If you sustained your injuries at your workplace, you could recover compensation from your employer’s worker’s compensation insurance company. This could include payment of your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. You could also receive lump-sum payouts if you have serious injuries. This would be applicable if the physical injury were caused by either your employer or a co-worker. However, if the injuries were caused by someone other than your employer or co-worker you also have a personal injury claim against the party that caused the harm. If defective equipment led to your illness on the job, that would also be a personal injury case in which you could sue the manufacturer directly outside of the workers compensation system. This way, you are not limited by the legal limitations on damages for workers compensation claims.