I got hurt because of faulty or defective equipment at work. Can I bring a lawsuit against the companythat made or soldthe part even if I amreceiving workers' compensation payments?

A: The answer may be yes if the injury was caused by the faulty or defective equipment or if the equipment became defective and dangerous because of something the product manufacturer, distributor or seller did to it. In other words, if the injury was caused by the negligence or malfeasence of another company rather than by your own employer, you can file injury claims against that other company.

In certain cases you can receive workers' compensation benefits from your employer and bring a separate negligence action against a third pary besides your employer, but read this entire list of FAQs to understand how workers' compensation claims differ from negligence claims and lawsuits in Virginia, North Carolina and beyond.