the job. If you have been injured due to the negligence of a third party who is not your employer, you can proceed with a claim outside of the workers’ compensation system. This is the preferred alternative because you may qualify for your full lost wages as well as your non-economic damages. You may initially file a workers’ compensation claim, so you can get immediate payment, but you can also proceed to work on an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Hire an Attorney Who Can Handle Both Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury Claims
Workers’ compensation claims and personal injury lawsuits are separate processes, using different standards of proof, but they often work in conjunction with each other. You may receive workers’ compensation benefits at first, but then the insurance company is paid back when you settle a personal injury claim. You may be dealing with multiple claims at the same time, and it helps to have one attorney who knows both legal systems, and that is exactly our experience at The Frickey Law Firm. At the Frickey Law Firm, we have attorneys that specialize in both workers compensation and personal injury claims. We have been helping Colorado’s injured for over 60 years, we know Colorado law and we know how to maximize recovery. Don’t be fooled or pushed around by the insurance carrier, get a lawyer!
Seek The Justice You Deserve With Our Colorado Workers’ Compensation Law Firm
Time is of the essence when you have been injured on the job in any fashion, so you should schedule an immediate free initial consultation with an Aurora workers’ compensation lawyer at The Frickey Law Firm. Call us today at 303-237-7373 or send us a message online to speak with an attorney.
Attorney Janet Frickey wants to do the right thing. An impassioned litigator and client advocate for more than 40 years, Ms. Frickey is the owner and managing attorney of The Frickey Law Firm who focuses in workers’ compensation and personal injury. Learn more here.