When you suffer severe injuries due to the involvement of someone else, you may still be entitled to financial compensation. If there are possibly more parties involved than just one, what can your next step be in terms of possibly obtaining compensation for injuries and other damages?
Luckily, there are claims such as third-party personal injury claims to hold more than one person liable if relevant to the incident. Injured individuals may still be entitled to file third-party claims in personal injury cases to obtain compensation for injuries that left them unable to work or continue their daily routines. What’s the difference between first-party and third-party personal injury claims? Continue reading to find out more about third-party personal injury claims, the types of cases covered, timelines, and of course, the possible compensation that may be provided.
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Filing a third-party personal injury claim holds a third-party responsible for injuries. In the case of these types of claims, the injured party alleges that the third party is responsible for causing their injuries, though the third party was not directly involved. The third party can be another individual, business, or entity.
These types of personal injury claims can cover a variety of cases, but there are a few environments where these third-party claims particularly develop. Third-party claims are very common for workplace injuries. Because workers can often not sue their employers, their route may be to file a third-party personal injury claim for additional compensation past workers’ compensation benefits. For example, if using a certain tool at the time of their injury, the injured worker may choose to file a third-party personal injury claim against the manufacturer of that tool for compensation.
The types of cases covered in third-party personal injury claims can vary. Some of the most common types of cases that may involve third-party personal injury claims include:
Are the steps of a third-party personal injury claim any different from a first-party claim? When filing a third-party personal injury claim, you will likely:
Though this is the standard timeline for many personal injury cases, it is always best to never assume how things will go. The first thing to always do is sit down with an expert personal injury attorney to go over your third-party claim. They will best advise you on the next steps and ensure you are confident in building up the right claim for your unique case.
Many third-party claims are based on negligence, so proving this is what can determine liability. Sufficient evidence must be provided to prove liability and establish that claims against the third party are true. As an injured party, you have the burden of proving:
Failure to prove the details above will make it impossible to prove the liability of a third party for your injuries.
In all personal injury cases, injured parties are stating the liability of another party in order to possibly obtain financial compensation for damages incurred in an incident. Some of the possible compensation for damages in third-party personal injury claims include:
The state of California acknowledges that some damages go past financial loss. Non-economic damages that may be compensated in third-party personal injury claims cover:
Compensation amounts can vary for every personal injury case. The best thing to do is discuss your unique case with a dedicated personal injury attorney and see what options are available for you.