Can a worker pursue a separate third-party claim in addition to workers' compensation, and under what condition?

Prepare for the Rhode Island Workers Compensation Adjusters Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each equipped with hints and explanations. Successfully ready yourself for your exam!

The key idea is that workers’ compensation provides the employer’s exclusive remedy, but that does not prevent a worker from pursuing a civil claim against a negligent third party. If someone other than the employer is at fault for the injury, the worker can file a separate third-party lawsuit for damages while still receiving workers’ compensation benefits. This is allowed because the third-party claim arises from the negligence of another party, not from the employer’s obligations under workers’ comp. Additionally, the employer’s insurer can seek subrogation to recover benefits paid from any third-party recovery. The other statements don’t fit because you are not barred from third-party claims, there’s no requirement to wait until benefits end, and the employer does not need to approve the pursuit of a third-party action.