Workers' Comp and Its Limits
Most Nevada employees injured on the job are covered by workers' compensation, which pays medical bills and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault. But workers' comp does not pay for pain and suffering and often falls short of a worker's true losses. Understanding what workers' comp covers — and what it does not — is the first step in protecting your rights after a work injury.
Third-Party Claims Beyond Workers' Comp
When someone other than your employer contributed to your injury — a negligent subcontractor, a property owner, a driver who hit you on the job, or the maker of defective equipment — you may have a separate third-party claim. Unlike workers' comp, a third-party claim can recover full damages including pain and suffering. Construction sites, with multiple contractors and equipment suppliers, frequently give rise to these claims.
Nevada's High-Risk Industries
Las Vegas's constant construction, warehouse and logistics operations, northern Nevada's mining sector, and the hospitality industry all carry serious injury risks — falls, equipment accidents, repetitive trauma, burns, and being struck by objects or vehicles. The mix of employers, contractors, and equipment on a single job site often means more than one party may share responsibility.
Protecting Your Recovery
Report the injury promptly, get medical care, and document everything. An attorney can help you navigate the workers' comp system while investigating whether a third-party claim exists, ensuring you pursue every available source of compensation. Deadlines apply to both workers' comp and civil claims, so acting quickly matters.
Injured in Nevada? Get a free, confidential case review today. There's no obligation, and you pay no fee unless you win. Call 973-566-5599.
Frequently Asked Questions
You generally cannot sue your employer, but you may bring a third-party claim against another party whose negligence contributed to your injury — and recover damages workers' comp does not cover.
Workers' comp does not pay for pain and suffering and often covers only part of lost wages. A third-party claim may recover these additional damages.
Workers' comp has its own short reporting deadlines, and civil claims generally must be filed within two years. Act quickly to protect both.
This page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed Nevada attorney.