Kent Workplace Injury Lawyer

No one should put their health, livelihood, or life on the line when they clock in to work. However, “accidents” still happen, and when they do, injured people deserve the financial compensation they need to recover.

If you’ve suffered a workplace injury or illness caused by someone who isn’t employed by your company, including injuries covered under the Jones Act, Attorney Zach Herschensohn and his team can help you figure out the best plan of attack to pursue maximum compensation.

Herschensohn Law has obtained millions in settlements and verdicts for injured workers in Kent, throughout King County, and the Seattle metro area, and has experience getting real results for Kent and Seattle workers injured on the job. Zach and his team are ready to hear your story and help you make the best possible choice for yourself and your future. Contact us today at (206) 588-4344 for your free consultation.

Serious Washington State On-The-Job Injuries Require Serious Legal Representation

As long as you’re a legal employee of a company, you’re almost always covered under workers’ compensation if you get injured on the job. However, these benefits often aren’t enough. Workers’ compensation prevents you from filing a personal injury claim against your employer or a coworker, but that immunity only applies to your own company—not other contractors or companies that might be on the same job site, facility, or location.

Sometimes, an on-the-job injury can be caused by someone who doesn’t work for your company—a third party contractor—and you may be able to hold them accountable for your damages. This often happens on large to medium construction sites, where there is a general contractor and many sub-contractors, all hired from different employers. In that context, all of the subcontractors are third parties, and the general contractor is also considered a third party. Another common example occurs where the worker is hired out using a temporary agency. Temporary workers are generally the direct employees of the agency; this means that the company that hired you through the temporary agency and all of the employees of that company are considered third parties as well.

This is when Zach Herschensohn and his team enter the picture.

With decades of experience fighting for injured people in Kent, Seattle, and throughout King County, Zach Herschensohn understands how devastating an at-work injury can be. That’s why he dedicated his career to helping people hurt at work get back on their feet and get the compensation they need and deserve so they can recover as much as possible.

Zach Herschensohn is a tough negotiator who will aggressively and effectively advocate for your best interests. He’s also a skilled trial Kent car accident lawyer who isn’t afraid to fight for you in the courtroom in front of a judge and jury to get you the compensation you deserve.

When Should I Pursue a Negligence Lawsuit Against a Third Party in Washington State?

If you’re an injured worker who suffered a work-related injury, you can’t sue your employer (in most cases), and your workers’ compensation benefits will only cover a portion of your lost wages and medical expenses.

However, if a third party’s mistake, dangerous decision, or negligent action caused your injuries, you may be able to recover compensation for: 

• Any additional medical treatment or medical care 
• Excess wage loss and overtime pay 
• Loss of earning capacity and time loss 
• Replacement services (childcare, housework, etc.) 
• Pain and suffering 
• In some cases, punitive damages 

Negligence lawsuits against a third party are often complicated. The person or company responsible for your injury may deny doing anything wrong or try to claim the accident was your fault. That’s why it’s critical to get an experienced attorney in your corner to fight for you and protect your rights—no matter what.

Check Out Our Previous Case Results for Workplace Injury Claimants

Since our founding in 2009, we’ve recovered millions for workplace injury claimants and their families. Some of our stories include:

• Our client worked as an insulator for many years, unknowingly breathing in asbestos while on the job. Years later, he developed mesothelioma and passed away. We secured $5 million for his surviving family members.
• When our client clocked into work on a construction site, he never imagined that he would suffer life-altering injuries after an electric shock. Our team poured our knowledge, experience, and resources into his personal injury claim, securing $1.6 million for his hardships.
• Our client was a ferry worker who contracted lung cancer after prolonged exposure to asbestos. We secured $1.1 million for his medical expenses, lost income, and non-economic damages, including pain and suffering.

We believe that our case results demonstrate that time and time again, we get positive outcomes for our clients. We intend to seek maximum compensation for each of your injury-related hardships––even those you weren’t aware were compensable.

What Are Common Examples of Third-Party Negligence at Work?

A workplace accident caused by an independent third party can result in severe injury, illness, or death. Common scenarios where third-party negligence may apply include:

You’re Injured in a Construction Accident

Construction sites often have multiple subcontractors from different companies, all working in the same place at the same time. If you’re injured in an accident caused by someone working for a different company, you may be able to hold that person liable for your damages through a negligence lawsuit. 

