Electrocution accidents can happen at home or the workplace, resulting in catastrophic injuries or death. When a person has suffered electrocution injuries because of another party’s negligence, he or she may have the right to pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
If you or your loved one have suffered an electrocution injury due to another party’s negligence, even your employer’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated for your damages. You may be entitled to damages for your past and future medical expenses, lost income, loss of future earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages. The Syracuse personal injury attorneys at CDH Law PLLC are prepared to advocate for you and your rights.
Occupations with the Greatest Risk of Electrocution
Workers in nearly any occupation could become injured due to an electrocution accident. A worker in an office complex could come in contact with a dangerous, exposed wire and suffer electrical shock injuries. Workers in a school could become injured in a fire caused by faulty electrical wiring. However, some jobs pose a higher level of risk for workers related to electrocution. The occupations with the highest risk of electrical injuries include the following:
- Remodeling crews
- Construction workers
- Carpenters
- Power-line repair and installation technicians
- Tree trimmers
- Telecommunications line installers or repairers
- Groundskeeping and landscaping professionals
- Commercial motor vehicle drivers
- Movers
- Facility maintenance workers
- Agricultural laborers and farmers
- Industrial or commercial machine technicians
- Facility maintenance workers
- HVAC repair or installation workers
- Electricians
- Roof installation or repairmen
Electrical Accidents Caused By Faulty or Old Wiring
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 40,000 fires at residential homes are caused by residential accidents every year. For the last ten years, faulty electrical wiring systems have been a leading cause of fire deaths.
Older homes and apartment complexes may not be up to current safety codes, putting residents at risk of electrical fires. Electrical burns can be difficult to treat and are extremely painful and debilitating. Substandard wiring in newer homes and apartment complexes can lead to electrical fires and shock.
Additionally, a lack of preventative devices, such as ground fault circuit interrupters, can cause electrical fires. Circuit interrupters monitor and shut off electrical current should the flow fluctuate. A lack of three-pronged outlets, polarized plugs, loose connectors, and electrical cords running under carpeting can cause electrical fires.
Electrical Shock Accidents
Electrical shock accidents occur when a finger, arm, or hand is placed across an electric current. A person’s body will conduct electricity because it’s mostly made of water. The electric shock when the body comes into contact with an electric current can cause mild, moderate, or severe injuries.
Mild electric shock causes a slight tingling sensation. Moderate electric shock can cause a person’s muscles to contract, and it may be difficult for him or her to pull away from the electric current. Severe electric shock can cause respiratory or heart failure or internal organ damage.
Electrical Burns Caused By Electrocution
When severe electric shock causes a person’s tissue to burn, he or she can suffer mild, moderate, or severe burns. Electrical burns caused by electrocution can be internal or external. Internal electrical burns occur when the electric current goes through a person’s bone and burns deep tissue.
Electrical Fires
Many residential and workplace burn injuries are caused by electrical fires. An electrical fire happens when an electric current ignites flammable materials. Electric fires are extremely dangerous. People may try to put out an electrical fire by dousing the fire with water, which could expose a person to a higher risk of electric shock.
Burn Injuries Caused By Electrocution Accidents
As technology keeps evolving, more homes have electrical equipment in their homes and workplaces. As a result, the incidences of electrical burns continue to rise. Workers in certain professions, such as construction, cable servicing, and electrical repair put workers at a higher risk for electrical burn injuries. Electric burn injuries range from first-degree burns to more severe third-degree burns.
Electrocution Fall Injuries
Electrical fall injuries usually occur in workplaces when a worker is working on or near an electric power line. These types of injuries can cause the worker to fall off the powerline, causing catastrophic or devastating injuries. Survivors of falls may be faced with paralysis due to spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, multiple bone fractures, and other severe conditions.
When a fall has occurred due to an electrocution, the worker may have a valid claim for compensation against his or her employer. If the worker can demonstrate that the employer’s negligence caused the electrocution accident, he or she may be entitled to compensation.
Holding Employers Liable for Electrocution Accidents in the Workplace
Employers are legally responsible for ensuring employees have a safe environment in which to work daily. When an employer neglects these responsibilities or engages in reckless behavior, the employer can put workers’ lives at risk of electrocution in the workplace. Specifically, when employers fail to take the following safety measures, employers may be able to obtain compensation from them through a lawsuit:
- Repair or remove broken wires, lines, batters, and exposed outlets
- Ensure workers know how to use high-voltage equipment properly properly
- Hire a professional to inspect the quality and safety of the equipment routinely
- Immediately report any workplace electrocutions to the property authorities
- Repair or remove malfunctioning appliances from the job site
- Discuss the preventative measures with employees
- Discuss steps to take if a worker is electrocuted
Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Electrocution Injuries
If you’ve been injured due to electrocution at your job site, you will likely be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for your medical expenses and time off of work. However, accepting workers’ compensation benefits will prohibit you from pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against your employer. A personal injury lawsuit could allow you to recover additional compensation for your injuries than you can recover through workers’ compensation benefits. Before you agree to accept workers’ compensation benefits, it’s crucial you reach out to an experienced attorney to discuss your options.
Contact a Syracuse Electrocution Attorney
The attorneys at CDH Law PLLC understand how devastating electrocution injuries can be. If you’ve been injured in an electrocution accident or your loved one died in a preventable accident, it’s crucial you reach out to an attorney. Don’t hesitate to contact CDH Law PLLC to schedule a free case evaluation.