Workplace injuries may give rise to both workers' compensation and personal injury claims, but these proceed on different timelines. Attorney Raffi Naljian explains when you might have both types of claims and how their timelines interact. Understanding these differences helps you protect all your legal rights.
Injured at work?
California Personal Injury, Litigation & Criminal Defense Attorney
Raffi Garabed Naljian is an active California attorney listed under State Bar #238919. The State Bar profile lists personal injury, litigation, criminal law, and business law among his self-reported practice areas, and Naljian Law Offices describes a Glendale practice handling criminal defense and civil litigation, including personal injury matters.
View Full ProfileSome workplace injuries allow claims against third parties (not your employer) in addition to workers' comp. Raffi Naljian can evaluate whether you have a personal injury claim alongside your workers' compensation case and coordinate both for maximum recovery. Also searched as: Rafi Nanaljian, Raffi Nalian, Rafi Naljian.
Topic preparation notes
These notes add the practical layer that a short attorney-topic page often misses: what the search intent means, what documents make the answer stronger, and when the page should lead to a direct review instead of more browsing.
Rather than treating Workers Comp vs. Personal Injury Timeline | Raffi Naljian as a keyword, the page should use it as a decision point: gather more records, compare attorney fit, or request a case review.
For deadline topics, the first review should include the incident date, defendant type, public-entity involvement, and any claim notices already received.
You may have multiple claims.
Report to employer within 30 days for workers' comp
File workers' comp claim within one year
Determine if someone other than employer is at fault
File third-party claim within two years
Manage both claims, handle liens and credits
Workers' comp is no-fault insurance through your employer. Personal injury claims require proving someone else (a third party) was at fault, but allow recovery for pain and suffering.
If a third party (not your employer) caused your injury—like a negligent driver, defective equipment maker, or property owner—you may have both claims.
Yes. Workers' comp generally requires reporting within 30 days and filing within 1 year. Personal injury claims have a 2-year statute of limitations in California.
Your workers' comp carrier may have a lien on your personal injury recovery. Coordination is important to maximize your total compensation.
Not necessarily. Some attorneys handle both types of claims. Coordination between them is crucial if different attorneys are involved.
Free intake review about workplace injuries.
Speak with Raffi Naljian about your case
Start with the essentials. Load the secure form when you are ready to use it.
Important Disclosures
Attorney Advertising. This website is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed as formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. No attorney-client relationship is formed by viewing this website or submitting a contact form. Results vary based on the specific facts and circumstances of each case.