A subcontractor who gets injured in an accident on a construction site may also have grounds for a negligence lawsuit against the general contractor or the manufacturer of defective equipment. 

You’re Injured in a Car Accident While Driving on the Job 

Whether driving is a part of your job description or you’re going to meet up with a potential client, if a negligent driver injures you in a car accident during work time, you should be able to both file for Washington workers’ compensation and pursue a negligence lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash. 

You’re Injured on Unsafe Property 

If you suffer an injury due to dangerous conditions on a property that’s not owned or managed by your employer—for example, during an off-site meeting or while visiting a client’s home—you might be able to hold the property owner or manager responsible for your damages. 

Even an injury at your regular place of work may be grounds for a third-party lawsuit if a company other than your employer is responsible for the management or maintenance of the facilities. 

You’re Injured by a Defective Product

If you get hurt due to faulty equipment, toxic fumes, or defective machinery, you can pursue a negligence lawsuit against the manufacturer. 

Just because you’re eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim in these scenarios doesn’t mean you should disregard your legal right to sue an independent third party for negligence. An injury can have a dramatic effect on your life, and we can help you pursue full and fair compensation for all your losses. 

We Have a Limited Time to Pursue Your Workplace Injury Lawsuit

Like all states, Washington has a statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. This deadline restricts how long you have to file your case. Per state law, you generally have three years to file. Your filing period generally starts “counting down” from the date of your accident.

It’s imperative that we file your lawsuit within this deadline, or else you could lose the right to compensation. Additionally, we want to start working on your case as soon as possible because some evidence (like security camera footage) won’t be available forever.

You have nothing to lose by reaching out to our team for your initial consultation. As noted, you pay nothing to chat with our team, and there’s no pressure to partner with us.

Our Workplace Injury Lawyers Charge Nothing Upfront

You don’t pay anything unless we win. That’s because we work for clients on a contingency-fee basis, so you don’t owe us anything unless we get the insurance settlement or jury verdict you deserve. With our team’s support, you don’t have to worry about hourly rates, retainers, or by-the-hour fees. We take a percentage of your compensation claim as payment for our time and efforts.

Our Kent Accident Lawyers Advocate for Clients With These Injuries

At Herschensohn Law, we’re not afraid to take on tough legal cases, including those involving life-altering conditions. In fact, we routinely find that clients come to us after other lawyers have shied away from their cases.

For more than a decade, we’ve helped clients with these conditions recover compensation:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injuries 
• Spinal cord trauma 
• Burns 
• Deep lacerations
• The loss of one or more limbs
• The loss of a sensory organ, like an eye 
• Terminal illnesses, such as mesothelioma or certain types of lung cancer 
• Avulsions and degloving

We also advocate for families who have lost loved ones.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kent Workplace Injury Cases

It’s understandable to have questions about your legal options in the aftermath of an on-the-job injury. We’ve compiled some questions we frequently get from others in your situation:

Can I Get Workers’ Compensation and File a Personal Injury Claim at Once?

It depends. If another party’s negligence caused your injury at work, you can file both a personal injury claim and a workers’ compensation claim. This could allow you to recover damages not covered by Washington’s workers’ compensation program, such as pain and suffering.

While filing a third-party claim has different steps and obligations, you don’t have to worry about them. Our lawyers can manage everything your third-party claim requires, from its initial filing to its closing arguments.

How Long Does It Take to Recover Damages?

It could take weeks or months to settle your Kent workplace injury claim. One thing’s for certain: we do everything possible to keep your case moving forward, addressing and overcoming any obstacle to fair compensation.

How Soon Can Herschensohn Law Start My Case? 

Our personal injury attorneys can start building your case as soon as you connect with us. We understand how important it is to recover damages, and we intend to resolve your case to the best of our ability.

Injured on the Job in Kent or Seattle, Washington? Let Herschensohn Law Protect Your Rights

No one ever goes to work expecting to get hurt in an accident, but if you suffer a workplace injury caused by someone who doesn’t even work for your company, it can catch you completely off guard. You’re in pain. You can’t work. Your bills are starting to pile up, and your Washington workers’ compensation benefits just aren’t cutting it.

Let our law firm take a look at your case. Personal injury lawyer Zach Herschensohn and his team will listen to you, answer your questions, lay out your legal options, and give you an honest answer as to whether a negligence lawsuit is worth pursuing.

Contact our law office today for your free consultation by calling (206) 588-4344.