Washington Work Accident Attorney

When L&I Isn't the Whole Story

If you were injured at work, most people assume the only path is a workers' compensation claim through L&I. But if your injury was caused by someone other than your employer or a coworker — a subcontractor, a property owner, a delivery driver, a defective piece of equipment made by an outside company — you may have a separate legal claim on top of any L&I benefits, and that claim can recover things L&I simply doesn't cover, like pain and suffering.

You may be wondering:

• Can I file an L&I claim and a lawsuit at the same time?
• Does it matter that the person who hurt me doesn't work for my employer?
• Why would this be worth more than what L&I is already offering me?
• Will anyone actually call me back?

Palace Law has represented injured workers across Washington since 1995, recovering more than $175 million for our clients. Call (253) 544-5935 to discuss your case.

Why Clients Trust Palace Law With a Third-Party Work Accident Claim

Most firms only think to check whether you have an L&I claim. Identifying a third-party liability claim on top of that requires actually investigating who else was on the job site and what they did wrong.

• We look beyond your employer. A subcontractor's negligence, a defective piece of equipment from an outside manufacturer, a property owner's unsafe conditions, or another company's driver — any of these can create a separate claim, and L&I benefits alone won't compensate you for it.
• We know how L&I and third-party claims interact. In many cases, you can pursue both — your no-fault L&I benefits and a civil claim against the negligent third party — and we make sure pursuing one doesn't accidentally jeopardize the other.
• A dedicated team, not a solo attorney. Every client gets a lead attorney, paralegal, and case manager, so you're never waiting on one person to call back.
• $175M+ recovered for clients since 1995, including a $16 million wrongful death settlement.
• 1,500+ positive client reviews and 30+ years of Washington-specific experience.
• A client-first fee philosophy — contingency-based, with no upfront costs.

What Counts as a Third-Party Work Accident

• A subcontractor or another company's employee on a shared job site causes your injury through negligence.
• Defective equipment or machinery made by an outside manufacturer malfunctions and injures you.
• A property owner (not your employer) fails to maintain safe conditions at a site where you're working.
• A delivery driver, rideshare driver, or other motorist causes a crash while you're working — for example, driving between job sites or making a delivery.
• A temporary or staffing agency worker is injured due to the negligence of the host company where they're placed, which is not the same entity as their direct employer.

Why This Matters More Than It Might Seem

L&I benefits are designed to be no-fault and fast, but they're also limited — they generally don't include compensation for pain and suffering, and wage replacement often falls short of your full lost income. A third-party liability claim can recover the full range of damages a personal injury case allows: medical expenses, complete lost wages and future earning capacity, and pain and suffering — on top of, not instead of, whatever L&I already provides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file an L&I claim and a lawsuit at the same time?

Often, yes. L&I claims and third-party liability claims serve different purposes and generally don't conflict — but there are coordination rules (including how any third-party recovery interacts with L&I benefits already paid) that make it worth having an attorney manage both together rather than handling them separately.

How do I know if a third party was actually involved?

This requires investigation — reviewing who else was present, what equipment was involved, and whether a property owner or contractor had safety obligations that weren't met. Many workers never realize a third party was involved until an attorney looks into it.

What should I do immediately after a workplace accident involving someone else?

Report the injury to your employer as you normally would for an L&I claim, but also document who else was involved — names, companies, equipment makes/models — since that information can be harder to recover later.

How long do I have to file a third-party claim in Washington?

Generally three years from the date of the injury, under Washington's standard personal injury statute of limitations (RCW 4.16.080) — a different and often longer deadline than certain L&I filing windows, which is another reason not to assume L&I is your only option.

How Palace Law Can Help

We investigate every workplace accident to determine whether a third party's negligence contributed to your injury — not just whether you have a standard L&I claim. If one did, we pursue that claim alongside your L&I benefits to get you the full compensation you're entitled to.

Call us now at (253) 544-5935 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your consultation.