Lawsuits against employers over workplace injuries are vanishingly small. Workers compensation is a no-fault system, designed to protect both workers and employers from prolonged legal battles while ensuring access to medical care, rehabilitation, and lost wages benefits. Certain rare circumstances do prevent themselves, however. Your employer intentionally attempted to hurt you, for instance. Where it gets interesting is when a third party is involved. A defective product used at work contributed to your injury. Or, while driving for work, you were injured in a crash that was another driver’s fault. It’s good to know your options. “It’s so important,” says Peoria-based workers comp attorney Todd Strong, “in Illinois it’s considered legal malpractice not to investigate the possibility of a third-party claim. The standard of care for lawyers in Illinois is to investigate the facts of the case to determine whether there is any other responsible third party.”