Is my employer liable if I’m injured at work by defective equipment?
Yes, but only under workers’ compensation law. Whenever a worker is injured as a result of defective equipment, or a dangerous situation he was placed in by his supervisor, or the fault of another employee, he wonders whether his employer is responsible for the injuries and wage loss suffered. The answer is yes, but only to the extent of his obligations under the state’s workers’ compensation law. This means that the employer is responsible for medical care, two-thirds of the lost wages, and a payment for any permanent injury. But the employer is not responsible for the other third of the lost income, nor is he responsible for the pain and loss of enjoyment of life that will certainly be suffered.