Electrocution is a risk that can occur in a wide range of environments. Whether you’ve experienced an electrical accident at work, on a construction site, or in another setting where the fault lies with someone else, it’s essential to understand your rights. You can seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit or an insurance claim.
Have you or your loved one been seriously injured in an electrocution accident? The attorneys at Dell & Dean are here to help. During a complimentary case evaluation, we will discuss your case and help you pursue the compensation you deserve from the negligent party who caused your injuries.
Contact with Power Lines
From damaged power lines to unguarded live wires, there are many ways electrocution accidents can occur. Technicians working on overhead power lines should take all necessary safety precautions. Technicians should receive safety training on power lines function, especially during maintenance services, to avoid electrocution accidents. Powerline accidents can cause workers, pedestrians, and others to become seriously injured.
Ground Fault Accidents Leading to Electrocutions
Electricity should always run in a closed circuit. Victims can become electrocuted when the circuit is open. Ground faults happen when an electrical current fails to travel back to the intended path in the panel and becomes redirected to the ground. If a person touches a ground wire, they can become electrocuted. Individuals without electrical knowledge may accidentally touch a live wire and become injured.
Faulty Wiring
Faulty wiring occurs when electrical equipment has been negligently installed or poorly maintained. Property owners should hire experienced professionals to inspect their electrical wiring regularly. If there are any electrical problems, they should fix them before people become injured.
Additionally, property owners who have temporary electrical wiring and fail to install permanent wiring put others at risk of injury. When they fail to ensure their electrical wiring is safe, property owners can be held financially liable for any resulting accidents. Property and business owners should always hire professionals to maintain and fix electrical wiring to reduce the risk of electrocution.
Workplace Electrocution Accidents
Many electrocution accidents occur in workplaces. Anyone who works on, between, or around electrical wires is at risk of becoming electrocuted. However, some industries have a higher prevalence of electrocution accidents. Workers in the following industries are at a higher risk of becoming injured in electrocution accidents:
- Carpenters
- Remodeling crews
- Construction workers
- Installation technicians for power lines
- Tree trimming labor
- Movers
- Commercial motor vehicle drivers
- Groundskeeping and landscaping professionals
- Facility maintenance workers
- Agricultural laborers and farmers
- Industrial or commercial machine technicians
- Electricians
- Roofers
- HVAC installation or repair technicians
Injuries Caused By Electrocution Accidents
Regardless of the cause of the electrocution accident, victims can experience life-altering injuries. Electrocution injuries may require long-term, extensive medical attention. Moderate electrical burns can cause disfigurement and scarring. When a person’s skin becomes extensively damaged, they may suffer from muscle and tissue damage, nerve damage, and cardiac arrests. They may lose mobility in their fingers, limbs, and other body parts. Injuries to a person’s face and internal organs can also occur.
Victims may require multiple reconstructive surgeries, painful rehabilitation, hospital stays, and therapy and may not be able to return to work due to their injuries. Severe electrocution can result in amputations and even death. The trauma of the accident can also cause serious mental health challenges, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.
Recovering Compensation through a Workers’ Compensation Claim
When workers are injured on the job, they can usually obtain workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits cover medical expenses and a portion of the lost income of workers who have been injured in the course and scope of their employment. Workers’ compensation can be beneficial for those electrocuted while at work. However, accepting these benefits requires workers to agree to refrain from bringing a lawsuit against their employer.
If you’ve suffered a serious electrocution injury and your employer was totally or partially at fault for the accident, pursuing a personal injury lawsuit may be more beneficial. You may be able to recover the full amount of compensation you need and deserve, including damages for your pain and suffering. Recovering compensation can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve been seriously injured. Working with an attorney can help you recover the full compensation you need and deserve.
Available Compensation in Electrocution Accident Lawsuits
Victims of accidents caused by negligence can pursue compensation through personal injury lawsuits. To recover compensation through a personal injury attorney, you’ll need to prove the at-fault party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional behavior caused the accident that caused your electrocution injuries.
For example, if you were injured at your workplace by a live electrical wire, you can pursue a claim against the property owner for failing to fix the electrical wire and keeping guests safe. The following damages are available through personal injury lawsuits:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Long-term care expenses
- Loss of earning potential due to disability
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Disability and disfigurement
If you’ve lost your loved one in an electrical accident, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. While nothing can bring your loved one back, recovering compensation for funeral expenses, your loved one’s lost income contributions and your loss of companionship can help you and your family move forward while holding the negligent party responsible.
Contact Our Experienced Long Island & New York Personal Injury Attorneys
At Dell & Dean, PLLC, we understand that electrocution victims can suffer significant physical and emotional pain. Our skilled litigators are familiar with the severe impact electrical accidents can have on victims. We will carefully investigate the facts of your case, help you understand your legal rights, and pursue the most compensation possible in your case. Contact our office today.
Dell & Dean, PLLC, represents clients throughout Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island, as well as the boroughs of New York City and the surrounding areas.
